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Hunt's merchants' magazine
and commercial review
Freeman Hunt, Isaac Smith Homans, Thomas
Prentice Kettell, William Buck Dana
Econ P i3. 1.160
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^m
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u
HUKT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE
AMD
COMMERCIAl REVIEW.
CONDUCTED BT FK8EIAN HUNT, 1. 1.,
BKBBm or TBI KIW YORK OBAXMR OF COMMIRCR ; COllRIPOXDIKO MIHHR OF TBR AMRRICAM
AJ» LOMDOKBTATIITICAL 80C1ITIII J HBMBBR OF TBB BBW TOBK BIBTOBICAL tOCIBTT ;
BOBORART MRMBBR OF TBR MBRCAMTILB LIBRARY AtfOCUTlOMI OF MRW
TORKt PBILADBLPHIA, B01T0B)RALTI]|0RB, LOUIIVILLB,
CBARbBBTOB) ABB OIBCIBBATI, BTC
VOLUME THIRTY-THREE.
PBOM JULT TO DEOKMBBR JNOLUSIVI; 18S>.
IX tm fitrk:
PUBLISHED AT 142 FULTON-STBEET.
1866.
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Ec^^ P ,3.1.150 CONTRIBUTORS
TO THB THIRTT-THIRB YOLUVB OF THB
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE AND COMMEECIAL EEVIEW.
Abbott Brothers, Coanselora-at-Law, New York.
William Bross, Esq., Editor of the Chicago Press.
Chas. H. Carroll, Esq., Merchant of Massachusetts.
Hon. Geo. W. Clinton, of New York.
£. H. Derby, Esq., of Massachusetts.
William S. Dr Zeng, Esq., of Creneva, New York.
W. B. DuGAN, M. D., of Quiucy, Massachusetts.
Enoch Hale, Jr., Esq., of New York.
William A. Jones, A. M., Librarian of Columbia College.
D. O. Kellogg, Esq., late United States Consul at Glasgow.
Hon. Georgs P. MAitsK> of V^mont.
E. Merriam, Esq., of Brooklyn, L. I.
Dexter F. Parker, Mechanic, of Massachusetts.
A. H. Ryder, Esq., of New Jersey.
Charles Seymour, Esq., of Montreal Canada.
Benjamin G. Smith, Printer, of New York.
Richard Sullby> of Indiana.
Freeman Hunt, Edttof and Proprielor.
7-
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INDEX TO VOLUME IIIIII,
FROM JULY TO DECEMBER INCLUSIVE, 1866.
- A* FAG«
Acre of Iiind, hiilory of an 764
AOL of New York rdoUve to dirtdends of In-
•arance OompaDit<8 ^4
Act of LouUtiUui rulatl re to personal property
pledKBd 630
Act of Lottlslaoa relative to notaries in New
Odenns. 729
Ad relaltng to bank charten in New Jersey. 724
Advertising, pbIIo«ophy of 70.1
Agricdlture anil Railroads 344
Axri&aure, 9tati«ti<M of. 1 14, S36.384, 505, 631, 750
Agrlcultaral statistics of the U. Kingdom.. . . 761
Alcohol from beet rnoL 643
Alcohol, of chemistry aud commerce, the. . . 1^
Algwia, culture of cuilou and tobacco in. . .. 631
* Alummara, or French silver 383
ABerlcu, flnsi woolen manafactaret in 501
** flrslboofciMin 534
vAoMrican and foreign tonnage entered end
cleared iu the Uuiled States 97
** hardwaruand mechanical skill.... 959
** iron, superiority of. 641
** mercbauis, Uuni's biography of.. 644
■"•^-N * steambuais 519
** TenI antique marble. 3<i3
AiBondtlllado sherry, what Is it? 501
Animals, oommurca in aud consumption of
aaimal food 114
Appraisers, return of custom hoa>e 488
Arctic relief expedlUoo, the Harlstetn 666
A^ientine Confederutloii, treaty of commerce
between Uoiusd Stales and 103
Arkansas, population of, in 1850 and 1834,. . 335
*• coalfleldsof 382
Auction, delivery of goods sold at 4ti3
B*
Baltimore and Ohio Ballroad, Klsgswood
tunnel of , 373
Bank of Cbarteeton 35d
" of Mutual RederopCton 480
*• exchange, New York cuanty..,....^... 475
^ bltls as rreigbt,law of common carriers. 580
** stockbol<lers, cuiistitutiojuil liability of. 616
* oTBogiatidin 1854 581
•* »* transactions of 92
« ** anditsnotes. 479
Banking and money 541
** (Chartered and free systems comp'rd. 355
** correnpy and finance Journal or,
87,253,347,470,610
Bankraptcyin Ireland 337
Banks, condlilon of New Orleans'. .. .90, 611, 349
•» llabilltlesof 453
** of the city t)f New York, condition of, 347
•* weekly average of New York city,
78,210,340,461,594,711
•* weekly avenge of Boston,
78,2.1,340,463,595
** of San Francisco, the 732
Beefitospeetlon of at JeBbnon, La 364
Baec Bogar of Prance 636
Beet root, alcoh'il from 643
Beeves Book, rhrer tibannont Ireland, fixed
ligblon.... 113
Belgi«m,growttiBQdmaQafaoliireofflaxin. 383
•^Belfa Uvmmeroiat Lkillege'' of GMcago .... 962
** t>hUosophyofJoint stock banking... 93
Bill of lading, copy of an old 768
Bill of excbanfl:e befbre acceptance*, right of
attaching creditor of drawer and pnyee. 588
^ of exchHnge, partnership, acceptance. . . 308
Bills of exchange and bills of lading 71
^ M and promissory notes In
Louisiana 354
Biography of American merchants, Hunt's.. 644
*' mercantile, Thomns H. Perkins.. 19
•• •» Waller R. Jones 423
Boiler tubes, prices of 500
Bond warehouses, etc., application to. 630
Bonded goods passing through China 788
Bonds may tye given by an importer to an in-
terior port 484
•* for duties, how they mnst bo sifitned. . 621
.ook trade 139, 2«n, 395, 525, 651, 771
** decision of Jnoge ^elson on mo-
tion fur an injunction . . 74
Books in America, the flrni 534
Boot and shoe trade of Kostim 750
Boots and shoos, roannfac.of by machinery. 136
Boston banks, weekly averages of,
78,311,340.462,595
** board of trade and the Merchant^
Magazine.... 134
^ population of, at dtlTerent periods. . . Q3ft
** stocks, senii*Hnnnal dividends on.... 35l
" new mercantile movement in 766
Bottle of Champagne, a 768
Hrauch mint, San t^ranclsco, operations of. . . 333
Braxil, culture of tea in 443
ttraxUian Bmpire, revenue and expendlt*ra of, 613
^ regulation In relation to signals. ... 513
** Empire, eomroeroe of 008
Bread, nseot llme^wati^r in making 381
Breweries, statistics of, in the British islands, 496
Bricks for building, wetting of 644
Bridge, a now railroad 133
Brimstone trade of Sicily 369
British mints, coinage of. 479
^ Provinces, imports into U.S. from... 4^0
^ poet office, siatictics of 028
»> revenue in l854-*55 ;.... 350
»* excise retBms In 1853-'54 98
•* fisheries, the 367
** Irish and Scotch ports, commerce of. 366
Broadhareu, W. coast Ireland. flxedJIght on. 113
Brooklyn, real and personal property in. . . . 478
** dty railroad company 639
BroORheom, method and cost of cultivation. 635
Buenoa Ayres, authentication of ship's pa*
peraat 363
Bttikllng, wetthig of bricks for. 644
Buoyage of Queen*s channel 1 13
Butt«fri history of 633
Business, stick to a legitimate 393
Oabin boy, recommendation of a , 709
California, rocks on coast of 743
Canada and the British Provinces, exports to, 486
** borders of, ports of entry, etc, on. . . 364
*' customs, dutien in 107
** Its commerce and reeonrces 300
*^ bonded goods passing through 738
Canadian reciprocity treaty 304-^
Candla, commerce of 440
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IT
INDKX TO YOLUMB ZXZm.
GuMdi and raUroadfl 638
^ tbo New York, contract ajstem on... 37S
Otrpet DMonflBOtwe SOI
Gariage, drajage, or lightarage of goods in
bond 487
GMh dotlM received at port of New York,
83,317,343,468,509
Cashier, how he compcomlsed with the direc-
tors of a bank 357
Cattle market of Philadelphia S39
Cattle Trade of New York lior 1854. 116
CeyloD, cinnamon fields in 760
Character, an essay for merchants 390
Charleston, bank of. 358
Charleston, S. O, export trade of 604
Charter-party claim for not reoelTing a fall
«argo 334
Chartered and tree systems of banking com-
pared 355
Chicago, <* Bell's Commercial College " at. . . S69
Census of Great Britain, results of the. . . 190, 375
.^ of Kansas in 1855 121
China, commercial Talue of girls in 394
^ exports of tea from, to the U. S. 493
** our commercial and political relations
with 875
** project of an iron currency in 735
** the imperial rice of: 763
Chocolate trade of Boston 646
Chronicle and Reriew, Commercial,
77, S09, 337, 460, 503, 708
dndnuati, the Mercantile Librray Ass% of. 138
Cincinnati, trade and commerce of 740
Cities and towns, commercial, of the United
States 53,303,560
Clerk, the Merchant's 394
Clerks, ladies as 766
Cfoths, import of into the United States 491
Coal, by a chemical preparation 138
^ fields of Arkansas 388
^ fields and producUof the Ohio Valknr. 494
(* lands of Great Britain and Ohio 361
*« trade of Pennsylrania 496
"> the essence of, a substitute for oil of tur-
pentine 643
Coals for Western New York 333
Coast of Spain, on the Atlantic, alteraUon of
lightati^ix 931
Coast of Spain 696
Coinage of the British mints 479
Coinage of the world finom 1848 to 1854 614
Coinsffe of Gold and Silver in mlnU of Mexi-
co, (h>m 1581 to 1853 478
Collision, bark Palermo and steamship Tele-
graph 334
** between a sloop and steamer Em-
pire State 330
Oommeroe and flnanoes of Russia. 94
** and resources of Canada 900
**■ and resources of Finland 339
*< and trade of N. O. in 1854->55. . . 601
** and the merchant 558
^ in animals, and consumption of
animal food 114
** of Candia 446
** of Kertch 368
« of British, Irish and Scotch ports. 366
^ of the Braxilian Empire 608
** of the lakes, the 314
** of each State and Territory, (one
year) July »53 to June ^ 100
" and narigation, report on 735
^ and sdeBoe, progress of 658
•« of the U.SUtes, statistics of 736
»; of the U. S., statistical view of... 390
**^ of the United States, 383, 431, 559. 093
** principles and tendenc's of moa*n. 147
^ treaty of, between United States
and Argentine Confederation... 109
** wIthCuba 365
CommeidAl and industrial cities of the U. S.,
Qulnoy, Mass. 303
rAoi
Commercial and Indostrial eltlea of Europe,
Lynn, Mass. 569
« « « of the U.S.,
Philadelphia. 53
<« M tt of Europe,
Glasgow, Scotland. 673
•* •* «• ofEufope,
FVankfortKMKtbe-Main, Ger. 63
^ and political relaUons with Chi-
na,onr 97S
** agents and consuls, rights of.... 360
« Chronicle and Beview,
77, 909, 337, 460, 598^
** prosperity of the Greeks 337
« regulations, 103,348,300,480,617,735
** statistics. .95, 391, 365, 491, 601, 735
Common carriers as distinguished fh>m ex-
press buslneas 73
Connecticut, assessed TsJue of property in. . 338
** Talne of property, real and pei^
sonaL In 98
« railroads in the State of 750
Consignee or owner, goods unclaimed by. . . 361
ConsignmeBts, etc, shipment of goods 455
Consuls and commercial aoents, rights of.. . . 360
Contract system on the N.Y. canals 373
u of afn^ightment—sweating case ... 703
Copper ore and cotton, dangerous freight. . . . 394
Cork of commerce, the, where it comes fh>m. 138
Com crop of each county In the State of Ohio. 506
** trade, fUltng of a store, liability of owner 333
*< sutistlcs in France 708
Cortex bank, coast of California, rocks on. . . 743
Cotton and copper ore, dangerous freight. . . 394
«" and shoe statisUcs 101
** andtobacco,cultureof, in Algeria... 631
*< East Indian and American 837
** numuflwtnre In the South 490
>« market. New York. 85, 319, 345, 468, 717
Counting-house education 391
Core Point, mouth of Patuxet rirer, change
of light at 838
Cuba, commerce with 36S
** tobscco and dgars, (kcts about 648
CurrencT and the tariff. 191
Custom-house appraisement ofllce 364
^ appraisers, return of. 488
** authorities, ex- m*n of drugs by 363
Oustom-honses of the U. 8., businees hours at. 300
Custiim-house regulations in regard to pas-
sengers* baggage..... 309
Customs, duties in Canada 107
«« rsgulaaons of the U. States 7SS
IK
Debt of late republic of Texas.... 88
Debts of dUes In the United States 93
^ of the U. S. and States of the Union. . 91
Denmark, sound dues of. 403
Department, postal 398,488, 096
Devlan's railroad chair and raU 750
Dictionary, the steam 748
Disasters, maritime, of 1854 380
** steamboat, on the western waters. 637
Dividends, semi-annual, on stocks in Boston 357
Draft or Inland biU of exchange, what consU-
tutesa 459
Drafu or warrants lost 490
Drugs, examination of, by the custom-house
authorities 363
Dublin, export of porter fh>m 368
Dundalk, Ireland, flashing light on 118
Duties.of postmasters in rei^rd to waste paper 490
*« upon grain Imported into France.... 731
East Indian and American cotton 937
Economy and parsimony in trade. 769
Emerson on trade 765
Emigration from Great Britahi 377
*" to the United Statea 834
England, bank of, and Us notea 479
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DTDBX TO Tounia X£CnL
PA«B
B«l«Bd, brak oi; In 1854 981
'' eaNlTUkra of faop« In S30
** eoMampUon of spirits In 894
• gold fc specie recelTed in, in I8S4. M
** and Turkey, trade between 109
** the mystery of exchange on 791
Aiefc Central RaflroadB,tralBe of; in '54^. 630
Europe, demand forwool In 188
^ eommerdal and indnstrtal cities of. 63
Kzcbange, but of-partnership— acoeptanee. 9UR
»• in New Orleans 782
Excise (British) returns in 1853-54 08
KxecQtions and sale oT property In La. 730
£s90rUy Src^ see •* Com. Cfaron. k, Beriew ;"
aiiao name of place.
Kzpress bminesB as dlstlngnlshed ftom Gom-
mon Caniera 78
F.
Flnanoe, fbod, and fatnre of Fraoee 531
** of principal dliea In the U. States.. 470
** of the city of 8an Prandsoo 350
** •* New York 613
Finland, Commeroe and resoorcee of....... 380
Fire, marine, k, life Insurance eoa. in N. York 100
<* loss by— dangers of rivers only exceptM 708
Fires, causes of, wUb 8aggeet*ns for prerent^ 988
Flsheriea, the BHtiah 367
Flax, new setrtchlng machine for 505
** growth and manafae. of, In Belgiam .. 389
Florida eoaet, iron llght-honses for 515
** the sea isbmd cotton uf 937
Fkmr, Inspectioa of, at Jetferson, La 364
•" prices o<; in Philadelphia fior^O years. 368
*' regulations for Inspection of. In N. O . . 021
Flonrin^ mill in Louisrllte, extensive. 188
Fnel for laUroads, coat of. 638
F«r trade, the 600
Frsnce, Amerloaa sewing machines la 961
» beetsogaroC 636
** ftesh and salt meal trade of 996
^ flnance, food, and future of. 531
** south eosst of, fixed Ugbi at MaraeUle 370
£•>«* oom statistics of 769
*^ duties npon grain Imported Into. ... 731
Fyaud—foetof^MeiK-law of sales 586
^^-^ree ships make free goods 573,618
Fteight on the Peansylrania Badroad 371
**• sea, not a dutiable charge..... '..... 365
French sllrer, or aluminum. 383
Fk<esti and satt Bwat trade of Frsace 930
Froit trade, the 938
Gaa Hghta, the iareotlon of 758
66ovgetown,OaUfonila, mining at. 961
Germany, railnMKls la 516
Gijoa, north coast of Spain, fixed light on . . 370
Glasgow, Scotland §73
GolfTfc specie received in England in 1854.. 04
"* Is it depreciating? 955
** and silver, coinage of« In minia of Mex-
ico (W>m 1581 to 1859 478
Goodsin bond, cartage, drmyage,4E«., of..... 487
*" penaltiesiftiieyararelandedinU.8. 486
"^ seised and unckmed 489
** unclaimed by owner or cooaignee.... 361
Government of United States, Its cost 88
GreMBrMntn and Ohio, coal lands of 961
** and the United States, compar-
ative navigation of 403
* emigration from 377
** Import and export of wool In. 09
•^ importation or guano Into..... 366
** wool Imported into 494
« mon eng>d in buUd*g trades In. 197
** results of the census of. . . 19U, 375
*'OreatEolem'*steantohip 510
'travel concrete 195
Gieelis, eommerdal prosperity of the 997
Griefswald laland, change in light at 745
OnawHlmportatkmoi; into Great Britain... 366
Guano trwle of PklladelpUa 788
6oaranty--llabillties of banks 463
Gunpowder, keeping of. In New York 730
H.
Bardwara, American , and mechanical skill. . 959
Hartstein A rctic Relief Expedition, the 666
Hats, New York 648
Havre, tribunals oC; decision with regard to
bills of exchange and bllla of Lading 71
<* Heiaacountry merehant-stickhlmP.... 364
Holland, direct lake trade witii 138
Hops, cultivati6n of, In England 830
How to extract glsss stopples 960
I*
Foe: and the ice trade 160
Immigration since 1700 1 a statistical essay.. . 500
Imperial rice of China 763
Importer to an Interior port, bonds may be
given by 484
lmporter*s bond for merchandise 487
/mpor/4— see ^ Comm. Chron. and Bevlew **
each month ; also name of place.
Improvement In the mannfoetnre of bread. . 187
India, progress of public works in 758
» Indian Chief ''--a veteran ship 101
Indiana, new banking law of 05
Indigo, spurloua, In market. ..;. 666
Industrv in United Stalea, ibe iron 758
Iqjunctlon, motion for. In the book trade. ... 74
Insurance companies, fire, marine, and lifo,
in New York 100
**• stock, ire, in N.Y.. 107
<< act of New York rela-
tive to dividends of 634
**• law of, In N. Hamp. . 373
*< taxes of, In Ohio 374
losaranee. Journal of. 107, 888, 373, 503, 683,
M law of Illinois, legal opinion on. . 633
*< law of Kentucky 374
** marine 733
Intelligence, nautical.. 111,831,378,513,684, 743
Interest, rates of, in Louisiana PS
Ireland, bankruptcy In 337
Irish post-ofllce, progress of 687
Iron and glass, combination of 186
•« imported ioto the U. States in 1850-54.. 403
*»> light-houses for the Ptorlda coast. 515
<* manufacture of, in the United Slates. . . 958
M manufactures In Ohio, progress of 501
*< superiority of American 641
J*
Java, saga/, ooflbe, and Indigo In 300
Jersey City, population of, in 1850-55 631
Jolnt^tock banking, BeU*s philosophy of. . . . 03
Journal of banking, currency, and finance,
87, m 347, 470, 610, 710
Journal of Insurance. . 107, 888, 373, 508, 698, 730
** of mercantile Ikw,
71,807,330,453,566, 703
** of mining and manufactures,
134, 857, 380, 404, 640, 753
Jujube paate, bow to make It. 584
K.
Kansas census In 1855 Itl
Kentucky cattle, brief history of 936
** Insurance law of 374
Kertch, commerce of. 368
Key West, light-house in north-west passage. 113
I..
Lager bier, how it Is made 643
Lake navigation and St. Clair flats 9«f
Lakes, the conimeroe of. 314
Land sales In the U. States In 1854-55 636
Law of com. carriers— bank bill as fmelght.. . 586
*^ of insurance ooa. in New Hampshire .. 373
<* of life assurance 509
^ or UraisUma relative to seamen 106
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mm ta^r^ummsfiifimv
Law of Mlaft— Aniid^-lMtoi% Mm .^
** mercbftDt : Ibo ftppUeatlon of rolnntary
pajments 576^698
M the iwnr vaJrage, of LouisUna 610
Leather, new proceBt of tanning 497
Legitimate bnein«88, stick to a. < 3fW
Letiere, foreign, regulations aato 3H0
** why they are not received. 3tt}
** regtatration of 40U
Liability of a lo<tging>boaae keeper 76
Library of Ck>ngre8S and Smlthaoiitan lnstl<
tatb,i>abllcaUon8 sent to
Life a»uranoo, law of 508
** ship proposed to b<i patented .^., 380
Light on Cape San Anlonio, Alicante S33
Light-hoaso at Base Blver, south side Vine-
yard Sound Ill
** In northwnt paseago, Key West 113
Light-houses, Iron, for the Piorida coast .... 516
Umfl water, use of, In making bread 3Bl
Li veipool, an extensive merchant In 393
Lodging-hoaee keeper, liability of. 76
London docks, wine vaults of. 237
Louisiana, act of, relatlve to personal proper-
ty pledges aSO
*^ bills of exchange and prominorr
Botealu 254
•* bonus for building ships in 138
•* law of, relative to seamen 106
** quarantine regulations ]14
•* nites of interest In 95
•» the new salvage law of. «19
LoulaviUe, extensive flouring mill in 138
Lowell, manufiictnres oH ] 503
Lumber trade of Qaebee for Ave years .... 334
Lynn, Massachusetts 56jl
M.
Machinery, lmprovem*ta in~tbe ■i'm-ham'r. 754
Main brace of tUate credit, the 477
Maine, discovery of gold and other coins in. 448
•• statistica of rnilroads of 518
** the rlvera of, the source of her wealth 767
Manufacture and growth of flax in Belgium . 383
^ of iron in the United 8tatea. . . 3S8
** of bread, improvement in the . 137
** of booU k. shoes by machinery 1S6
*, 1^ H platfrglass in New York.. .. 134
Manu(kctures,8oBtbern S60
^ ^.**. eariy, of New England * 747
Marble, American verd anUque. 383
Mariners, notices to... 113,^1,378*513,624. 743
Maritime disasters of 1854 ...380
Marriages in the State of Kentucky " ogg
MarselUe, aoulh coast of Fmaco, fixed light at 379
Maasaohusetta, dea(h*6 doings with popTof. . 630
** pop^ births, mar., k, deaths in 183
--. ,^, railroads, operaUoos of 846
Measures of diflbrentcountrlee 770
Mercbandlse, aeoounta and returns of .' 618
« entry of, without Invoice 361
» for oonsumpuoo, entry of 487
*• inboud,iransport-afonteafor. 485
" Importer*! bond for 487
*» Pwkingand repacking of..... 486
** value or, must be Indorsed on
thebond 401
Merchant, an extensive Liverpool
** commerce ami ihe ,
•» the Philadidphla 863
« theNew England :....;; ^8
«• ablpaand Bteamera 751
Merchants, an essay on character for 390
« ifltogiity of Philadelphia 135
•« relation of, to nauonal Independ. aso
MeroaatUe biofrapby : Walter R. iones .. .. 433
** ** Thomas IL Perkins.. J9
« «* Phlla. "Merchant" on 3661
« Law, Journal of.
Biwi 00, coinage of gold and sOrer from 1531
to 1852 478
Mexican tariff of 1855 617
Milk aa a manufacturing luHrtHli&ut 137
Mining and Maaulacturee, Juurnal of,
^ _^ 184. i57, 3^0,404,640, 758
♦* at Georgetown, uaifumla 381
MiBt of the United states 357
** theSan tVanclsco 353
Mliceliatties, MercanUle,
133,262,390,520,644,765
Money and banking 7....... .7 541
Morris^ method of steering iron ships by ^^
compass esg.-
Morro do San Paolo, Brazil, revolv'g light on 231
Mutualredemptloo,baakor. 480
Nautical intelligence.. Ill, 231, 378, 513, 624, 743
Navigation of G. B. and U. 8^ comparative. . 400
** at ihe port of Quebec 227
New England merchant, the 13ft
New Hampshire, law of insurance cos. in . . . 373
New Orleans banks, condition of ... 90, 340, 611
^ monthly receipts of carh duties
a^forl854-55 318 y
*♦ navigation of port of 606/
** regubt'n for iuep'ct'n of flour in 631
" trade k. comm 'roe of, in 1854-55 601
Newspaper postage In the United Stalea .... 389
Newspapers, postage on back numbers of. . . 4U»
New York banks, weekly averages of,
78,8107340,461,594,711
(* cash duties received at port of,
83,217,345,468,599,709
** canals, the contract system on.... 379
*» cattie trade for 1854 1|6
** city, finances of 612
^ city and oounty, relative value of
real and penonal estate in 610
'* city banks, condition of. 347
^ cotton market,
85,219,345,468,649,717
*♦ country bank exchange 475
** fire, marine, k life iusur'oe cos. in 109
, •* manufacture or phite-glasa In ... . 124
*> ocean and inland sienmera out of
portof->tbe'*PlymouihRock**. ]2iK
♦* pUots appointed by pilot com. in. 634
" P«puhiiXdweirg8,aciamillesin. 378
" stock Ore insurance companies in. Itrt
^ stock and debto of railroads in op-
eration in State of 131
** taxation of incorporate cos. in 3.'»8
»* United States assay oflloe in 473
Northern cities, long credit of. 363
Note, promissory, with 10 p. et. int. p. month 207
Notes, promiasory— makers and indorsers. . . 333
Notices to mariners.. . 112, 231, 378, 513, 0^ 743
Ocean and Inland steamera out of the port of
New York— the " Metropolis " 243
Ocean and inland steamers out of the port of
New York—the ** Plymouth Rock K, 129
Ocean steamers, transport^u of U. S. mails by 246
Ohio, com crop of each county lu State of . . 606
^* progress of iron manufactures in.. . . . '. 500
'* taxes of insurance companies in.... 374
*• taxable value of railroads In , 369
•< valley, coal flekls and products of 494
** wheat crop of each county in State of. 385
^ improvement la the live stock of.... «. 764
Oliver Kvans on the steam-eagiue. 749
Oporto, Portugal, wine disease at 238
Owners* HabUity of, ships passing each other 3U8
F.
71 lw7 a» -iM w« 7m/£?<*1o^ and repacking of merchandise 466
71,307,330,453,566, 703/P)w^»/ Industry, Paris, for great exhiblt'n. 257
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PafWM Mid iJrmgfnjj tne m? IgsUon of ... . 104
PftrteAMliibopc 5«
•* palaOH of Industry for great exblblUon. 25?
M populfttionof 133
Partner, a maiMiier with share of proflta, i«i-
poitaM lo merehiinia. *.. 906
nrtiier.<4ii|N eiHnnieretal law of 45t
PaaaingfT aad freight traiwporiatloD by ratl-
way,eo*or 840
Paaaengera' baggagis etistom hoiiae regutat'na
teregvrdto 308
huaragnra, carriage of, fo ateamsbipa and
other Teaseto 346
Paaaeofura In reaeels coming to New York. . 963
PeoMjlranla, oual trade M 4Sto
^ pruperty taxen and pop. uf . . . 87
•« milniad, freight over the 371
Petit Menan IJght-house, Maine 745
Pfaiiadelphia caule market 239
•* •• roerch«nl»'* the 362
•* *♦ merchant »» on mercantile bi-
ography 906
merchants, Ihtegrlty of 133
prtoeii of flour in^ m 00 yeara. 368
-•hip-building in 365
•^ real and personal property lo . 7:13
POota appointed by ihtt pIlfHoom.ln N. Y... 634
Ptoa k. needles made o( iron or aieeli whiten-
ing of 64«
PlaouuD tree, the 764
Pupaiaiiout dwelling, and families in N. Y. :i78
^ in l^und'in districts, progress of. 63U
•• of Paris 133
M of ArltahMS In 1850 and 1854 .. 235
M of Jersey City in IC5U and 1855. 031
«* of Uas8.,deathSidoiitfr8 «]lh... 639
«* of St. Umis in lt<54>55 131
** statistics i»f. . . ISO, 33A 375, 509, 63U
Pork lospectiun at Jeflferaon, La. 364
- trade of 1854-55 23o
Postage on baeli numbers of newspapera.. . . 489
•* newspaper, ic the United .<»ttaes .... 389
** statistics oi; Hi prin. ctUea oi U. S. . . 388
PosUI Department 3cS8,4e8, t;36
** treaty, mudiflculiou of Pruss.-Amer... 488
Postmastera, comiwiisitUun of, tu (I. States.. 388
M duties of, in reg'd to waste papV 490
M in [J. 8 , accounu and returns of 489
Post*ofllce roansgemfiit 638
^ progreas of the Irish ,....637
M statistics of the Uritlsh 638
M United 8tiites, statistics of 636
Prinoe*s ehan'l, entrance to the rhumea. 379, 635
..Prioclplea and lendeucics of inoduru cornice. 147
Pnzo (aw — ^iree siiips muke tree goods 573
ProducU of U. S., sale ot, in N. Orleaaa .... 253
Progress of population in Loudon districts .. 630
g*^ of commerce and i«ieiice 658
M of public works in India 758
Plromlaaory notes— ronkers and ludorsers. ... 333
•^ note with lu p. ct p. mouih Int.. 307
Proof sheets, correeti^ 389
Property, asaeawcd value of. In Connectlcot. . 353
*' executions 4c sale of, lu Louisuuia. 730
*^ real and personal in Brookl>n 478
•« •^ "* Philadelphia.. 733
•* ♦* ** Connecticut... §3
PrnasUn* American poeUl treaty, modiOca. of 488
Publtcatlons sent to librsry of Ui.gress and
Ssilhaoulan ioatituie • 490
QntMy, MassachosetU 303
Quebec, lumber trade of> for Ave years 224
•^ navigation of 837
R.
JMkMMl«Klatemb«aiacoi4eatfttoU.a„. 847
buodis OMiry on ttO
y.'.V.V/.'.V.V. 133
Brooklyn city .
FAN
RhHroadt Oanal, «Bd MeambMt AalliMea,
KO, 940, 360, SW, 037, 740"
M the Paonsylvanla^fkrelght over .... 3ri
*< the iSreat Western, meretaandlse in
bondtopasaon 91%
(* chah* and rail, DevlanV 700
RaHroads and canals 039
^ and agrionlture 944
M cost of fuel for 008
*« eamiags of. In 1854-60 371
M inOermany 010
M In operation In Stale of N. Yorlr,
stocks and debta of 131
«• of Maine, statlstkss of 510
** of Maasaehnsetts, operations of. . . 940
<« tarable value of. In Ohio 300
** traffic of Brie k. Central, in '54-53. 039
•* in Btate of Connecticut 780
Railway tranaportation of passenger and
frcHcht, cost of 940
Rpaiitrition of letters 400
Regnlatiotts as to fttretgn letters 869
*» at frontier ports of U. Stales... 480
« Commercial,
109,948,300,480,017,79$
** qiiarsnt*nei of Louisiana 114
*^ for passage of vtiiaela through
ship canal at 9L Mary*a Piitla. TOO
Revenae Ac expenditures of Rrattllan Empire 013
•» BrUlsh, In 1854-65 300
** laws, selxures for infraction of ... 303
** of principal ports of United States. 010
Rice of China, the imperial TO
Rooks on Cortex Bank, coast of Caliromla. . . 743
Russia, commerce and flnances of 94
S«
:^t mannfactnre at Syraeoss SOO
ijalvage, right of ucdon for 335
** services, libel to^ecnver 450
i^ampie packages, receipt and delivery of. . . 733
8andwich Islands, trade and c<immerce of.. . 101
8an Francisco branch mint, operations of. . . 9S3
«« flnances of city of 350
•• library usso., first report of. . . 317
" mint 353
<* navigation of 367
** ahlpmenuof goidfor9mo*s. 794
** thebauksof 799
dardines, consumption of, in U. Sutdea W
Savannah, tia., export trade of .607
:S<'a freight mH a dutiable charge. 365
^ physical geography of the..... 59
8eam«'n, law relative to, in Loulslaoa lOO
Seized and unclaimed goods 489
8ewiug machines, American, in France.... . 961
dhip, n veteran— the ^ Indian Chief*' 101
«' buikling in Philadelphia 365
^ canal at 8t. Mary's Kails, regulHt'ns for
the passage of vesaela through 740
** master of, borruwiuK money 330
Ships and steamers, uiscipllne on board of. . 517
^ bellfgereni, purchV of, by neutrals 353, 691
*^ usmes of, a national characteristic. . .. 640
M of theworld 401
^ papers, authentication of 303
** passing each oiher^ilHbiH^ of o W|iera 208
** and steamers, merchant 751
Shippers— unseaworthiness. 707
Shipping bnlil in the United Sintef 991
•* of Uie world lu 1854 408
Sliipmeuuof goods— consignments, 4cc. ... 455
Sicily, bri mstoiie trade of , 300
Sliver, where it comes from 8S0
Slave labor, proflis of 730
Sorgho,s new augarolant 110
^ sugar, a rtval of tne sugar-cane 388
Soqnd dues of Denmark 403
SoMih* eutton manufacture in *. 409
^ efl^s ol free labor in 033
Sonthemmanufacturea 900
•* 8taioa> native and foreign pop. lA.. 835
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1111
IMVMK ti^ TOUMB UZZH.
rAOB
Bpaliitooutot 098
«* north coast of, fixed light at Gijon.. . . 379
Spirits, consanpUon oi; in Eogluid, Sootland,
and Ireland 334
St. Clair flats and lake navigation 845
<St. Louts, popntatioo of, in 1854-55 181
**' steamboat trade of 751
Standard weight of Liverpool salt in N. O. . . 738
State and Terrltorj, oommeroe of each. 100
** credit, the main brace of. 477
StattaUcs, commei«iaL. 05, 331, 305, 491, 001, 735
**> oragricaltare,li4,830,384,505,031,759
«* of popalation. ... ISO, 333, 375, 509, 030
M ofthe British post-office. 038
^ railroad, canal, and steamboat,
139,340,300,510,037,740
*« of U. Kingdom, agricultunil 701
StatisUcal essay : immigration since 1790.. . . 509
Steam dictionary 748
M engine, the, and Oliver Erans 749
M hammer, the 754
Steamer, recovery of, after abandonment to
the underwriters Ill
Steamers and shipfi, discipline on board of. . 517
Steamboat disasters on the western waters . . 037
*»■ Empire 8tate and a sloop, colUs^ 330
«* trade of 8u Louis 751
' Steamboats, American 519
w liable for robbery 500
Steamship Telegraph and bark Palermo, col-
lision between 334
M the ''Great Eastern'* 519
Steamships and other vessels, pass. carM in. 348
Stock and debta of railroads in operation in
the Stale of New York 131
^ Are ins. companies in New York 107
Stocks in Boston, seminmnual dividends on. 351
Stockholders, bank, consatuUonal liability of 010
Storage and rates of labor in public stores . . 485
Stores, Idlers in— short business vislu 363
Storekeeper of a port in the U. Slates 484
Strawberry, the cultivation of 703
Sugar ^coflbe, and indigo m Java 309
** 'plant,aiiew 110
Sweating case— contract of afflreightment.. . . 703
Syracuse, salt manufacture at 500
Tanning leather, new process of. 497
TarHr and ihe currency 101
^ Mexican, of 1855 017
Tuatlon of looorporated companies in N. Y. 358
»• in different cities of United States. 719
Taxes on Insurance compaalea in Ohio 374
Tea, culture oA in Braxil 443
•* ouHnre,the. 758
Texas, debt of the late republic or. 88
»• the varnish tree of 384
Thames, eatranee to— Prince^ Channel 035
Time of trsnsportation bond in U. States.. . . 484
Tradeand commerce ofN. Orleans, 1854-55. 001
tt a CincinnaU 740
«* betwera Enghmd and Turkey 103
.«* thebook 139, 807, 3^^535, 051, 771
** direct teke, wlih HoUand 138
•» magnetlsmin 047
«* marks, fabncaled 533
*^| Bmersonon 70S
** parsimony and economy in 709
Ttapaai, SicUy, flashing light at. 331
Transportation bond in U. States, time of. . . 484
M routes for merch'dise In bond 485
Treasure Trove ; or the discovery of gohl it
other coins in Maine 448
Tteaty of commerce between United Statea
and the Argentine Confederation. . . 103
** the Canadian reciprocity 394
Tobacco and cigars, facta about Cuba 048
»' and cotton, culture of, in Algeria. . . 631
M the popular plant tB the world 034
rA«B
Tonnage, Amer.fc tor., ent&fliear*d In U.S. 97
Turpentine, oil of, the essence of coal a sub-
stitute for 048
XT.
United Kingdom, agricultural statistics of. . . 761
United States and G. B., com p. tonnage of. . 403^
*< and States ofUnion, debts of.. 91
** American a^d foreign tonnage
entered and deared in 97
*« commerce of.... 388,431,2^003
** comp^isation of postm*rs in . . 380
** customs rev. of prin. porta of.. 010
(* consumption of sardines in. . . . 006
*« debto of cities in the 93
**■ emtgrationto 834
^ exporta of tea from China to. . . 493
M finances of principal cities of . . 470
** frontier ports, regulationa at . . 485
** government— ita cost 88
^ import of cloths into 491
** importa into, from Brlu proves. 480
^ iron imported into, in 1650-54. 493
*^ land sales in, in 1854-55 630
** mail, transp. of, by oc'n steam^ 346
** mint 357
** native It foreign popuiat^n of.. 030
*^ penalties if iroods are reTded in 480
■**• post-ofllce, statistics of 086
^ raikoad 4t si*robH accidenta in. 347
** ships and shipping of 383
^ shipping built In 331
^ seven oen&usea of 70
** statistical view of commerce of 890
** statistics of postage In principal
citiesof 388
** storekeeper of a port in 484
^ value of exporta 4t importa of. 90
** banking in— ita efl'ecta 730
** city taxation In 719
** customs regulations of 735
" iron industry of 753
** statistics of commerce of 736
Usury on railroad bonds 336
T.
Value of merefaanH. must be lnd*sed on bond 481
Varnish tree of Texas. 384
Vermont, liens 4t chattels mortgsged in ... . 731
Vesaels, number of, entered into u. States.. .711
Vineyard Sound, lighthouse on north side of 111
Voluntary payments, the application of 098
Warebovse and transportation entry 486
WardMHues, bond, etc., application to 630
" public, duty of superintend, of. 483
Warranto or drafts, lost 490
Watches, manufacture of. 490
Weights, measures, and coins, uniformity in,
among commercial nations 089
Weser channel, publication respecting the
msrkingof 378
Western New York, coals for 333
Whale fiahery, statistics of 95
Wharfage, rates of, at Uie port of New York. 733
Wheat crop of each county in t^tata of Ohio. 385
Wine, buying of, by sample 047
*»> disease at Oporto, Portugal 238
**• vaulta ofthe London docks 937
** manufacture of currant 750
Wire rope: Ite origin, qualities, k, economy. 640
Woodbury^s writings 180
Wool, demand for. In Europe 138
** Import 4t export of, in Great Britain .. 99
** imported Into Great Britain 494
Woolen manufactures in America, the first. . 501
Z.
Zlae of oommeroe, fomeacooont of the.... 756
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HUNT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE.
Bstal»lUhe« Jvlyt 183e«
BT FREEMAN HUNT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
VOLUMB XXXITL J U L T , 1866. NUMBER I.
CONTENTS OF NO. I., VOL. XXXIIl.
AKTICLKS.
AmT. PA»t.
1. MERCAlfTlLE BIOGRAPBT: THOMAS HANDASTD PERKINS 10
II. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL 0ITIB3 OP THE UNITBD STATES,— No. zxxix.
MEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA 53
IILTHE PR T8I0AL GEOGRAPHY OP THE SEA 50
IV. COMMERCIAL AND INDUiSTRIAL CITFES OP EUROPE.— No. xiu. PRANKFORT-
ON-THE-MAINB, GERMANY. Frinkfort— Ceogrftpbteal PoBitlon— History— GoTero-
Bent— Its Popalatiou and Enomioas Wealth— Rfi^iietlonB an tu Cllfxensbip— The Rtirer
Maine— ProdneiB and Mannfactoret— German Railroads— Profitable InTeelmentr-The
Bankers, Brokers, MerehantSi and Trades>people of Frankfort— Banking on the Amerh
can Plan— Dealers In Cotton Goods. Ribands, Laces, ilewelry. Books, Chemicals, etov—
Workings of the ZollTeretn— The For Trade of Germaoj- The Proposal of Secretary
Gntbrie to admit HaMers* For Duty Free— Shipments of German Wine, Cigare, Hosiery,
and Woolen Cloths to the United e5totes— The Salaries of Clerks, the Wages of Meeban-
ks. Laboring Men. and Servants— Germany in Its Political Aspect— The Oemuuilc Con-
JMeratUm— Austria, Prussia, and the Minor Powers, etc, etc 63
V. TBB SEVEN CENSUSES OP THE UNITED ST ATES-"* PROGRESS OP THE UNI-
TED STATES IN POPULATION AND WEALTH.**. 70
JOURNAL OF HERCiNTILE LAW.
Bins of Exchange and Bills of Lading— Declslqa of the Tribunals of Hsvre 71
Express Bnslness as Distinguished from Common Carriers. 79
The Book Trade— Injunction Perpetuated— Decision of Judge Nelson 74
LiablUli of a Lodging-bouse Keeper. 7f
COHHERCIAL CHRONICLE AND RETIEW:
nnftAonro a fikangial amd oommskoial ebvixw or tbb vnrtED states, rra, illustea-
TXO WITH TABLES, ETC, AS FOLLOWS :
Accounts of the Growing Crops— Speenlattons In Breadstuffi— The Bank Movement— Supply of
Specie— Depodto at the New York Assay OfHce— DeposlU and Coinage at the Phlladelpbia
and New Orleans Mints— Surplus of Silver Coin— The Stock Market— Foreign Exchantre—
Imports at New York for Msy, and fh>m January 1st— Imports of Dry Goods— Exports from
New York for May, and fh>m January 1st— Imports and Exporu for Eleven Months— Cash
Revenue at New York, Boston, and Philadelphia— Exports of Dnmestic Produce— Banks of
Dlsoountand Issue, with some Remarks on tbe recent Changes of Policy, etc 77-84
New York OotUm Market - 85
VOL. mm. — HO. I. 2
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18 OOHmiTS OF KO. I,^ TOL. TTTTn.
JOCRNAl OP BANIINS, CUSSENCT, AND FINANCE.
Propertj, Taxes, and Popfolatton or PenaqrlTtnU 87
GoTerament of the United 8tot6*-lto Cost 88
Tabular Statement of the Debt of lite Repablic of Texas 88
Condition ofthe New Orleans Banks M
Debts of the United States and the States of the Union 91
Value of Propertj, real and personal. In Coonectleot.— THnsactions of the Bank of England. ... 9S
The DebU of Cities in the United States.— BeU*B PhUosophy of Joint-stock Bankti« 8S
Gold and Spede reeeiTed in En^and in 1854^-Coinmeroe and Finances of Russta iH
New BankingLawof Indiana.— The Bates of Uiterest inLouislana 9S
COHHfiRCIiL STATISTICS.
Statistics of the Whale nshery 9S
Value of Exports sndlmporto of United States 06
American and Foreign Toonsge Entered and Cleared the United States 1^
British Excise Returns in 1853 and 1854 08
import and Export of Wool in Great Britain 90
Statenent exhibiting the Commerce of each State and Territory ftom July 1, 1853, to June 30, 1854 100
Trade and Commerce of the Sandwich Islands 101
CottonsndSlSTeStatistios.— The** Indlsn Chief '^— a Veteran Ship 101
Trade between England and Turkey 108
COIIEICIAL REGULATIONS.
Treaty of Commerce, etc, between the United States snd the Argentine Confederation 108
Free NaTlgation of the RlTcrs Parana and Uruguay 104
Law of Louisiana relaUTe to Seamen 106
Custom Duties in Canada lOf
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.
Stock Fire Insurance Companies in New York Januarr 1,1855 107
Fire, MHrine, and Lilb Insnrsnce Companies in New York 109
RecoTery of sStesmer after abandonment to the UnderwriterB HI
NAUTICAL INTELLISSNGE.
Lighthouse at Basi ElTsr, north ilde Vineyard Sound Ill
Notices to Mariners : Dundalk Flaahlng Light— Ireland, East Cosst. BroadbaTcn Fixed Li^l—
Ireland, West Coast Fixed Light on the Beeves Rock— Ireland, Rirer Shannon 118
Buoyage of ttie Qneen*s ChsnneL— Lighthouse In Northwest Paange, Key West 1 13
Louisiana Quarantine Regulations 114
STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, te.
Commerce In .Inlmals and Consumption of Animsl Food 114
IlkeSorgbo, a new Sugar Plant— New York Cattle Trade for 1854 116
STATISTICS OF POPULATION, fce.
Resulta of the Census of Great Britain— No. yri; Density and Proximity of Population.- Islands. 180
Kansas Census in 185S.—Population of St Louis in 1854h5 181
Population, Birtha, Marriages, and Deatha in Massachusetts 188
Population of Paris 183
JOnSRAL OF IINING AHS HANUFACTUBES.
Msnufheturs of Plate Glass in New York 184
ne Alcohol of Chemistry and Commerce.— Gravel Concreta 185
Bonus for building Ships in Louisisna^-Coffibination of Iron and Glass 180
Manufacturing Boots and Shoes by Machinery 186
Improvement In the manuracture of Bread.— Milk as a manuflwtnring Ingredient 187
Extensive Flouring Mill In Louisville.— Chesp Coal by a Chemical Preparation 188
Demand for Wool in Europe 188
Men engaged in the Bnildinff Trades in Great Britain 187
~ . "• • - ""'inLonisville.- ChespC •- — ••- —
rope
Lord BerTledale*s Patent fbr Psper ftom Ute Thistle 181
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STBAHBOAT STATISTICS.
Ocesn and Inland Steamers out of the ^ort of New York— No. u. ** The Plymouth Rock.**. .... 186
Stock and Debia of the Railroads in operation in Um State of New York 131
A new RaUroad Bridge 133
IBBCANTILB HISCBLLANIE8.
Memoirs of American Merchants Eminent ft>r Integrity, Industry^ Energy, Enterprise, snd Suc-
cess in Life laS
The Boston Board of Trade and tbe Merchants' Magasine 131
Integrity of PbiladelphU Merchants 135
ThaNew England Merchant 136
The Mercantile Library Assodstion of Cincinnati 138
Where the Cork of Commerce comes flrooDu— Direct Lake Ttade with Holland 138
TIB BOOI TBADB.
Notices of »MW Books •rMwMdltloBS ^ ^.« 138-144
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HUNT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE
▲VD
COMMERCIAL REVIEW,
JULY, 1855.
Art. L— HERCANTILE BIOOBAPHT:
THOMAS HANDASYD PSREINa
Tbovas Hah]>A0Ti> Pkrkins was bom in BostoD, December 15, 1764,
tmd maned for bis matenial grandfather, Thomas Handasyd Peck, who
denH largely in furs and the importation of hats. His father was a mer^
^ant, who died in middle age, leaving a widow and eight children, thre«
sons and five daughters, most of them very younff. 8he was a woman of
excellent principles and remarkable energy, and undertook the heavy
charge thus devolved upon her with deep solicitude, (as appeared from a
tttbe^uent reference of her own to this passage of her life,) but with firm- •
Bess and ability. She appears to have assumed some part of the business
of her husband, who had been connected with George Erving, one of the
principal merchants in the town. Letters from Holland are remembered
which were addressed to her as Mr, Elizabeth Perkins ; and when her
eldest son, having attained the age of manhood, went some years afteward
to the Island of St. Domingo, where he established himself, he sailed from
Boston in a ship, the Beaver, of which his mother was part owner, and
which had been chartered to the French government to transport part of
their cavalry to Cape Francois.
Thia estimable lady discharged her duties successfully, rearing her chil-
dren with snch advantages as fitted them for stations of responsibility,
which they afterward filled with crectit to themselves and to her f and at
the same time taking &n active part herself with the charitable associations
of the town, which is shown by acknowledgments found among her pa-
pen and in records of her services as treasurer and otherwise, ^m those
with whom she aeted.
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20 Jiercantile Biography:
On her decease in 1807, it was voted ^that the officers of the Boston
Female Asjlum wear a badge of mourning for the term of seventy-one
days," (corresponding probably to the years of her life,) " in token of their
high consideration and respect for the virtues of the deceased, and of their
grateful and affectionate sense of her liberal and essential patronage as a
founder and friend of the institution.** She is still remembered by a few
gentlemen, sons of her former neighbors and associates, as an excellent
mend, of active benevolence, and as a lady of dignified, but frank and cor-
dial manners.
Numerous descendants of hers, under various names, nqw move in dif-
ferent walks of life in the United States, in Europe, and Asia, and not a
few of them distinguished for prosperity and the wise use of wealth, and
for intelligence and refin^uent, as well as for the sound principles which
she inculcated on. all.
The success of several of the branches of her family was essentially pro-
moted by the energy and warm-hearted sympathy of the subject of this
memoir, who was the second son, only six years of age at the death of his
father in 1771. Some notice of one, who was himself an eminent mer-
chant, and in reference to whom it may be said that both his father and
mother were merchants, seems to find an appropriate place in a commer-
cial magazine.
His father lived in King-street, now State-street, where the conflict took
place between the citizens and the troops, called afterwards the ^' Boston
massacre ;" and though he was little more than ^ve years old at that time,
the sight of the dead bodies and of the blood, frozen the next day on the
street, made an impression on his mind that was never obliterated. The
troops being quartered near there, many of the officers were afterwards
visitors in his mother's family.
At about seven years of age he was put under the care of a clergyman
of ffreat respectability at Middleborough, about thirty miles from Boston,
and was afterwards at school in Boston, until intercourse with the country
being stopped, his mother retired with her family to Barnstable, where
she resided till the town was evacuated by the enemy. His grandfather,
Mr. Peck, remained in Boston through the siege, but was near being sent
home to be tried as a rebel for freedom of speech.
While living with his mother at Barnstable, both his legs were broken
by an unlucky accident, as he was returning from an excursion in the
woods ; and d^ough the limbs were well set, and he soon recovered the
9se of them, he occasionally felt the effect of the injury when the weather
was bad, even in advanced age. There, too, he formed an early and close
friendship, that remained unbroken for nearly eighty years, until termina-
ted by death, with one of his companions whom he had saved from drown-
ing— the late distingtiished lawyer and statesman, Harrison Gray Otis,
nephew of the revolutionary patriot
Some time after the return of the family to town, his mother decided on
giving him a collegiate education, and he was sent, with other boys from
roston — one of whom was the Hon. John Welles, now the oldest living
graduate of Harvard — to an instructor at Hingham, the Rev. Mr. Shute,
noted for his success in preparing lads for college. After residing there
three years, and being prepared for Cambridge, ne was so reluctant to en-
ter college, that it was decided that he should go into a counting-house.
He was strongly inclined by temperament to active life. Vigorous and bold,
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Thama9 ffandcuyd Ferkint. 21
with a frame peculiarly fitted for endurance, which was afterwards devel-
oped in fine proportions fon strength and beauty in manhood, he saw
less to attract him in the life of a student than in one of enterprise, where
he might indulge a love of adventure and exercise the courage, equal
to almost every emergency, which characterized him. He was placed with
the Messrs. Shattuck, then among the most active merchants of Boston,
with whom he remained until he was twenty-one.*
On leaving the Messrs. Shattuck in 1785, not being well, he was ad-
vised to pass the winter in a warm climate, and visited his elder brother,
Mr. James Perkins, in St. Domingo. From there he went to Charles-
ton, S. C, and in some memoranda made for his children within two years
past he refers to this visit to South Carolina in the following terms : —
'* As I had taken letters of introduction to some of th& most distinguiHhAd id-
habitants of Charleston from Gen. Lincoln and Gen. Knox, the former of whom
was the defender of Charleston during the war of the Revolution and was a
great favorite, it ^ave me a pleasant mtroduction into the best society under
mo4t favorable circumstances. As the inhabitants who have large plantations
spend as much of their time on them ns the climate will allow, I was an inmate
in several of their families, but passed the principal part of the time at the plan-
tation of Mr. Thomas Ferguson, who had several rice plantations upon which
be numbered upward of 800 slaves. The plantations were at a place called
Pon Pen ; and in the vicinity was Gen. Wm. Washington, who was a nephew
of President W., and during the war commanded a regiment of cavalry. He
mned a high reputation as a soldier, and was an accomplished gentleman.
There was fine sport with the gun, geese, duck, teal, &.C., bemg in great abun-
dance. Every Saturday the gentlemen of the neighborhood met at a hunting
stand in a favorite spot for deer, hunted in the morning, and made good eheer
after the chase, dining in the woods, and in case of not having success in hunt-
ing, always securin£f a succedaneum in the form of ham, chickens, and other
** creature comforts." The Saturdays were real red letter days; and I could
name twenty who were in the habit of meeting on sqoh occasions all of whom
have long since retired behind the soenes.**
He soon afterward accepted an invitation to join his brother in St Do-
mingo, and they formed a house there which was very successful ; but
finding that the climate did not agree with his health, he returned to
Boston, and for some time attended to the business of the house in the
United States, where their correspondence was extensive, his younger
brother, the late Samuel G. Perkins, Esq., filling his place in the firm.
In 1788 he was married to Miss Elliot, only daughter of Simon Elliot,
Esq. It was a union entirely of affection, and lasted for more than 60 years.
His married life was commenced with necessity for strict economy ; but
* Lonii; sftorward he recurred to \h\t dedtlon with regret for bavlDg rellnqoithed raeh a privilege^
and In adyaneed ige repeatedly lald that, other things being eqaal, (which condition be repeaud
emphatleallyO be shoaid prefer for commeroial parraita tboae wbo bad received the moat complete
edoestlon. lo thia opinion he leema to have coincided with another experienced merchant, who
once gave ft as the reault of bis observation in a long life, that aa a general rule applied to the whole
claaa of commercial men, of whom it ia well known that a considerable proportion fall, tboae had
inceeeded beat who were the best educated. It derives confirmation, too, fk'om a fact generally no-
ticed, both here and In Europe, by those who know what goes on in the public schools where lads
are prepared by diflbrvot cooraes of stody respectively, either for college or for mercantile lifb, as
th«lr friends prefer. Those who are engaged in classical studies for most of the week and give but a
small portion of U to other pursuits, are'genemlly found to be well up In arithmetic, geography, ^c,
with those wbo.bestow their whole time <» such branches.
Without underrating the importance of a habit of attention to detail, or the knowledge of mlnete
aflUrs and the qualities of merchandise, which may be acquired by early apprenUceship, 11 la to be
remembered that men of high culture who mean to effect what they attempt, show great aptitude
tut the minttilflB,a8 well as for the general scope cTany new business which they undertake, ana that
intellect well disciplined has considerable advantages in comparison with rouUne.
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22 Mercantile Biography:
the connection probably gave an uaportant bias to his commercial career,
as it led to intimacy with Capt. James Magee, a relatiye of Mra. Perkins,
who had made one voyage to Canton. lie soon tunied his attention to
trade with China, and sailed from Boston in February, 1789, as supercargo
of the ship Astraea, belonging to £. H. Derby, £sq., of Salem, bound to
Batavia and Canton, and commanded by Capt Magee. Difficulties were
encountered and inconveniences were necessarily submitted to then which
are avoided now. The ship was not coppered, and her bottom becoming
foul, they made a long passage to Batavia ; being in want of water before
arriving there, they stopped at Mew Island, at the mouth of the Straits of
Sunda, for a supply. Referring to the voyage and this incident in some
memoranda made for his children many years afterward, he says : —
" The casks in which a part of oar water was contained had been used in
briDging coffee from the Cape of Good Hi»pe, and although burned out, and. as
was supposed, purified, yet the water put in them was most distrusting. The
waters from the cascade on the Java shore were, of course, duly appreciated.
We remained in this beautiful bay several days. There were at the time I speak
of (now fifty-seven years since) no inhabitants on thb part of Java. I went on
shore every day, and in one of my excursions climbed the precipice over which
the cascade flowed, to examine its source, and from what we learned on reach-
ing Batavia, we were led to believe that we had run great hazard, as more than
one instance had occurred of persons visiting the same spot having been de-
stroyed by tigers, who were slaking their thirst in this beautiful stream. Bate
of great size were seen crossing the narrow strait which 'divided Mew Island
from Java, and returning towards the dose of day to their roosts on the Java
side.
** I remember as if it were yesterday the fright I had in crossioff a creek, the
bottom of which was hard, about knee deep, and but a few yards wide. My
erossing alanned half a dozen or more young crocodiles or alligators, which
were farther up the stream than where I was crossing, and they came down upoa
OS with a celeiw whfeh was inconceivable. None of them tonehed either my
servant or myself, and I have no doubt they were quite as much alarmed as we
were.
^ No boats or vessels of any kind came into the bay while we lay there.
Princess Island was in dght; but the inhabitants, who had a bad name, were
otherwise engaged, and we met nothing to alarm us. The pirates from Sumatra
and the Eastern Islands made frequent attacks on vessels in those days, even so
far to the west as the Straits of Sunda, though their depredations were more
confined to Banca Straits and the more eastern archipelago."
That part of Java remains uninhabited now, as it was at the time which
he thus referred to, and both tigers and anacondas abound there. Quite
recently a botanist, engaged in making collections for a British nobleman,
having crossed from Mew Island to tl^ Java shore, his dog sprang from
Uie boat as it touched land, and, dashing into the woods, was imm^iately
seized by a ti^er, as his master doubtless would have been if he had en-
tered the thicket first. The enormous bats here mentioned are well known
to naturalists. It is said that coal has now been discovered in that vicinity,
which may lead to some settlement there.
They were among the earliest visitors at Batavia from this country, and
were treated with great civility by the Governor-General and others in
authority, but found some difficulty in obtaining permission to dispose of
die cargo intended for that place. He kept a journal while there, and the
following extracts from it exnibit some obstructions in business and defer-
ence to authority, from which foreigners are now relieved.
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Tkomoi Hsmdoiyd Perkins. 23
** JaTy 13, 1789. At five oVlock anchored in three fathoms water in the harbor
of Batam, where we saw Capt Webb'a brig. At seven the captain came on
board, and gave us the most melancholy account of the state of affairs at the
place— of the prohibition and restrictions on trade, and everything else which
eoald serve to give us the dumps.
^ 14th. At eight in the morning took Capt Webb in our boat and went ob
shore. The entrance of the canal through which we pass is about half a mile
firom the ship. The appearance in the habor beautiful. Canals, which cross
each other at right angles through the city, are about forty or fifty feet wide.
The water, which is always very dirty, must be unhealthy ; they are continually
filled with boats, which carry up and down cargoes.
**The variety of naticms, which are easily to be known by their different coun-
tenances, astonishing. Great numbers of Chinese. Stopped at the custom-
house, where the names of the captain and myself were taken, and other minutes
respecting our passage, dtc. As the canal is difficult to pass after getting to this
plaee, which is about a mile-and-a^half from shore and through the centre of the
town, we took a coach, which was provided us by the Scribe who questioned us,
and with whom I rode to the Shabendar's. Received with civility by him, but
discouraged from expecting permission to sell. Represented our situation — the
encooFagement we had ever met with, &c He told us he would do everything
ID his power to serve us, but feared we should not succeed.
** Was conducted to the hotel, where all stran|rer8 are obliged to put up.
Found Blanchard, who M>eaks of his prospects as distressing. Had been here a
week and done nothing but petition.
** According to common custom, presented a petition through the Shabendar
for permission to sell. Waited upon the Director-General, for >iAom we had a
letter from Mr. L , his nephew. His house a palace ; he received us,
D«tebman4ike, in his shirt sleeves, and his stockings half down his legs ; took
our address^ and told us we should hear from hun again ; think he will be of
service to us. Made other acquaintances through my knowledge of French, and
endeavored to make some friends. To-morrow the council dt, when our fate is
to be known.
^ This evening the British ship Vansittart arrived, and the captain, whose name
is Wilson, withnis second mate, purser, and doctor, came on shore. Was very
happy to find the doctor to be the gentleman for whom I had a letter, and whom
I siq[>posed to bare been in the Pitt, Indiaman ; he seems to merit all which has
b^n said to me of him ; feel myself drawn towards him more from his being a
countryman than, perhaps, f^om any other circumstance, on so short an acquaint-
** Thursday, 16th. Anxious for the reception the petition may meet At ten
o^loek Capt Wilson and I went with the Shabendar, with our petitions, to the
council chamber. After walking the hall a long time, and being witness to a
great deal of pompous parade, was introduced to the council chamber, where the
membera— who are eight in number — were seated round a large table covered
w^ silk velvet, with the Governor-General as president I made mv respects,
and presented my petition, and then left them to take another stroll in the hall,
till the Shabendar, upon the ringing of a bell, once more introduced us to the
great chamber, when Capt Wil^n had liberty to land his articles ; but we, poor,
despised devUs, were absolutely denied the liberty of selling a farthing's worth.
WlmlttTer I thought of the partiality, I very respectfully took my leave, but
determined to persevere — and after much difficulty, got leave to renew our peti-
tions.
** 16th. Received an invitation to sup with the Director, where we were su-
perbly entertained and met much company. Many speak French; represented
our situation ; music at supper.
''Friday, 17th. Nothing to be done until Monday, when the council meet
again. It is supposed we shall not have our future petition aooeded to. Making
interest
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24 MereantUe Biogra^y :
** Sunday, 19th. Dined with the Governor, and reoeifed civility; an elegant
place. Tlie area, where we dined, Huperb ; and the prcspect round it not to be
exceeded. Pai^sed the evening, by invitation, at the Director's, where were all
the Council of Bight, the Grovernor, the old Director-General, and other grandees.
More parade than before. Played cardn ; custom of washing before and after
dinner ; the improvement in luxury ; washing in rose-water ; supper elegant —
superbly so ; huzzaing, and the return from the owner of the house after any
complimentary toast
** I wrote a petition in behalf of Blanchard and myself, and had it translated into
Dutch.
" Monday, 20th. Dined with the Fiscal, who treated us with good fare ; the
British officers there, and many persons of consequence.
*' Tuesday, 21st. Supped with one of the Edelheeren; everything in superb
style; the same company as before; the Governor there; he does not honor
them more than once a year with his visits. Twenty ladies at table; their dress,
manners, style of putting up the hair — sitting by themselves ; toasts; huzzas;
bouquets ; rose-water ; superfluity of everythmg which Europe and the Indies
can give.
" Gained permission to sell."
This restriction on sales by foreigners has been removed since that time,
and it is not necessary to wait for any such permission now. But at that
time the United States of America were little known or regarded in that
distant part of the world, and it is easy to see that the final success which
the young merchant thus attained with the despotic authorities of Batavia,
who had pointedly and formally refused his application in the outset, is
fairly attnbutable to personal qualities which distinguished him even at
that early period, and were characteristic through me. Few men could
exert a greater influence over others with whom he had an important
point to carry.
His notes, on various subjects, in the same diary, show careful and gen-
eral observation : —
** It is death to take spices ; and an acknowledgment of having received no-
tice of this is required, so that one cannot plead ignorance. The Chinese racked
ou the wheel for running spices ; yet any of tliem will do it, bringing them to
one's chamber in small quantities of 20 or 30 lbs. The Chinese are the princi-
pal husbandmen. All the Eastern nations' are represented here in greater or
less numbers — Armenians, Moormen, &^, Murders frequent ; Malays revenge-
ful and cowardly, taking everv advantage of situation, fearing to attack a man
openly, and even afhiid to hold a piatoL Gates of the city ; strict regulations
respecting the going out and coming in at them. Four gates; walled all round
— kept in good repair ; regularity of the trees. Chinese live in the suburbs,
and obliged to be out of the walls before night.
^ Procured two birds of paradise ; the biid a native of the Moluccas or Spice
Islands; valuable at Bengal and on the peninsula of India.
*' Birds' nests at Batavia at 2,500 paper dollars the pecul. The birds that
make these nests are shaped like the swallow, and fly with the same velocity,
but are smaller. We saw numbers of them while at Mew Island, but did not
know them to be the same at the time. The cu.idt of Suoiatra gives the great-
est supply of them — called the Salignare, and found in great numbers in the
Philippines. They always lay in the same nest unless it 1^ destroyed, and will
keep continually rebuilding when their nests are taken away ; late method of in-
suring good nests by destroying all the old ones. The nests are formed of a
glutinous substance found in the water. They are about the size of the inside
of a swallow's nest, and some of them almost transparent The soup made of
them is very palatable, but as it is dear, it is not often met with ; the old ne^ta are
of a black east, and not near so valuable as the white. There are three layers or
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Thamtm Mandaat^ Ferkim. 25
tbieknesses in the neste whieh, when separated, appear like three distinet nests ;
the first or outside layer brings tiie least price, increasing to the inside, which
beirs the amazing price above quoted. t
** The shark fins are also esteemed a great delicacy for soaps, and to many are
▼ery palatable ; bat to me they were not so.
** There are at Batavia nine persons who bear the title of Bdelheer, that being
a title of nobility which they have assumed to themselves. Among these nine
persons is incladed the Oovernor-General, who is the president of the Grand
Council of the Indies, the other seven Conneillors, and the Director-General of
the company, whose post is second in the settlement The old Director also
who — being far advanced in yearn — resigned, holds this dignity of Edelheer, and
has the same attention paid to him that the inhabitants are obliged to pay to the
rest of them. Obeisance is exacted from all persons without distinction in one
form which has much disturbed the feelings of some strangers who were not
used to acknowledge themselves the inferiors of any one, and felt much galled
at not being able to help themselves. It is this : the carriage of an Edelheer is,
when in the city or on meeting any carriage of distinction, preceded by two run-
ning footmen, who carry each a baton or cane, with abrass head resembling the
weight used with a pair of steel-yards, and of an extraordinary size. This an-
nounces the carriage which follows to be that of an Edelheer, when the other
carriage must drive up on one side the way, and there wait until his greatness
has passed. They are very civil in returning one as low a boW as is given
them. When no carriage of distinction is^n the road, and the £delheer*s car-
nan^ is without the suburbs, it is known by those canes before spoken of, being
projected from the back part of the carriage in such a manner that they cannot
bat be seen. There is a heavy fine exacted for passing the carriage of an Edel-
heer without stopping.
** Some time since there was an East India Company's ship at Batavia, the cap-
tun of which thinking this a very great indignity offered him, upon his coach-
man's attempting to stop his horses, ordered him by signs to go on, which order
not being complied with on the part of the former, the captain gave him a very
severe prick with his sword. This made some noise at the time, but was ovor-
looked. I think it did no great honor to the ffood sense of the captain, who
most have been aware that the poor devil who drove him knew that passing the
Edelheer would be attended with disagreeable consequences to himself, which
should have alone been sufficient to have prevented Uie captain from wishing it.
** The captain of a French frigate who was here fell upon a much more eligible
plan, and one which succeeded to admiration. On being informed that his coach-
man would stop on meeting one of the Elderheeren, he determined on endeavor,
ing to overcome by civility what he had no hopes of averting by any other
means. He had directions for distinguishing the carriage of an Edelheer, and
as soon as he saw one, prepared himself for descending from his carriaffe. As
soon as his coachman checked his horses, he alighted from hb coach and made
his respects to the Edelheer, who could do no less than dismount from his
upon seeinff a person of the appearance of the captain thus paying him his re-
spects ; and after many ceremonioas bows and testimonies of civility, they again
resumed their seats in their several carriages. This piece of outstretched polite-
ness was found to be the cause of some trouble to the gentlemen EMolbeeren
daring the captain's stay here, which induced them to send an order to the hotel,
giving leave to the coachman of the French captain to drive on without stopping
for any one of the council, or indeed of the Edelheeren.
** In private companies the greatest attention and studied politeness is shown
them, and they always when at table, sit opposite to the master of the house,
who divides the table lengthwise, and does not, like the host with us, take his
seat at the end. They have a privilege of passing in and out of the several
gates of the city at any time in the day, which is what no other person can do,
as there are particular hours for passing and repassing the different gates."
These dignitaries and the troublesome ceremonies attendant on their
rank are no longer known.
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26 JiertaniUe Bioffrapky:
*^ There is at Batavia a great medley of inhabitaBts. The principal persons in
business, after the Hollanders, are the Moormen^ Many of them are very rich.
They are distinguished by a peculiarity of dress and a turban on the head. They
wear square-to^ shoes, which turn upsnd terminate at each comer in a kind of
ear, which has a curious appearance. Thvy are rather slippers than shoes, having
no quarter or straps to them. In some respects these people exceed any set of
men whom I saw while at Batavia; they have an ease of address and an air of
good breeding, which one would not expect to find ift their countrymen. In their
houses they are courteous, and strive to make one's time agreeable while under
their roofs. They are the best^shaped of any of the Eastern nations whom I ob-
served while there; their complexion nearly the same as that of the aboriginals
of America; their features regular and well set, with the most piercing eye of
any people I ever saw. Their religion is Mahometanism. They carry on a great
trade to the different islands in the Indian seas, and by their traffic make great
fortunes ; their mode of saluting is by passing the right hand, with a slow mo-
tion, to the forehead, and at the same time bowing the head with a most grac^
fut ease. They are, with the Chinese, the great nK>ney changers. They are as
remarkably quick in easting and making calculations, without any assistance, as
the Chinese are with their counters. Some of these people support as decent
carriages as any in the place, and live with a great degree of taste.
*' They all chew betel, areka mit, and chunam. This has the effect of render-
ing the teetir black and shining, like ebony. They esteem it heathful, as it
causes expectoration in^a greater decree than tobacco. This, they aver, is abso-
lutely necessary in their country. It is, however, a filthy, vile practice in our
eyes, excusable in some degree in the men, bat in the women trdly disgusting.
I never saw any European gentleman use the betel, but many of the European
women have adopted the haoit of chewing it, and have their mouths crowded
with it Tlie private secretary of the council, one of the most genteel men at
Batavia, told me of his great aversion to the use of it in women, and observed
that his wife had so great an attachment to it, that all his powers of persuasioii
were not sufficient to wean her from it She was quite young, not more than
nineteen or twenty at the extent. There is a child of seven or eight years of
age always in attendance on those who chew the betel, which is deposited in a
box, in some instances of very curious workmanship. This child is the bearer of
the box, and ever waiting the wishes of the person so attended.
^ All the people in this place seem very fcmd of being surrounded by domes-
tics. One seldom sees a coach pass, particularly if there are women in it, with-
out five or six slaves — some carrying the batons, others the umbrellas, &c, the
slaves being generally Malays, though there are some from all the inhabited ieU
ands in the India and China seas. The Malays are great cock fighters, and have
fi ne birds. They bet deeply, and go to as unpardonable a length as the Chhaeee
do, playing away the liberty of their wives and children, and even their own."
He proceeded to Canton for a carfi^o of teas. While he was there, a
vessel arrived whose name has since become one of historical interest —
the Columbia — the ship which in h^ next voyage, under the command <^
Capt Gray, crossed the bar of the Columbia River, as it was always called
afterward, the incident being referred to in recent negotiations of intense
interest as the foundation of a territorial daim on the part of the United
States. Remaining several months in China, and attending assiduously to
the business of the ship, he became well acquainted with the habits of the
Chinese, and collected a fund of information concerning trade there in all
its branches, and the value of sea-otter skins and other furs from the north-
west coast of onr continent, which formed the basis of action for him after^
wards in planning numerous yoyages and directing mercantile operations
of great importance between America, Asia, and Europe. He was long
remembered there, too, particularly by one occupying a subordinate posi-
tion at the time, who had observed him, though not known to him per^
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Thomas Smia^i Perkins. Sf
sonally^ who afterwards became eminently diaUnguislied in the Commerce
of the £a8t — the well-known Hong merdiant, Houqua. Commercial re-
lations of an intimate character and entire confidence were afterwards
established between them, and existed for many years with mutual advan-
etuming homeward, he found that the period of his absence had been
eventful in changes that were to have important influence in the political
and commercial world. They received news of the revolutionary move-
ments in France from a vessel which they spoke in crossing the trade-
winds. On arriving at Boston, they found our government organized
under the new constitution of 1789, and though this led to heavy duties,
particularly on teas, it was giving confidence and stability to trade. With
the information which he had brought home, he sent a brig— the Hope,
Capt Ingraham — to the northwest coast, with the intention of terminating
the voyage at Canton. The most important result of this voyage appears
to have been the discovery of the northern portion of the Marquesas Isl-
ands, as now laid down on the map of the Pacific. Its main object was de-
feated by untoward circumstances.
He soon afterward joined his friend Capt Magee, however, in building
a ship — the Margaret — of which the captain went master for the north-
west coast, and alter an absence of two years and a half brought the voy-
age to a successful dose. Csupi, Magee carried out the frame of a vessel
with three or four caroenters, and set up the little craft of about thirty
tons under Capt Swift, then the chief carpenter, and the schooner col-
lected some twelve or fifteen hundred sea-otters during the season, which
added much to the profit of the voyage, as the skins were worth $30 or
$40 when Capt Magee reached China.
In 1792 the insurrection began in 8t Domingo, where his brothers had
continued their establishment, doing a prosperous business up to that pe-
riod. Mr. James Perkins, the eldest brother, and his wife were in a peril-
ous situation at the beginning of it, being in the interior on a visit to a
fnend who had a plantation, next to the one first destroyed, on the plains
of the ci^e. They made their escape, however, from the frightful
treatment which awaited all who lingered, and reached the cape.
But things grew worse. The place was taken by the insurgents and
burned, and the inhabitants were obliged to get awav in the best
manner they could. This, of course, broke up his brothers' establish-
ment Their store was burned by the blacks, with its contents, which
were valuable. This, however, was not the worst, as the planters were
largely in debt to the house, and their means of paying destroyed The
brothers (James and Samuel G.) returned to Boston, having lost most of
their property, to begin the wond anew. He then formed a co-partnership
with his brother James, under the firm of J. & T. H. Perkins, which con-
tinued until the death of the latter in 1822, though the name of the firm
was altered on the admission of their sons in 1819. They used the infor-
mation which had been acquired at St Domingo with advantage, by keep-
ing two or three vessels trading to the West Indies, and shipping coffee
and sugar to £urope.
But their most important business was the trade of their ships on the
northwest coast and in China. They were concerned in numerous voy-
ages in that direction, and eventually established a house at Canton,
under the firm of Perkins & Co., which became one of great importance
and eminently successful
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In December, 1704, lie took passage for Bordeaux in a ship belonging
to his own house and that of Messrs. S. Hig^nson & Co., — in which firm
his brother, Mr. S. G. Perkins, had become a partner — ^with a cargo of pro-
visions ; the demand for them in the disturbed state of French aft'airs offer-
ing the prospect of a fair result to such a voyage. But the depreciation
of the assignats, and other causes, threatening to defeat their hopes, he
found it best to continue abroad for some time. His observations while
there, and the occurrences in which he became concerned, were of an in-
teresting character. He made full notes at the time, but the following ac-
count is taken from the memoranda already referred to, written in a week
of leisure long afterward, and commencing thus : —
** TO MT CHILDREN I —
^^Sa&atooa SpiiNot, July 18, 1846.
** It has often occurred to roe that it would have given me infinite pleasure to
have known more than has come to my knowledge of the early life of my father.
He died when I was about six years of age, and all I know of him is from re-
fort. My recollections of him are very faint, though I have an impression that
remember him in an emaciated state shortly before his death."
After narrating, for the information of his family, some incidents of his
early life, part of which have been already mentioned, he proceeds to re-
late the occurrences that followed this voyage to France, as follows : —
"I remained in Europe from December, 1794, to October, 1795 — a very inter,
esting period of the French revolution. What was called * The Mountam ' in
the convention had been prostrated in some degree by the fall of Robespierre,
the principal mover in the most bloody scenes of the revolution. He endeavored
to destroy himself, but failed, and left the final act to the guillotine. This in-
strument had done execution on thousands through his influence, and retributive
justice was satisfied in the fate which expiated his crimes.
** France was by no means in a quiet state when I reached Bordeaux, and iu
travelling with the courier day and night, we passed so near the theatre of war
in La Vendee, as to hear the reports of the cannon of the belligerent parties. If
we bad been fallen in with by the Vendeens, we should doubtless have had our
throats cut, as public agents and bearers of dispatches from one province to an-
other. We escaped, however, unharmed, though the fate we feared befell the
courier a few nights aAer we passed. During my stay in Europe my time was
naaaed principally in Paris, where I bad rooms in the same hotel with my friend
Mr. Jos. Russell. We kept a carriage between us, always visiting or travelling
together. It was a new English chariot which had been left behind by some
traveller on the breaking out of the war, and was in perfect order. We found it
of great convenience while in the city, as public carriages were not easily had
and no private ones were kept by any Frenchmen. Indeed, they were kept by
very few except by foreign ambassadors.
** There were in Paris several Americans of my acquaintance besides Mr. Rus-
sell. We used to dine at a restorateur and breakfast at home, the wife of the
porter of the hotel furnishing our coffee. There was a enjat scarcity of bread-
stuffs during the winter and spring. It was produced partly by the farmers
having their plowshares turned into swords, partly by the wa^^te attendant on
war, and in part by an unwillingness to sell for asftignats, which were constantly
declining in value. The whole population of Parts was placed under restriction,
and each family received a certain quantity per day from the public bakers at a
fixed price. The hotels gave in theu* number of guests for whom they drew the
stipulated quantity, and those who dined out had their bread carried to the place
where they dined. I dined almost every Saturday with the minister of the
United States, where 1 was in the habit of meeting distinguished men.
* I had little buaiaeas to do in Paris, and leisure, therefore, to observe what
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Tkomoi Handatyd Perkins, 29
WM passing. Having sold the cargo, or the prineipal part of it, to gOTemment,
1 h ad litUe else to do for months than to dance attendance npon the bureau
which had the adjaytment of the account, and was finally obliged to leave the
matter to the care of a friend.
**> After the fall of Robespierre, the revolutionary tribunal of which Fouqnier
Tinville was the Accusateur Public — like our attorney-general — being abolished,
he, with five judges and ten jurvmen, in all sixteen, were executed in the Place
de Greve by that operation which they had inflicted on men, women, and even
children, for pretended crimes. I went with Mr. Russell, Mr. Hlg^inson, and
several others, apd secured a room, the nearest we could get to the place of ex^
eeuUdn, that we might witness it closelv. The prisoners arrived in two carts,
from which they were taken out and placed in the room directly under the scaf-
fold. From there they were taken, one by one, and by a ladder of eight or ten
feet were brought to tne instrument and decapitated. The attorney-general was
the last to suffer, and must have felt at the fall of the axe in every execnUon as
much as he felt when hU turn came. They all met their fate without a struggle,
except a man, one of the judges, who had been of the noblesse of the country,
and whose name was Le Roi, which he had, by decree of the convention, changed
to Dix Aont, or Tenth of August, after the assault upon the Tuilleries on that
memorable day, when the Swiss and the king's immediate attendants were so
shamefully murdered by the populace of Paris. This man died game, but kept
voi-iferating his execrations upon his executioner, until he was silenced by the
fall of the axe.
** This mode of execution is certainly merciful, inasmuch as its work is soon
done. From the time the prisoners descended from the carts until their heads
were all in long baskets placed in the same carts with the lifeless trunks, was
fourteen minutes! Two minutes were lost by changing the carts, so tliat if all
the remains could have been placed in one bosket, but twelve minutes would
have been requh'ed for beheading the sixteen persons ! The square was filled
with people. Great numbers of the lowest classes — and the low class of women
were the most vociferous — were there, dapping and huzzaing with every head
that fell. These were the same people who sang hallelujahs on the deaths of
those who had been condemned to the guillotine by the very tribunal who had
now paid the debt they owed to the city, for their convictions were principally
of the city. Other wretches of the same stamp were acting their inftrnal parts
in different departments of France., Notwithstanding the deserts of this most
execrable court, tbe exhibition was horrid to my feelings, however deserved the
fate of the culprits.
** Mr. Monroe, the minister of the United States, told me that he wished a
service to be rendered by some one, and felt sreat interest that I should give
my aid to it. The object was that i should aid in senduig Mr. George Washing-
ton La Fayette to the United States. His mother, the Marchioness La Fayette,
was then in Paris with her daughters and Mr. Frestal, their tutor. Mr. Monroe
E&ve me a letter to her, and I found her lodged in the third story in the Rue de
'arbre Sec. She explained her object to me, which was to get her son sent to
the United States to prevent him from being drawn by the conscription into the
army. He was then fourteen years of age. The proposal she made to me was,
that I should apply to the convention for permission to procure a passport for
her 80Q to go to America for the purnose of his being educated in a counting-
house. As the marquis was in bad odor in France, it was deemed necessary to
sink the real name of the party, and to apply to the Committee of Safety for a
passport for G. W. Metier, thi^ being a name of his family whksh he had a right
to assume. Madame La Fayette was intimately acc^uainted with Bolssy d'Anglas,
the president of the committee, and of the old aristocracy of France, and from
him she had assurance that if the application was made by an American, it would
be favorably received. The marquis was at the time prisoner in the Castle of
Olmntz, in Austria^— and the object of madame was to go to him with her
daughters and solace him in his deplorable confinement, where his health was
suffering.
^ The application to the committee wsa complied witii, aod my firiood^ Mr
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Russell, who took an active part in aiding in the plan, aitcompanied George La
Fayette to Havre, where was an American ship in which I had an interest, com-
manded by Capt Thomas Stargis, brother to Mr. R. Stargis, who married mj
eldest sister. To him I gave letters, reouesting that Mr. P. might have a pas-
sage in the ship, which was freely aeeoraed. Mr.'Rnssell and myself paid the
expense of the journey and the passage, and Mr. F. arrived in Boston, where he
was cordially received by my family, and passed some time there. He after-
wards went to Mount Vernon, and lived in the family of General Washington,
until, in the following year, he returned to Europe, when he entered Ihe revolu-
tionary army.
**He served with reputation; but as the name was not a fkvorite one with the
existing leaders, he was kept in the back ground by the influence of Genera]
Bonaparte, and retired, after a year or two of service, to private life. He is yet
living, (1846,) «)d has been a member of the House of Deputies since the fall of
Bonaparte.
■^ Madame La Fayette went to Austria, and remained with her husbaaid to the
time of his liberation. Immediately after his being set at liberty, he wrote me
a letter dated at Olmutz, thanking me for the share I had taken hi enabling hb
wife to visit him in his distress, and declaring that I had been the means of sav-
ing his life by the means used in restoring bis fomily to him. This letter is now
in the possession of Mrs. Bates, of London, to whom I gave it as an interesting
article for her portfolio.
** The circumstance of my interference in sending young La Fayette to this
country was the cause of one of the most interesting events of my life. It was
known to General Washington, through the father or son, or both, that I had
been active in procuring the sending U. W. to this country, and from the great
partiality he had for the marquis, be was pleased to regard the actors in a ikvor-
able light.
" In the summer of 1796 I visited the city of Washington, which was decided
upon as the future seat of government, though Congress still sat at Philadel-
phia. While I was there Geil^eral Washington passed some days at the new seat
of government. He lodged at the house of Mr. Peters, who married a Miss
Custis, granddaughter of Mrs. Washington. At a ball given by Mrs. Peters, to
which I was invited, I was mtroduced to the General by Colonel Lear, his private
secretary, and was graciously received, and invited to visit Mount Vernon and
pass some time there. This was not to be declined, and a few days after I went,
as invited, to pay my respects to the man I cherished in my mind beyond any
earthly being. Thore was no company there, except Mr. Thomas Porter, for-
merly of Boston, who then lived at Alexandria, with whom I was intimately ac-
quainted, and who was a great favorite at Mount Vernon. He took me to the
residence of Creneral Wadiington, and returned after dinner to his own resi-
dence.
'* It is generally known that the General was not in ihe habit of talking on
political subjects with any but those connected with him in the government In-
deed, he was what may be called a silent man, except when necessity called upon
him to be otherwise. He conversed with me on internal improvements, and ob-
served to me that 1 should probablv live to see an internal communication, by
canals and rivers, fh>m Georgia to ALissachusetts. The State of Mame had not
then been separated fW>m the old Bay State. He little thought at that time, or
ever, of the railroads which now span the country. General Washington, it is
mderstood, was the first projector of the Dismal Swamp Canal, between Chesa-
peake Bay and Albemarle Sound, in North Carolina, at that time a great under-
taking, as well as the lockage of the little falls of Potomac. As was before
retbarked, I was the only guest at Mount Vernon at the time spoken of. Mre.
Washington and her granddaughter. Miss Nelly Custis, with the GeBernl, were
the only inmates of the parior.
*' The situation of Mount Vernon is known to every one to be of surpassing
beauty. It stands on the banks of the Potomac, but much elevated above the
river, and affords an extensive view of this beautiful piece of water, and of the
opposite shore. At the back of the house, overlooking the livefi is a wide
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TfumM Himiagyd Perkiru. 81
piazza, which was the ffeiieral resort in the afterooon. On one oeoasion, when
sitting there with the mmily, a toad passed near to where I sat converBing with
General Washington, which led him to ask me if 1 had ever ohsenred this reptile
swallow a fire-fly. Upon my answering in the negative, he told me that he had,
and that from the thinness of the skin of the toa^ he had seen the light of the
fire-fly after it had heen swallowed. This was a new, and to me, a sorpdsing
fiwt in satoral history.
'^ I need Pot remark how deeply I was interested hi everr word whieh fell firom
the lips of this great man. I found Mrs. Wa^ington to he an eztrraoely pleas-
ant and nnaffected lady, rather silent, hnt this was made up for hy the faoeUooa
and pleasant young lady. Miss Custis, who afterwards married Major Lewis, a
nephew of the General, and who is yet living. During the day the General was
either in his study or in the saddle, overlooking the cultivation of his farm.
<^I shall never forget a circumstance which took place on the first evening I
lodged at Mount Vernon. As I have said before, it was in July, when the day
treoobed far upon the evenings and at seven or eight o'clock we were taking
our tea, not long after which the ladies retired. Knowing the habit of the
General, when not prevented hj business, to retire early, at about nine o'clock
I made a movement in my chair, which led the General to ask me if I wished
to retire to my chamber. Upon my answering in the affirmative, observing there
was no servant in the room, he took one of the candles firom the table, leading
the way to the ffreat staircase, then gave me the oandle, and pMnted ont to me
the door at the head of the stidrs as my sleeping room. Think of this I
** In the room in which I laid myself down, for I do not think I slept at all,
so moch was I occupied with the oecurrenoes of the day, was a portrait of La
Fayette the elder, and hanging over the fireplace iJ^ key cf the BastUe, which, I
beueve, retain the same places to this day. On the afternoon of the second day
after I arrived, I took my leafe of Mount Vernon, more gratified than I can ez-
pms.
** In the autumn of the year of my vwit, Mr. Stewart (Gilbert) painted itte full-
length portrait of the General, which is much the best likeness I have ever seen
of him. The bust 1 have, also by Stewart, is a fko-simile of the original. The
portrait of Mrs. Washington, also by Stewart, now in the Athenaeum, is an ez-
eellent likeness of that excellent lady. I remember her amiable expression of
countenance, and courteous, unaffected manner, as well at this time as half a
century since.
^ The President having inquured of me if I had visited the Great Falls of the
Potomac, and being answered in the negative, observed to me that I oaght not
to leave that part of the country without visiting them. I made the excursion,
though pressed for time, and to mv great satisfaction.
<* I consider the visit to Mount Vernon as one of the most interesting of my
life. It was the only opportunity which I should have ever had of conversing
familiarly with this great and good man. Two years after my visit he died at
his residence, of croup. It is stated that he was not well treated for the disor-
der, and that with more skill his Itflt might have been preserved, though I doubt
if his happiness would have been preserved to him, had his life been spared.
Detraction and calumny bad assailed him.
** The new city of Washington, when I was there, had but few houses. The
eapitol was not built for many ^ears afterward, and when Congress first sat
there, it occupied, I think, a building erected by means of a Tontine speculation
got up by a Mr. Blodget, who went from Massachusetts, and was well known as
a great projector of speculations of one sort and another.'*
About this time he was made commander of a military corps, the bat-
talion which constitutes the guard and escort for public occasions of the
Governor in the Commonweath of Massachusetts, with the rank of lieute-
nantrcolonel, having for some time previously held that of major in the
same corps.
With some persons it may excite only a smile of derision to mention
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82 MercajUik Biography:
this as worth remembering, and particularly to add as the cause of anj
allusion to it that he was so generally known afterwards as Colond Per-
kins, that his numerous acquaintances throughout the country might be
in doubt whether he is the individual spoken of in this memoir, if that ap-
pellation were omitted. But there are some considerations connected
with this that deserve notice. . The foreigner smiles or frowns, as he feels
disposed, when he hears any reference among us to military rank beyond
the field or day of parade, unless it be of the regular army ; but in this he
overlooks the fact that the customs of a nation are usually connected with
its history and political character. Military rank among quiet citizens is
not so empty a distinction here as it may seem, but constitutes a pledge
which it may become necessary to redeem in earnest. A large portion of
the bloodiest and most important battles that have ever occurred among
us have been fought chiefly by the militia. The deference paid to it here
is not greater now than that with which the same force was regarded in
England, when the regiment of Coldstream Guards formed a large part of
the standing army then no greater than ours is at this time.*
''The king was captain-general of this large force; the lords-lieutenants and
Uteir deputies had the command under him, and appointed meetinffs for drilliDg
and inspection. There were those who looked on the militia wiUi no friendly
eye. The enemies of the liherties and religion of England looked with aversion
on a force which could not, without extreme risk, be employed against those lib-
erties and that religion, and missed no opportunity of throwing ridicule on the
rustic soldiery. — In Parliament, however, it was necessary to express such opin-
ions with some reserve. The array of the country was commanded almost ex-
clusively by Tory noblemen and gentlemen ; they were proud of their military
rank, and considered an insult to the service to which they belonged as offered
to themselves. They were also perfectly aware that whatever was said against
a militia, was said in favor of a standing army; and the name of a standing
army was hateful to them."
As that standing army was gradually enlarged, however, and the pro-
fession of arms became an occupation for life, a change naturally followed ;
the exclusive feeling in favor of professional rank gained strength ; and
the recognition of any similar claim for the militia was discouraged as a
matter of taste, because it affected privilege.
But no such change has taken place here. We have no intention of
having a standing army, beyond a mere nucleus, from which we can ex-
tend, when necessary, with an academy for the thorough education of
officers, having no need of more.
It is not a mere channel or a narrow sea, but the broad ocean, that sep-
arates us from those nations whose power could ever endanger our safety.
And if such power should be directed against us, our coast and frontier
being equal in extent to those of several of the kingdoms of Europe taken
together, no army that we are likely ever to have could guard the line of
exposure. We rely, therefore, m^nly on the local force of the country
for security in war, and for the maintenance of order in peace. Some at-
tempts have been made among us to break down the militia by ridicule ;
but it seems probable that until vast changes take place in other respects,
we shall not dispense with this system, which by its efficient action gains
deference for itself, in comparison with what is done elsewhere. Many
proofs that it does so might be given ; one will answer.
In 1849, the year succeeding that of revolutions in Europe, a serious
• Mactulay.
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Themaa Hcmdatyd Perkins. 9f
disturbance ooeurrod in the city of New York in the dramatic perform-
ances there, arising from displeasure toward an eminent foreign tragedian.
The theatre was surrounded by a vast multitude, many of them in a state
of great excitement ; acts of violence were committed ; property and life
were endangered ; and Uiat state of things existed which is thought to
warrant the use of military force. It came promptly when summoned ;
numbers of people were killed and wounded ; the mob was dispersed ; and
order was restored. When the account of this reached England, it was
remarked in one of the leading journals there, with reference to a similar
event which had just then occurred under British rule, that we had, at any
rate, given an example to governments of greater energy in form than our
own how to deal with rioters. In the same steamer that earned this ac-
count, or the one that preceded it, there went the particulars of a riot just
over our frontier, in Canada. There, the nobleman who represented the
BM^esty of England was driven by the mob from the seat of government,
and pursued towards his country seat ; the Parliament-house was burned
with the archives, a library of great value, and other public property ; and
if any punishment has ever been inflicted for this, it must have been so
slight that it has scarcely been heard of out of the province.
There is, likewise, something of exaggeration in reference to the use of
military titles in this country. Where a dozen instances can be given of
it, often arising accidentally from assiduous attention, personal appearance,
or otherwise, probably a score of others might be adduced where there is
no further allusion to rank in the militia after the service is performed, even
including some oflScers who have met a foreign enemy successfully in battle.
But Col. Perkins was a man distinguished for energy, for a lively inter-
est in all that concerned the welfare of the community in which he lived,
and for a desire to maintain and promote its respectability. He acted with
vigor in times of great excitement ; a prominent part was frequently as*
signed him, either to assist in the direction of public meetings, or as leader
on important committees ; and his name being necessarily often in print,
he was designated, naturdly enough, in the way that indicated its con-
nection with public order, and thus added something to its weight. The
military rank, therefore, which might otherwise have soon been forgotten,
as it generally has been in regard to those who have held it in the same
corps, but with less distinction in other respects, became widely associated
with his name, and so continued until his decease. This was the more
natural, because the tone of his character and his ordinary bearing were
obviously in keeping with the sentiment which he once proposed for a
toast at some military festival — " That high and honorable feeling which
makes gentlemen soldiers, and soldiers gentlemen !*'
Soon afterward he was chosen President of the Boston branch of the
United States Bank — quite a distinction at that time, when there were few
banks in the country, and a remarkable one for a man so young as he was
then. The choice was owing to a warm rivalry for the honor between two
distinguished merchants, much older than himself, whose friends at length
mutually agreed to end the contest by selecting a third candidate, on whom
all could unite. He was too much engaged in his own enterprises to re-
tain th^ place long, and in a year or two he was suco-eeded by the Hon.
George Cabot, eminent not only as a commercial man, but as a Senator of
the United States.
In 1805, he waa elected to the Senate of the State, as he frequently waa
VOL. xxxni. — ^HO. u 3
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84 MereantUe Biography:
ftfiterward ; and for eighteen or twenty years following he wa«, most of the
time, member of one branch or the other of the Legislature, but generally
of the Senate, unless absent from the country. Being a man of few words,
he rarely took part in debate ; but his opinions were marked by decision,
what he said was to the point, his language was good, and when he was
strongly moved he spoke with power. One of his colleagues in the Sen-
ate, who afterwards had long experience in Congress, and was favorably
distinguished there as well as at the bar, has remarked since, that he had
rarely heard public men make a short, off-hand speech with more effect
than Col. Perkins occasionally did when his feelings were deeply engaged
in the subject of debate.
He was never in Congress himself; although his election would have
been certain if he would have accepted a nomination as candidate, and
there were several occasions when it' was desirable to his political friends,
who predominated by a large majority in his district, to have had a com-
mercial representative there like him. It is understood that he might at
one time have been made Secretary of the Navy if he had been disposed
to take charge of that department of the national government. But he
does not appear to have been desirous of political distinct:ion ; and the
ragagements in Commerce which required his attention were too import-
ant to be made subordinate to any other demands on his time.
In the narrative addressed to his children, after relating the foregoing
circumstances of his visit to Mount Vernon, he proceeds as follows : —
" Bat to return to the object of these dottings doum — my own concerns. The
north-west trade led to a continued communication with China, and in 1798 we
bought and sent to Canton direct the ship Thomas Russell ; and Mr. Ephraim
Bumstead, then the eldest apprentice in our counting-house, went out as super*
eargo; and in 1803, we ent'3red into an engagement with him to go to China,
and there establish a house for the transaction of our own and other business
when presented to them. Mr. B. took passage in a ship from Providence, be-
longing partly to merchants there and to J. & T. H. P.
"Mr. J. P. Cushinff, then in our counting-house, went with Mr. Bumstead as
his clerk. He was then sixteen years old, wrote a fine hand, was a very steady
lad, and had a great taste for going abroad. Soon after their arrival in China,
Mr. B. was obliged, from illness, to leave Canton with the intention of recruit-
ing, and then returning to China. But he never returned, having died on the
passage to the port for which he was bound.
** Mr. Cushing was, therefore, left at this early age to manage the eoncems of
the house, which were increased by consignments, and which required a pood
bead to direct them. This, fortunately, Mr. C. possessed, and the business
which fell into his hands was as well conducted as if M'r. B. had been on the
spot. We afterward sent a nephew of my brother's wife, Bfr. Paine, to join
him. He remained but a short time in China. Mr. Cushing was taken into co-
partnership with us, and so continued until his return to America, or rather to
the dissolution of the house in 1827. Ha had visited the United States in 1807,
but soon returned to China, and did not leave it until twenty years after that
time. He was well repaid for his undertaking by the result."
When the tidings of Mr. Bumstead's death reached Boston, Col. Per-
kins immediately decided to go to China himself, as there seemed to him
to be no alternative in such an emergency ; and he made preparations for
his departure accordingly. But just before he was ready to sail, § vessel
arrived in a short passage from Canton with letters from Mr. Cushing, who
was his nephew, giving so clear a report of the business of the house, and
showing so much ability in the management of it, that he felt safe in
postponing his voyage at first, and afterwards in relinquishing it altogether
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Thomas Handiuyd Ptrhim, 35
as it became obvious that Mr. C^ young as be was, needed no aid in per>
forming the duties thus devolved upon him.
Under his guidance, the house there was at length so favorably known
that consignments increased until they interiered with the business of the
house itself, and it became desirable to give them some other direction. A
distinct commission house was, therefore, established at Canton for this
purpose under the auspices and with the favor of Perkins <fe Co., which
continues to this day, although the first partners withdrew from it rich
many years a^. A long line of successors following them have managed
the same establishment by turns, and retired from it successively with for*
tunes, with which they have returned to the United States. If all those
were enumerated whose success in life might thus be traced to that first
voyage of Col. Perkins to China in 1789, the number would cause surprise.
" Embargoes and non-intercourse," he continues in the narrative, " with polit-
ical and other causes of embarrassment, crossed our path, but we kept our trade
with China, and during the war of the Peninsula, embarked largely in the ship-
ment of provisions to Spain and Portugal. Our general plan was to freight ves-
sels, load them with flour at the Couth for Europe, and have the funds remitted
to London. To make some necessary arrangementa respecting them, I took
passage in the brig Reaper, belonging to my friend Henry Lee, for London, in
Ao^st, 1811. The intention of BJr. Lee was to proceed to India in the brig,
taking funds from England, and returning to Boston with Caksutta cloths, which
then paid a great advance. I sent funds in her, and she returned in the year
1812, during the war with Great Britain, and with great profit Long-cloths of
India then brought 25 cents per yard, though an inferior article to whut is now
made in this country and sold at six cents, being Icsit than one-fburth of the
price the India cloths then sold at I remained in London dnrinff the year, or
until the summer, and returned after war had been declared. While in London
I bought, with the elder Mr. Higginson, goods brought into England for France,
which resulted in ffreat gain.
** In the spring, I bought a carriage, with Mr. Alexander Everett, and was
made bearer of dispatches for France. At that time the only communication was
by Morlaix from Plymouth. There I took a vessel of about 40 or 50 tons in
whkhto cross the channel. As we had no use but for the cabin, we gave pas-
sage to a dozen or more Frenchmen, who had been exchanged and had no
means of getting to France but by the privileged vessels which left Plymouth
from time to time. Among the persons to whom a free passage was given, waa
one who had resided some years in our good city of Boston, and who doubtless
bad known me as active in resisting the principles of the Jacobins. This indl-
Tidual was the caufie of my detention at Morlaix nearly three weeks, having re-
ported me to the commissary at Morlaix as opposed to the French and a great
friend of the English. In consequence, I was ordered to remain at Morlaix until
orders were received from Paris. After writing to Mr. Barlow, the then minister
of the United States, and using other means, we were permitted to proceed to
Paris. During my stay at Morlaix, my limit was the town, unless accompanied
by one of the gens d'armes. I visited the lead mines in that vicinity, and made
other excursions within 30 or 40 miles, and was upon the whole very civilly
treated by Moreau, the commissioner, after he was satisfied that my object in
visiting France was commercial and not political. Morean, the general, although
from the same town, was not a relative of the commissioner, who was a great
Bonapartbt
^ An incident wbkh caused me much anxiety, and which might have been at-
tended hj serious consequences;^ occurred in or was connected with this journey.
On my leaving London, Mr. Russell,- who was then charge dVffiiires of the Uni-
ted States at the court of St James, on my going to his house for despatches,
put into my hands a packa|» of some sheets in volnm«s dire *ted to Col. Tcher-
nichefl^ chancellor to the flussian minister. Prince Kourakine, at Paris. Had J
considered a moment I should have doubted the **
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?4 Mercantile Bioprcfphy:
Here the Darrative is broken off. It was suspended, probably, at his
departure from Saratoga, where it is dated, and was never continued. But,
in conversation, he gavQ a graphic account of the solicitude which he felt
while he was detained in Morlaix, at having with him dispatches so di-
rected, which might be discovered in his possession ; of the momentous
state of affairs which he found on his arrival in Paris, shortly before the
open breach of Napoleon with Russia, that led to the fatal campaign in
the north ; of the diflSculty that he had in safely delivering the dispatches ;
the acknowledgements that he received from the Russian embassy for do-
ing it successfully ; the angry look which he saw the emperor cast from
his seat in the theatre toward the box of the Russian embassador, as if it
was meant that it should be observed ; and the departure of the latter
from Paris the following day.
While he was at Morlaix an incident there called into action some of
those qualities of heart and head which were repeatedly exercised after-
ward on a greater scale, the spirit that freely contributes to the alleviation
of distress, and the intelligent skill which can make one liberal contribu-
tion the means of eliciting the action of c community in a good cause.
The story is told in a letter to Mrs. Perkins, too long to be inserted entire,
but interesting throughout, and some passages will show his habits of obser-
vation as a traveller, with something of the state of France at that time :—
'*Cherbo(Tb&, June 2, 1813.
"Mr Dear Sarah: — I can easily conceive from my own feelings how much
pleasure the receipt of this letter will give you, being the only one I have writ-
ten you for two months, excepting a short one from Morlaix which was not cal-
culated to afford you much satisfaction, us I was then under a degree of restrainti
which has not left me from that time to thin. I am now here waiting the arri-
val of the Wasp (sloop of war) from England, where she returns again to land
me with the dispatches ffom the minister at Paris to the charge d*affaire.s at Lon-
don. You may well suppose what my anxiety ia to hear from home, having re-
ceived no letters of later date than February. My anxiety is much increased
from the uncertainty as to our situation in regard to the war. If we are en-
gaged in the contesu I nhnll find it difficult to return. My passport to leave the
country was kept back, and but for exertions which 1 made'through some per-
sons whom I had interested in my behalf, 1 might have been some months longer
detained. ' .
" You wiil wnnt to know what has been the disposition of my time since I
arrived in France. 1 was detained at Morlaix fifteen days, and but for the ex-
ertions of my friends might have been there this hour, as a gentleman who ar-
rived there a month before me has been detained there till this time, and can get
no permission either to return to America or to go to Paris. Another bearer of
dispatches was there a month. I was not so much ermuye as those gentlemen
who were looking to Paris as the place where they were to realize golden
dreams of pleasure. As I am fond of spying out wonders, I got permission to
visit a lead mine, whieh is at no ffreat distance from Morlaix, and which afforded
me the highest gratification. There are upw2U*ds of twelve hundred persons
employed at the works. The descent from the surface to the deepest part is
800 feet. I was astonished to find the price of this severe labor so low. Twelve
hours* labor is exacted in the twenty-four. The time employed in going down
and returning is not included. And for this the men receive about 18 to 20
cents per day, and find the7nselv€8. Men only, with a few boys, are employed in
the mines. Women, both old and young, and children down to five years old,
are employed in selecting the good from the bad ore, breaking it in pieces, and
working it. They receive from four to seven sous, equal to as many cents, per
day. They find themselves, and work from the getting up to the i^oing down
of the sun, the year through. You will ask how they subsist. I can hardly
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Thoma$ JIandasyd Perkins, Bi
imagine how they get along, bat bo it is ; and I do not see but they appear its
healthy as people in gener^ who are employed in hard labor of a different kind.
Bhick bread, moidtened with a kind of lard, or bad butter, famishes them their
food, and the spring oaenches their thirst. Once in a while they have a few
pounds of beef boiled to pieces in a pot, containing half a barrel of water and
a few Tegetables. This soap, as it is called, is a sort of Inxurious living, which
18 too ffCK>d to be served often. I found that were twice the number of women
wanted they might be had; and even of men of a certain age, which does not
iuelude the term when they are wanted for the army.
" When I retamed to Morlaix I found my passport had arrived, so that I could
not go again to visit this very Interesting work. Upon the whole, my fifteen
days went away much more pleasantly 5ian I had expected, and I slibuld not
have hung myself had I been obliged to remain there a week longer.
" There is a tobacco manufactory at Morlaix, on a very large scale. Twelve
hundred and pixty persons are daily at work at it. All the manufactures of snufl^
and tobacco in every shape, in the empire belong to the government, who pur-
chase the raw material and work it into the form in which it is used. I con-
trived to get admission, and was astonished at the extent of the establishment
^* It is astonishing to observe the difference in numbers between the men and
women you see in the street** in every town through which you pass. At Mor-
hix, they say there are fourteen females to one male in the town. You would
hardly suppose there was any part of France, I mean of France as it was under
the old government, in which the inhabitants of whole districts do not t^penk
French. This, however, is the case in Brittany. The people who live a mile
from the town speak no more French than they do Greek. Their language is
the Welsh, and is the only one spoken by them, until they leave their villages
and come to the towns to reside, or ffo to the army, when they are obliged to
learn the French. The people who live in the towns are obliged to lenru the
Brittany language, or they could not go to the market, or have any communica-
tion with the country people. Before taking my leave of Morlaix, I must relate
to you a fact that came under my own knowledge, by which you can appreciate
the tenure by which liberty is held here.
''The &mily in which I lived was one of the most respectable in Morlaix, in
point of property, previous to the revolution. Like many others, it was reduced
to very narrow means by the then existing state of things, as their wealth con-
sisted principally in vessels, which either perished at the wharves, or were taken
by the powers which then ruled, and were totally lost to Monsieur Benu, who
was their proprietor. Having been the agent for the lead mines for a long time,
this was a resource to him, and although the stipend arising from this was a
moderate one, yet it served to feed his wife and children, who were some six or
seven id number. M. Beau died a few years since, and left his widow without
any resource for the support of her family. Being a woman of a good deal of
character, the company to whom the mines belong concluded to continue the
agency in the hands of Mrs. Beau, who, with the aid of her youngest son, has
carried on the purchases and sales to this time. The two eldest sons got clerk-
ships in the tobacco manufactory, and a daughter was married, so that but one
daughter and one son were upon the shoulders of the old lady. Their means
were, to be sure, small, but their wants were few, and althin^h their whole in-
come was not more than six hundred dollars per ann., the son who aided hia
mother in the lead mine agency had made a matrimonial engagement; and not
believing that » Love would fly out of the window, although Poverty looked in
at the door,' a day was designated for the marriage, and f was invited as a guest
at the meeting of the family, whkih was to take place in the evening. The mar-
riage ceremony took place in the morning at the parish church, and at about 10
oVTock J wan introduced to the bride, whom I found to be, as I had heard her
represented to be, a very beautiful woman of about twenty, with a very prepos-
•easing countenance, which it was universally acknowledged was a perfect index
of her amiable mind. She seemed perfectly happy, and nothing but joy waa
visible in every countenance in the fiimily. All was happiness and gaiety, and
kogk and frolic. Mark the Bad change. At 13 o'clock the bridegroom receited
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S8 Mereaniile BiognMpky :
notice that he had been drawn in the conscription, and that on Sunday he must
be at Campe^ife, a distance of thirty leagues. This was on Thursday. In nuch
cases entreaty is vain, and never resorted to, because always inefiectual. To ^o
to the army was to gOs to return when the exigencies of the State no longer re-
quired his services. The whole family whs in a state little short of distraction
when I left the town, which was early on the next morning. The lowest price
at which a substitute could be procured was three thousand francs, and the fam*
ily could not command half the money in all its branches. The peculiar situa-
tion of this family seemed to paralyze the whole town, and led to an exertion
which is seldom made, and which proved effectual in preventing this young
man from being torn from the embraces of his charminsr wife and amiable
mother. I have the satisfaction of having put the thing in train, and shall always
consider the opportunity as one of the most gratifying which ever presented itself
to me. After my arrival in Paris, I received a letter saying that my example
had been followed, and that it had produced the effect desired. This is an an-
ecdote, or rather this part of it, for your own private ear, and you will not, of
course, show this letter.'*
Some years afterward he was again at Morlaix, and as a proof of the
affection and respect with which the remembrance of him was cherished,
he found that the room which he had occupied at the time of this occurrence
bad been kept in the precise order iu which he lefl it, no article having
been removed from its place.
After his return from this voyage to Europe, he took an active and very
important part in measures for establishing the Massachusetts General
Hospital with an Asylum for the Insane, the necessity for which had be-
gun to be deeply felt. He was one of those to whom an act of incorpo-
ration had been granted for the purpose, with a valuable donation from
the Commonwealth, on the condition that the sum of one hundred thou-
sand dollars should be raised by subscription within a limited time. His
name was at the head of the first list of trustees, and he undertook the
work which his position involved with characteristic energy. His influ-
ence and his services were highly appreciated by those with whom he was
engaged in that undertaking. The subscriptions were made on the con-
dition that the full sum of «100,000 should be obtained, so that the whole
depended on Entire success. Besides his exertions in rousing other sub-
scribers, he and his elder br9ther contributed five thousand dollars each
toward the fund, and it was completed agreeably to the terms of condi-
tion. It is well known that the efforts of those who were engaged in this
movement have been productive of all the good which they hoped to ef-
fect. The institution Dears a favorable comparison with those of the same
kind in other places, and has become celebrated throughout the world for
the first successful application of the great discovery in the use of ether
for surgical operations.
His elder brother and partner, James Perkins, Esq., died in the year
1822. The following passages from a notice of his death, published at
the time, show the estimation in which he was held : —
** While his real and most eloquent eulogy is to be sought in the course of
an indnstdous, honorable, and roost useful life, it is due to the virtues he prac-
ticed, to the example he set, to the noble standard of character on which he
acted^ not to be entirely silent, now that nothing remains of them but their hon-
ored memory. He had received in boyhood, under the care of an excellent
mother, the preparatory instruction which might have fitted him for an acade-
mical education; but the approach of the Revolutionary War, and the discour-
aginfif aspc't of the times, dictated the commereiid career as more prudent
*^ in enterprises extending over tlie habitable globe, employing tbou«mds of
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Tkomoi Sandasyd Perkins. 89
Agents conntantlf involving fortunes in their resolt, and requirinff, on many oe-
eainomi necessarily incident to busineM of this extent, no secondary degree of
firmness and courage, not a shadow of suspicion of anything derogatory to the
highest and purest sense of honor and conscience ever attached to his conduct.
The character of such a man ought to be held up for imitation."
Mr. James Pericins left a large fortune, acquired in this honorable course ;
and is still remembered for distinguished liberality in all appeals that were
made when he lived, for charity or public good, to the affluent and gener-
ous in the community ; for his liberal donations to several institutions ;
and especially for a munificent gift of real estate, of the value of about
$20,000, to the Boston Athenjeum, and the bequest of $20,000 more to
the University at Cambridge. The decease of such an associate in the
commercial vicissitudes of nearly forty years was deeply felt by his sur-
viving partner and brother.
In 1826, it was proposed to raise a considerable sum for additions to
the Athenaeum* Something over $30,000 was required. Col. Perkins
and his nephew, Mr. James Perkins, son and sole heir of his deceased
brother, contributed one-half of it, paying eight thousand dollars each, on
the condition that the same amount should be subscribed by the public ;
which was done. He made other valuable donations to the Atheuseum,
and was for several years president of that institution.
Soon after this, having witnessed the successful commencement of rail-
roads in England, he resolved to introduce them here ; and having ob-
tained a charter for the Granite Railway Company, he caused one of two
miles in length to be made, for the purpose of transporting granite from
the quarries in Quincy to the water. This was the first railroad built in
this country, though there was a rough contrivance in Pennsylvania for
the removal of coal, which is said to have preceded it It has been the
means of adding large quantities of granite to the building materials of
our cities, and its effect is seen extending as far as New Orleans.
In 1833, a movement was made to obtain funds for the establishment
of a school for blind children in Boston. Having been deeply interested
by an exhibition given to show their capacity for improvement, he made
a donation of his mansion house in Pearl-street as a place for their resi-
dence. He gave it on the condition that the sum of fifty thousand dollars
should be contributed by the public as a fund to aid in their support
Efforts were made accordingly to effect that object, and proved to be en-
tirely successful. The school was thus placed on a stable foundation, and
by means that insured it continued care. The incitement which had thus
been offered to the community to secure so valuable an estate as a gift to
the public, roused general attention to the subject that could induce such
a donation. Mutual sympathy in endeavoring to effect the purpose was a
natural result This became widely diffused. An institution which thus
offered intelligence, enjoyment, and usefulness in place of ignorance,
sorrow, and idleness, was recognized by the government of the State as
deserving aid from the Commonwealth, and liberal public provision was
made for the education there of blind children whose parents needed as-
sistance.
Under the direction of Dr. Howe it has been eminently successful, and
is known through the country as an important example of what may be
done. Indeed, it may be said further, that the country itself is more
widely and favorably known in the Old World from the annual repoi-ts of
what has been effected there, not only by improvements in tlie art of
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40 MercafMe Biography:
printing for the blind, but by n^rw discoyeries in the possibility of instruc-
tion, which he has demonstrated.
The publications from the press of the institution, under his care, prob-
ably comprise more matter than all other works in the English language
that have ever been published for the use of the blind ; and at the recent
"Exhibition of Works of Industry of all Nations" in the Crystal Palace
of London, the prize medal was awarded to his specimens for the best
system of letters and the best mode of printing such books. But, beyond
this, Dr. Howe has enlarged the science of mind by reaching and devel-
oping the intellect of the blind and deaf mute, shut up from human inter-
course by obstruction in all avenues of the senses but one, and proved
that the single sense of touch can be made the medium for eflfectual in-
struction in reading and writing, and for the free interchange even of the
most refined and delicate sentiments that are known to the heart of wo-
man. In this, he was the first to reduce to certainty what had before been
only a problem, and has shown that there is no solid ground for the prin-
ciple of law on the subject, as laid down by Blackstone, that — " a man
who is bom deaf, dumb, and blind, is looked upon by the law as in the
same state with an idiot; he being supposed incapable of any understand-
ing, as wanting all those senses which furnish the human mind with
ideas."
The estate given by Col. Perkins, although spacious in extent, was be-
coming, from its position, better suited for purposes of trade than of resi-
dence. From the same cause, however, it was rising in pecuniary value,
and not long afterward it was exchanged, with his consent, he releasing
all conditional rights of reversion, for a large edifice in the suburbs, built
for another purpose, but admirably adapted, by location and structure, for
the residence of young people. It overlooks the harbor, is secure by its
elevation from any interruption of light or air, and afibrds ample room
for all who may desire to come.
The institution bears his name. That something important would have
eventually been done in Massachusetts for the education of the blind, even
if he had rendered no assistance, cannot be doubted. Dr. John D. Fisher,
a physician of great worth, to whose memory a monument has been
erected at Mount Auburn for his early exertions in the cause, moving al-
most unaided, had previously obtained an act of incorporation from the
Legislature for the purpose ; and Edward Brooks, Esq., and Mr. Prescott,
the historian^ with some other gentlemen, had united with him to promote
it. What followed is in a ffreat measure to be attributed to their prepar-
atory movements. But CoT. Perkins, by the impulse of a powerful hand,
suddenly roused the community to aid in the project, and placed it at once
in an advanced position, which otherwise it probably it would have required
the lapse of many years, with arduous exertions, to attain. At that time
the institutions for the blind in England were little more than workshops,
affording hardly any instruction except for manual labor, and no printing,
though two small books had been printed in Scotland. But through his
aid and advice the means were obtained and effectually applied for an es-
tablishment on a more liberal plan, giving the precedence to intellectual
and moral education. There is little doubt, therefore, that a large portion
of the good which has been effected thus far, within the institution, and
by its example elsewhere, is the result of his munificent donation, and the
wise condition which he attached to it
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Thawuu Haa^syd Perkins. 41
It should be remarked here, however, to gnard agarast any mistake
detrimental to the interest of the blind, that while the pupils are placed,
through his means, in a building which might give the impression that its
inhabitants are likely to be in want of nothing, the institution is by no
means richly endowed. The money that has been liberally given has been
liberally spent in the cause of education ; and those who are inclined to
give or leave any portion of their wealth for the relief of misfortune,
should be informed that the blind still need, and humbly hope to be re-
membered. There can hardly be any class of persons to whom books, and
a large library of books, can afford so great delight as those whose sources
of enjoyment do not include that of sight; and afler reading in the re-
port of the juries on the awards at the exhibition of the Crystal Palace in
London, ten close pages that are devoted to the subject of printing for
the blind, with a historical sketch in which marked prominence is given to
what has been done at " The Perkins iNSTrruxioN in Boston,** it can
hardly be heard without sorrow that the printing there is suspended for
irant of pecuniary means ; and that the publication of the Cyclopedia in
twenty volumes, probably the most valuable work, with the exception of
the Bible, that has ever been attempted for the blind, was necessarily stopped
with the eighth volume.
A few extracts from that report, on a subject so deserving of interest,
will hardly be out of place here.
" A few yenrs ago printing for the blind was considered only a curious or
dovbtful experiment, but it is now established beyond all question that books
are true sources of pro6t and pleasure to them. Whilst embossed books have
recently very rapidly increased, it is delightful to notice that the blind readers
have multiplied fhr more rapidly.
** The invention of printing for the blind marks a new era in the history of
literature. The whole credit of this invention, ho simple yet so marvelloos in
its results, belongs to France. It was Mr. Valentine Hauy who, in 1784, at
Paris, produced the first book, printed with letters in relief, and soon after proved
to the world that children might easily be taught to read with their fingers. The
blind really received but little advantage from an invention that prooiised so
much. The fault, however, seems to have been not so much in the plan as in
the execution of it This noble invention, except perhaps within the walls of
the institution, soon sank into oblivion, and very little more was heard of it un-
til 1814. The Institute of Parin, since its foundation in 1784, has at times been
in a deplorable condition, but about the year 1840, it underwent a thorAigh re-
organization, and is now justly entitled to the front rank of institutions of this
class in Europe.
'*' It was in Great Britain and in the United States that the firat improvements
were made in embossed typography. Before 1826, when Mr. James Gall, of
Edinburgh, first began to turn his attention to the intellectual and moral educa-
tion of the blind, it is believed that not a single blind person in anv public in-
stitution of this country or America could read by means of embossed characters.
To Mr. Gall is due the credit of reviving this art.''
In 1827, he published a small volume for teaching the art of reading
to the blind, and in 1834 he published the Gospel of St John, and after-
ward several other books, but they do not appear to have been generally
used. It is added in the report that, with one exception, ^ it is believed
they are adopted by no public institution in Great Britain."
** While the puzzling question of an alphabet best a^iapted to the fingera of
the blind and the eyes of their friends was under warm discussion on this side
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43^ Mereaniiie Biography:
of the Atlantic, Dr. Howe was developing his ftystem at Boston, in the United
States. In 1833, the Perkins Institution for the Blind was established at Bos-
ton, and Dr. S. G. Uowe^ a gentleman distinguished through a long series of
Tears for his philanthropic labors, was placed at its head, and soon made those
improvements and modifications which have rendered the Boston press so fa^
mous. His first aim was to compress the letter into a comparatively compact
and cheap form. This he accomplished by cutting off all the flourishes and
points about the letters. He so managed that they occupied but a little more
thau one space and a half instead of three. So great was this reduction, that
Ihe entire New Testament, which, according to Hauy's type, would have filled
nine volumes, and cost twenty pounds, could be printed in two volumes for six-
teen shillings. Early in the summer of 1834, he published the Acts of the
Apostles. Indeed, such rapid progress did he make in his enterprise, that by the
end of 1835 he printed in relief the whole of the New Testament for the first
time in any language, in four handsome quarto volumes, comprising 624 pages,
for four dollars. These were published together in 1836. The alphabet thus
contrived by Dr. Howe in 1833, it appears, has never since been changed.
** As the Boston books can now be obtained in London at a price cheaper than
any of the five different systems of books printed in Great Britain, it is to be
hoped that they will come into general use here."
It is then shown by a table of comparison that Dr. Howe's books are
much less in bulk, and cheaper by more than one-half, than those printed
in any other of the six systems used in the English language. Ajid it is
added : —
^* His system has been fully described, and to it the jury give the preference
above all others. The jury beg to suggest that a uniform system should be
adopted, and that in future all books printed for the blind should be printed in
the same character. Dr. Howe's appears simple, and fit for general adoption."
In 1 838 his commercial firm -was dissolved, and he withdrew from busi-
ness with a large fortune, after having been actively engaged in Commerce
for more than hfty years, though within the last ten his personal attention
to its affairs had been considerably relaxed. His" success had been great,
but by no means uninterrupted. Severe disappointments and disasters
from causes beyond his control made part of his experience ; and while
he had great confidence in his own ability to direct, he well knew the im-
portance of leaving as little as possible to accident in any enterprise that
he undertook.
An instance of the readiness with which he could sometimes decide on
the advantages to be justly expected from commercial operations when
proposed, will serve to show the extent of his information, and the value
of such information in enabling those who engage in Commerce at all to
act with clear discernment, instead of trusting to blind chance in specula-
tion. He had used such information and discernment himself with strik-
ing effect, even so far as to pause in his career and stand somewhat aside
for years, when others, moved partly by an ambitious desire to rival him
in Commerce, had sought to rise from the grade of successful dealers in
purchases from his cargoes, and become the owners of ships, importing
cargoes of their own. Insolvency and melancholy oblivion or insignifi-
cance have, since then, been the lot of most of tiiem. But when enter-
prises requiring capital and, still more, judgment, beyond their resources
and capacity had led them into embarrassment, there necessarily came a
pause on their side, of which he and those who were associated with him
took skillful advantage in a rapid succession of voyages that have rarely
had a parallel for success.
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Thomas Handasyd Perkins. 48
The particiilar instance referred to was this : — About thirty years ago
the price of coffee, which for a long time previously had been as high as
twenty-five cents, had declined to fif&en cents per pound, and Col. Perkins
being in New York for a day or two, on a visit to a daughter who resided
&ere, a wish was expressed that it might be suggested to him that the
temporary depression having made it a fit subject for speculation, if he
should be disposed to engage in it on the extended scale to which he was
accustomed, there was an opportunity to secure a large quantity on even
more advantageous terms. As coffee was an article out of the Ime of his
usual operations, and not likely to attract his particular attention, the sub-
ject was mentioned to him rather for entertainment, in conversing upon
the occurrences of the time and the news of the day, than in the belief
that he would give it serious thought Without hesitation and with the
ease and decision of an able lawyer or surgeon in giving an opinion on
any case presented to either of them professionally, he answered to this
effect:—
'* The depression in coffee is not * temporary.' Whoever makes purchases
DOW at 14 cento, or even at 13 cents, will niid that he has made a mistake, unless
he means to take advantage of any transient demand to dispose of it speedily.
There are more coffee trees now in bearing than are sufficient to supply the
whole world, by a proportion that I could state with some precision if necessary.
The decline in price is owing to accnmulation, which will be found to increa!«e,
particularly as there are new plantations yet to come forward. Coffee will
eventually fall to 10 cents, and probably below that, and will remain depressed
for some years. The culture of it will be diminished. Old plantations will be
suffered to die out, and others will, in some cases, be grubbed up that the land
may be converted to new uses. At length, the plantations will be found inade-
quate to the supply of the world. But it requires five or six vears for the coffee
tree to reach its full bearing. Time, of course, will be required for the neces-
sary increase, and the stoclu on hand will bo diminishing in the meantime. A
rise must follow. Whoejrer buys coffee twelve or fifteen yeiirs hence at the
market price, whatever it may be, will pK>bably find it rising on his hands, and
fortunes may be made, unless speculative movemento should have disturbed the
regular course of evente."
With so clear an outline for the future it was interesting to observe
what followed. Coffee gradually fell to less than ten cents, and remained
low. One consequence, usual in such cases, ensued. The consumption
increased. Misled, perhaps, by this, and an impatient desire to be fore-
most in securing advantages which by that time were generally foreseen,
parties began to move in a speculative spirit about five years before the
time thus indicated. They made great purchases, and large quantities
were^held in expectation of profit. It was curious to notice the action
and hear the remarks of various persons concerned in what ensued, ac-
cording to their different degrees of intelligence on a subject that was not,
even then, fidly understood by all. Coffee rose considerably. Some of
them secured a moderate profit while they could. Others, arguing on a
crude belief that as coffee nad been at 25 cents, there was no reason why
it should not attain that price again, determined to wait for far greater
profits. The stimulant given to the demand by withholding large quanti-
ties from sale developed greater stocks than were supposed to exist ; the
movement was found to be premature, and coffee fell again in price. Im-
mense sums were lost Bankruptcy followed, with many a heart-ache that
might have been prevented by counsel from one like him, who had the
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44 Ifereantile Biography:
comprehensive views and thorough knowledge that belong to a complete
merchant
This unwise anticipation somewhat retarded and diminished the well-
founded rise that had been foretold. But it came at length, and some
moderate fortunes were made by it, thourii the dreams of the speculator
of a return to the high prices that prevaued in the early part of the cen-
tury have never been realized.
After his retirement from Commerce, Col. Perkins found sufficient oc-
cupation in the management of his property ; in various matters of a
public nature which interested him ; and in the cultivation of trees, and
particularly of fruits and flowers, on his estate at Brookline. He was re-
markable n>r his love of nature ; and in travelling sometimes went far out
of his way to examine a beautiful tree, or to enjoy an interesting view.
Occasionally he made a voyage to Europe, renewing his observations on
the changes and improvements that were to be seen there. He had crossed
the Atlantic many times beside the instances that have been referred to, al-
ways keeping a diary, which he filled with the incidents that occurred,
with the results of his inquiries, and with remarks worthy of an intelli-
gent traveller ; and sending home works of art, some of which were be-
stowed as gifts. He took a lively interest in the progress and welfare of
American artists, kindly aiding some who desired to improve by studying
the great models in Europe, and liberally purchasing the works of those
who deserved encouragement. He was generally very agreeable to those
with whom he incidentally fell in as fellow-travellers ; and where he became
known abroad as an American, he left a very favorable impression of the
character of his countrymen.
Active industry had been and continued to be the habit of his life. The
day with him was well occupied, and equally well ordered. He had long
been accustomed to rise early, to consider what required his attention, and
to prepare so much of what he had to do personally as he could perform by
himself, that he might meet the world ready to decide and direct, promptly
and clearly. This enabled him to transact business with ease and accura-
cy, and made him so far master of his time that he found leisure for vari-
ous objects, both of useftilness and enjoyment, as well as for courteous and
kind attention to the afikirs and wishes of others, which it might have
been supposed would hardly be remembered by one so occupied. Each
day with him was the illustration of a thought which young men, and
particularly young men entering on commercial life, will find to be a safe-
guard against precipitation or perplexity, and against the irritation as well
as the miserable shifts to which they sometimes lead. The action of the
mind in preparing with calm foresight what is to be done, before it is ab-
solutely necessary, is widely different from its action when afiPairs are left;
until necessity presses, and the powers are conftised by various calls on the
attention in the midst of hurry and embarrassment What is only method
in the first case actually becomes a faculty, and sometimes passes for un-
common ability, of which it has the effect On the other hand, some
men, who really show great powers when pressed by necessity for dispatch,
are in truth unable, without being aware of such a defect, to foresee and
prepare what they have to do before they feel the pressure. When that
ceases, the exertion too often ceases with it ; and important matters are
left to be done at some ftiture time, whicii perhaps are never done. The
older they grow the more incurable is the evil, and melanoholy instances
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7%m4U Handa^yd Perkins, 45
aiigbt be given of bankruptcy late in life, after great suceees, which might
be traced chiefly to this cause. It is said that the Hon. Peter C. Brooks,
of Boston, who left a large fortune, after a life well worthy of imitation,
on being once asked what rule he would recommend to a young man as
most likely to ensure success, answered — ^*- Let him mind his business ;^
and to a similar inquiry, it has been said that Robert Lenox, Esq., of New
York, well remembered as one of the most distinguished and estimable
merchants ever known in that ffreat city, and for his wide hospitality, once
answered — " Let him be beforehand with his business." One answer seems
to include the other, as no man can be beforehand with his business, and
enjoy the tranquil self-possession that accompanies forecast, unless he minds
it unremittingly.
At one time when Col Perkins had decided to leave home for some
time on a long journey of several thousand miles to the South and West,
application had been made to him to give his guaranty for a considerable
sum, to enable one whose welfare he wished to promote to engage in a
commercial connection that seemed to offer great advantages. As the
magnitude of the affair required caution, it was expected, of course, that
when he had considered the subject explanations on various points would
be necessary before he could decide to give it ; and it was intended to take
some favorable opportunity, when he might be entirely at leisure, to ex-
plain everything fully. Suddenly, however, he found it best to commence
the journey a week or two sooner than had been mentioned, and engage-
ments of various kinds, previously made, so occupied him in the short m-
terval left that there seemed to be no time for offering such explanation
without danger of intruding, and the hope of obtaining his aid at that
time, in an affair that required prompt action, was given up. The appli-
cant called at his house half an hour before he was to go merely to take
leave, knowing that the haste of departure in such cases usually precludes
attention to any matters reqiuring deliberation. On entering the room,
however, he found there was no appearance of haste. All preparations
for the journey had been entirely completed in such good season that the
last half-hour seemed to be one entirely of leisure for anything that might
occur. After a little chat, Col. Perkins introduced the subject him^f,
and made pertinent inquiries; which, being answered satisfactorily, he
gave the guaranty, and very kindly added a further facility by allowing,
until his return, the use of a considerable sum of money which he was
leaving in the bank. The arrangements were, in consequence, completed
the next day ; they proved in the result to be eminently successful ; all
pledges were redeemed ; his guaranty was cancelled in due course without
the slightest cost or inconvenience to him; and the person whom he
wished to oblige received very large profits, which happily influenced the
reraunder of his life, and which he, perhaps, might never have enjoyed,
if that last half-hour before the journey had been nurried.
When doing an act of kindness like this, he seemed to derive great
pleasure from the consciousness that the action of his life had given him
the power to produce such results by the single influence of his name ;
horn all proofe, too, which followed that he h^ decided correctly in be-
stowing his confidence where he believed it to be deserved ; and ft'om in-
dulging an impulse of his nature that prompted him to diffuse happiness
where ne had the opportunity.
Numerous instances might be given of his kindness in promoting the
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46 MereaniiU JSiogfrapky :
success of others, and particularly of young men engaging in voyages or
other commercial enterprises ; and he always showed a warm interest in
the Mercantile Library Association of Young Men in Boston, to whom he
made a donation to aid in the erection of a building.
In a general view of his character, he appeared as exercising the influ-
ence of one having a nice sense of propriety, with reference to uie opinion
of others ; love of order ; a high stanaard of action ; and a desire to pro-
mote whatever tended to general advantage and respectability ; with such
steadiness of purpose as gave power to his example. His manners, formed
in an age of ceremony which has passed, retained something of its cour-
teous dignity, divested of what was artificial, and united wiui the ease of
our own time.
His personal appearance so far indicated his character that an observer
of any class, who saw him for the first time, was very likely to be im-
pressed with a desire to know who that personage might be. " A very
noble looking man !" said a young woman who was c^led to fetch him a
glass of water, when he stopped one day at the house of a friend some
miles from town. " Ce beau vietUard /" — that beautiful old man !— ex-
claimed the wife of a foreign embassador, in speaking of his reception of
her at his country-seat, when some one was snowing her the environs of
Boston. And in repeated instances foreigners of rank have remarked in
a similar tone on his person and the high-bred courtesy of his manner.
Great personal strength and entire self-reliance made him almost heed-
less of danger, in the full confidence that he had the power and the pres-
ence of mind to do just the right thing at the right moment; and he oad,
at different times, some remarkable escapes. On one occasion, when driv-
ing toward town over -a road made in one part on the slope of a hill, with
a steep bank on one side and a descent, guarded by a wall, on the other,
some object fell from the top of the bank on his right so* suddenly that
his horse, a powerful animal, sprang to the opposite side and dashed into
a run. Close before him was the stiff branch of a large apple tree pro-
jecting over that side of the road at about the level of his waist as he sat.
He leaped at once from his seat over the wall, alighting unhurt in the or-
chard below, and in an instant the top was swept from the vehicle in a
manner that must have proved fatal to himself if he had remained in it a
moment longer.
Though fond of social intercourse, his opinions were often conveyed in
monosyllables or short and terse exprepsions, and be was more inclined,
whether abroad or at his own table, to promote conversation in others
than to talk much himself. But he listened with attention and contril>-
uted readily, from the stores of his experience and knowledge, whatever
occurred to him as interesting ; occasionally introducing an anecdote with
striking effect, but rather as if he were stating a fact than telling a story.
He used language with precision ; his expressions were concise ; and his
words carried the full force that belonged to them, all the more because
there was no attempt to exaggerate iheir true and precise meaning^. The
instances that he gave were usually such as bad occurred within his own
knowledge in reference to remarkable events or distinguished men, and
most of them might well have found place in history or biography. But
occasionally he related incidents of an amusing character, such as the fol-
lowing, and in a manner that afi'orded great entertainment.
In one of his early visits to London, Stewart, the celebrated portrait-
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Thomas Handasyd PerJeins. A*l
painter, whom he knew well, resided there, occupying apartments as a
bachelor, with a boy to attend him. One day, Stewart sent the boy with
a message to a man of rank to say that he could comply with a request
to give him a sitting if he would come at a certain hour. The boy went
off accompanied by a large and favorite dog of his master's, but did not
return at the time expected ; ^d Stewart waited, receiving no answer,
until he found that the forenoon was lost He then went out to take his
usual walk ; and as he strolled on, finding himself in that part of the city
where the mother of the boy resided, he made her a visit and inquired
whether her son ever came to see her. ^* Oh, yes !" she said, he had
been there that morning, with a great dog, both of them full of mischief;
and there had been such a time I First, they discovered a piece of beef-
steak intended for her dinner, which, after great struggles, the dog had
been suffered to devour. Then, in a scene of frolic and riot, they had up-
set her wash-tub, and had just gone off. He desired the woman not to
mention his own visit to her ; and on returning home and inquiring what
was the answer brought, was told by the boy that he had been unable to
find the place, having lost his way and got back as he could ; to all which
be said nothing except as a slight caution to be more attentive to the di-
rection in future. Soon afterward his dinner was brought, as usual, from
a chop-hous9, and the boy took his accustomed stand opposite to him,
while the dog placed himself at his side expecting an occasional mouth-
ful. In due course Stewart, taking a piece of juicy meat on his fork, held
it toward the dog ; but, after looking at him for a moment, suddenly drew
back, with well-feigned surprise, exclaiming — **How is this? What!
dined already f ' and he looked earnestly at the boy, who became alarmed.
Turning again to the doir, with the meat still withheld over him, he said,
"Ah ! and beef-steak ? — Is it possible ?" Casting an angry and searching look
at intervals toward the boy, he went on — " What ! — a wash-tub ? — and
upset it too I" He at length turned back to the table, and laying the fork
on his plate, folded his arms, and looked intently at the culprit The boy,
aghast at tbese supernatural disclosures, as (hey seemed, from the dog,
confessed the whole, making solemn promises for his future behavior, which
became exemplary. The pretended wonder of the artist^ the eagerness
and disappointment of the dog, and the conscience-stricken amazement of
the boy were all presented in vivid light, while he only seemed to be men-
tioning casually what had occurred.
The following is an incident of a different character, which occurred in
the National Convention during the French Revolution, and of which he
was an eye-witness. He related it with great effect. Soon after the death
of Robespierre, one of his former associates proposed a sanguinary law,
which was objected to by a member, who had been a butcher, as unneces-
sarily cruel. The deputy who proposed it said, with a sneer, that he had
not looked for such fine sentiments from one whose trade had been blood.
The butcher, a burly, powerful man, starting to his feet as if he would de-
stroy his opponent, exclaimed — " Soelerat ! scelerat I ! Je n'ai jamais
senilis mes mains que du sang des animaux. Voila les votres !"*^
It has been thought that he showed a lack of discernment in judging of
character. Whatever might be the truth as to any defect of that sort, it
* **• Wretch ! wreUh that yoa are ! ! I hare never «olled my hands hot whh tiie blood of bcaata.
LookatyooowBr*
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48 Mercantile Biogrcq^y :
rarely, if ever, appeared in making unjust imputations ; but rather in giv-
ing others credit for good qualities which they did not possess. Although
he used strong terms in condemning, on some occasions, what he disap-
proved, he seldom spoke in disparagement of any one ; and if he listen^
it was with no indication of pleasure at hearing anything to the disadvan-
tage of others. There certainly were cfses m which he found that his
confidence had been misplaced, but as he was not apt to communicate his
motives fully, it was not clear whether it arose entirely from error of judg-
ment, or partly from a readiness to take risks of which he was aware. £i
some instances he misunderstood the intentions or difficulties and embar-
rassments of others, and occasionally spoke with warmth where he sup-
posed there was just cause for displeasure, though he was more likely to
be quite silent at such times ; but no one was more ready than he to make
reparation if it was explained to him that he had been unjust Probably
he was supposed to be unfriendly in other instances, when he would have
appeared to be entirely kind if he had talked more freely. His nature
was affectionate, appearing particularly so toward children, and many of
them were his intimate friends, habitually exchanging with him the live-
liest pleasantry with perfect freedom.
It is not uncommon >vith those whose feelings are characterized by great
energy, as his were, that from an apprehension, perhaps, lest strong emo-
tion might escape control if expressed in any degree whatever, it is
guarded with such entire suppression and reserve that they seem to those
around them almost to have no feeling at all, when, in truth, they feel
most deeply. A striking instance of this nature may be mentioned of
him.
The death of his eldest son, who was named for him, and in person, as
well as in some points of character, bore a strong natural resemblance to
himself, occurred about four years before his own. They differed in char-
acter as the son of a widow, moved by strong incitements to assist in re-
lieving her of care, and to secure his own advancement in the world, might
be very likely to diifer from one born to the enjoyment and expectation of
wealth, and advancing in youth under the auspices of a parent who stood
high in public estimation, and possessed powerful influence. Like his fa-
ther, he had preferred action to the life of a student, and went early abroad,
having sailed tor China during the war of 1812 in a private armed ship
that was prepared to fight her way for a rich cargo, as was successfully
done ; and he took part in one bloody naval action beside other encounters.
Daring in spirit, of a buoyant and generous temper, and eminently hand-
some, he was a favorite abroad, particularly amons; the officers of our
public ships as he met them in foreign ports ; and he had seen much of
the world, with various adventures, in China, in South America, and in
Europe.
He eventually joined his father's commercial house in Boston, and after
a few years of remarkable success, withdrew with a good fortune, and
lived in affluence and leisure, amusing himself with field ^rts, of which
he was fond, and varying his life with an occasional tour in Europe. After
rearing a beautiful family, he fell the victim of a distressing illness, and
died in the prime of life.
At his funeral, his &ther appeared tranquil as usual, advising on some
matters of detail ; and having followed the hearse to the place of inter-
ment, chose, rather against the suggestions of those near him, to descend.
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Hufmas Handasyd Perhim. 49^
to the tomb under tbe church, that he might see that all was arranged as
he had intended. But when nothing more remained to be done, when the
single lamp, by the light of which the coflBn had been adjusted in its place,
was withdrawn, and the door was closed in darkness and silence on all that
remained of one who had been the object of so deep interest from infancy
upward, nature prevailed, for one moment only, over all restraint, and an
involuntary burst of grief disclosed the depth of sorrow that remained
beneath the habitual composure of his manner.
About two years after this, the death of Mrs. Perkins took place, and
the dissolution of a tie which had continued for sixty-three years had a
visible effect on him. His younger brother, Samuel G. Perkins, Esq., had
died blind, past the age of eighty. His own sight was failing. Of all
the family left by his father, he and two sisters only remained. His friend
through life, the Hon. Harrison Gray Otis, was dead. The companions of
his youth and middle age were nearly all gone. Of the association re-
membered as the " Saturday Club," consisting of some of the most dis-
tinguished gentlemen of the town in their day, who, while they found
mutual enjoyment in dining successively at the houses of each other, gave
hospitable admission to such strangers as deserved attention, only two sur-
vived beside himself. The impression had long been habitual with him
that the close of hi^ own life was near, and he awaited it with tranquillity.
He had lived as he thought it was right to do. There appears to hfive
been no period in which he had been addicted to vice of any sort His
life was marked by self-control ; but beside that, he seems to have had an
innate purity and love of order that made excess distasteful to him. In
the order of events he had found the enjoyment and incurred the respon-
sibility of great success in the acquisition of property, and he had shared
it freely with the community in which he lived ; his gifts and contributions
continuing numerous to the last.
He had become feeble, and moved with difficulty. But an indomitable
spirit which remained ready for action still, if anything was to be done,
carried him once more from home as far as Washington. This spirit had
long before borne him through some passages of ill-health that might have
proved fatal if it had not been that the energy with which his mind opened
itself t> excitement and pleasure always imparted corresponding vigor to
his physical frame in a remarkable degree.
Twenty-five years before, being greatly debilitated after a severe illness,
he had resolved to try the effect of a voyage to England, though some of
his friends feared that he might never return ; and he sailed with his
nephew and friend, Mr. Gushing, in a new ship belonging to his house.
He was so weak that it was necessary to assist him, almost to lift him, on
board the vessel. But becoming immediately interested in the manage-
ment of the ship, and in getting to sea, when the pilot left them in the
outer harbor, he was already better for the excitement; he continued to
improve during the voyage ; and returned in vigorous health.
A few years afterward, being again reduced to much the same state, he
left Boston for New York, to embark for Etirope in company with his
eldest son, (who thought it unsafe that his father should sail without his
personal care,) and with his grandson, three of the name. He went from
home 80 enfeebled that his mmily doubted whether he could reach New
York in a condition to be carried on board the packet, (it was before the
day of steamships,) and they were surprised to learn, after waiting with
TOL. XXXIIL ^MO. I. 4
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40 Mercantile Btographyi'
solicitude, that lie was so well after the journey as to aocompanj bis fnetid,
Mr. Otis, whom he met there on bis arrival, to the theatre in the evening.
At that time he went into Italy, where he had not been before, and as
iliiffht be supposed, looked with lively interest on the wonders of history
and art to be seen there. An American statesman of the most distin-
guished character, who recently passed a winter in Rome, mentioned to
an acquaintance who called on him that, when he arrived there, he heard
accidentally in inquiring for places of residence that a house once occu-
pied by Col. Perkins could be had, and that he lost no time in securing
that house, being confident that it had been well chosen, which, to his
great comfort, he found to be as he had anticipated.
After the decease of Mrs. Perkins, some important business in which he
was concerned required attention at Washington, and his courageous
spirit still rising above the infirmities of age, he made one more journey
there, resolved to see to it himself. While there he was concerned to find
that work was likely to be suspended on the monument to the memory of
Washington. On his return home, he took measures to rouse fresh inter-
est in the work, and a considerable sum was raised for it, through his ex-
ertions. His action in reference to this has been publicly alluded to, since
his decease, by the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, late Speaker of the House
of Representatives in Congress, who, at the close of an eloquent speech
addressed to the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, at their
annual festival in Faneuil Hall, in October last, spoke as follows : —
''The memory of your excellent and lamented President (Mr. Cbickering) has
already received its appropriate and feeling tribute. I can add nothiog to that
But I will venture to recall to your remembrance another venerated name. You
have alluded, in the sentiment which called me up, to an humble service which
I rendered some ^'ears ngo, as the organ of the Representatives of the Union,
at the laying of the comer-stone of the National Monument to Washington. I
cannot but remember that the latest efforts in this quarter of the country te
raise funds for the completion of that monument, were made by one whose long
and honorable life has been brought to a close within the past twelve months.
*' 1 cannot forget the earnest »nd affectionate interest with which that noble^
hearted old American gentleman devoted the last days, and I had almost said the
last hours, of his life, to arranging the details and the machinery for an appeal
to the people of Massaohusietti^ in behalf of that still unfinished structure. He
had seen Washington in his boyhood, and had felt the inspiration of his majestic
presence ; he had known him in his manhood, and had spent two or three days
with him by partk^ular invitation at Mount Vernon, daya never to be forgotten
in any man's life ; his whole heart seemed to be imbued with the warmest ad*
mn*ation and affection for his character and services; and it seemed as if be could
not go down to his grave in peace until he had done something; to aid in perpet-
Unting the memory of his virtues and bis valor. I> need not say that I allude to
the lute Hon. Thomas Handasyd Perkins. He was one of the noblest specimens
of humanity to which our city has ever given birth; — leading the way for half a
century in every generous enterprise, and setting one of the earliest examples
of those munincent charities which have given our city a name and a praise
throughout the earth. He was one of vour own honorary members, Mr. Presi-
dent, and I have felt that I could do nothing more appropriate to this occasion —
the first public festive occasion in Faneuil Hall which has occurred sinoe hia
death—and nothing more agreeable to the feelings of this association, or to mj
own, than to propose to you as I now do —
** The memory of Thomas Handasyd Perkins."
For a long time he had been deprived of the use of one of his eyes
which was bhnded by cataract ; how long he could not tell with accuracy,
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for the diaeovery that it was useless, aad that he saw only with the other,
was made by acoide&t and much to his surprise ; bat it must hav^e been
more than Iwenty years. Opening it one morning while the right eye
was buried in the piUow, he found himself unable to perceive any objects
about him. For many years, however, he saw well euough for common
purposes with the other ; but more recently even that one had caused him
so much trouble that he lived in fear of total blindness. Early in 1858,
eataract appeared in that eye also, and was making such rapid progress
that in a few weeks all use^ vision was lost Under these circumstancesi
he resolved to submit to an operation on the one that had been so long*
obscured. It was successfully performed by Dr. H. W. Williams, of Bos-
ton, the cataract being broken up in the month of March. Some time
was necessary for the complete absorption of the fragments ; but in less
tfaan three months the pupil had become entirely dear, and by the aid of
cataract glasses, he could not only see large objects as well as ever, but
could read the newspapers, and even the fine print in the column of ship-
news. His sight was at times rendered feeble afterward by the general
d^iiity of his system, and he never recovered the power of reading and
writing with entire ease ; but to do both in some degree was an advan^
lage, in comparison with total loss of sight, that could hardly be appr^
ciated, particularly as it enabled him still to manage his own affairs, whiok
he always vrished to do, and did to his last day, even keeping his books
with his own hand, excepting for a few months of his last year, when the
entries were made from his dictation.
In this, the last year of his life, he gave one more remarkable proof of
his continued interest in what was going on about him, and of his readi-
Be«i to aid liberally in all that he deem^ important to public welftire an«l
intelligence. A large and costly building had been erected for the Boston
Athenaeum by contribution from the public, liberally made for that pur-
pose that there might be such an one as would correspond to the aspira-
tions of the accomplished scholars who, fifty years before, had founded
the institution. A fund was now to be provided for annual expenses and
&r regular additions to the library. With this view, an ^ort was made
to raise a fund of $120,000. As Gol. Perkins had already done a greal
deal for the Athenaeum, no application was made to him for further aid.
He, however, voluntarily asked for the book containing the largest class of
subscriptions, and added his name to those contributing three thousand
dollars each. Soon afterward he inquired of the president of the Athe-
nttum what promss had been made, and was told that the subscription^
amounted to eighty thousand dollars, all of them being, however, on the
condition that uie full sum should be made up within the year ; that every-
Uiing possible seemed to have been done ; but that as people were leaving
town for the summer, nothing further could be obtained until the antumn,
and that it was doubtful whether the object oould be effected even then,
by raising forty thousand dollars more, as the applications appeared to
have been thoroughly made by a numerous committee. He tnen gave
his assurance that the attempt should not be sufiered to fail, even for so
large a deficit as that, and agreed to be responsible for it, in order that
the subscriptions already obtained might be made binding ; stipulating
only that nothing should be said of this until the expiration of the I s^
day fixed, and that the efforts to obtain it from the public should not be
at all relaxed in the mean time. Further assistance from him, however,
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Bi% Thomai ffmadasyd PerkiM,
yras rendered unnecessary, chiefly by the noble bequest of Samuel Apple*'
ton, Esq., a man of liberality and benevolence like his own, who died du-
ring the summer, leaving the sum of two hundred thousand dollars to
trustees, to be distributed at their discretion for scientific, literary, religious,
or charitable purposes. The trustees appropriated twenty-five thousand
dollars of this to the fund for the Athenaeum, and the remaining sum of
fifteen thousand dollars was easily obtained by further subscriptions at
large. But the assurance given by Col. Perkins, although any call on him
thus became unnecessary, was useful in warranting that confidence of sue-
oess which helps, in such cases, to secure it
In January following (1854) he found it necessary to submit to a slight
surgical operation for the removal of some obstruction that troubled him.
He had passed most of the day, the 9th, in attending to his domestic pay-
ments for the precediug year, arranging the papers himself with his usual
method in busmess. The operation was successfully performed by Dr.
Cabot, his grandson ; and he went to bed with the agreeable prospect of
finding himself relieved for the remainder of his lire of what had, for
some time, made him uncomfortable ; but with a caution, too, from his
surgeon, not to rise the next morning but remain in perfect quiet. .In
such matters, however, he had habitually judged and chosen to act for
himself; and in this instance he gave too little heed to the caution, refus-
ing, too, to have any attendant in his chamber, as had been recommended,
lie passed a good night, and feeling only too well after it, chose to rise
rather early the next day. After bemg partly dressed, becoming faint, he*
iras obliged to lie down on the sofa, and never left it He became more
and more feeble through the day ; and falling into a state of unconscioua-
ness toward evening, he continued to breathe for some hours, sleeping
without pain or distress, and died tranquilly on the morning of the IJth^
soon after midnight, in the 90th year of his age.
The impression of his character left on the community was such as had
Iteen sketched, a short time before, in language that admits of no improve-
Qient, and needs no addition, by the Hon. Daniel Webster, in a note writ-
ten with his own hand on the blank leaf of a copy of his works, presented
to Col. Perkins : —
•• Washikgton, April 19, 1852.
^Mt Dbxr Sir: — If I possessed anything which I miifht suppose likdy to be
more aoeeptable to you, as a proof of my esteem, than these volames, I should
have sent il in their stead.
, "* But I do not; and therefore ask your acceptance of a copy of this edition of
my speeches.
^*I have long cherihhed, my dear sir, a profound, warm, affectionate, and I may
say a filial regard for your person and character. I have looked upon you as
one born to do good, and who has fulHlt(»d hin mission; as a man, without npot
or blemish ; as a merchant, known and honored over the whole world ; a most
liberal supporter and promoter of science and the arts ; always kind to sohoiara
and literary men, and greatly beloved by them all ; friendly to all the Institotiuns
9/ Religion, Morality, and Education ; and an unwavering and determined Hap>
Dorter of the Constitution of the country, and of those grejit principles of Civil
Libert V, which it is so well calculated to uphold and advance.
** These sentiments 1 inscribe here in accordance with my best judgment, nnd
out of the fulness of my heart; and I wish here to record, also, my deep sense
of the many personal obligations, under which you have placed me in the course
«f cor l6Dg acquaintance. Your ever faithful friend,
«« DANIEL WSBSTiSR. •
^ to tbe Hod. Tbos. H. Pbikim****
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Chmmereidl and Indtutrial Cities of the United States. 6ft
Although private interment is most common now, it seemed inappro-
|mate for one who had filled so large a space in public regard. The fu-
neral service took place at the church of the Rev. Dr. Gannett, where he
had long worshipped, and was marked by one incident peculiarly touching
in its association. The solemn music, usual on such occasions, was im-
pressively performed by a large choir of pupils from the Perkins Institu*
tion for the Blind, who had requested permission to sing the requiem for
that friend through whom they enjoy the comforts of their spacious dwell-
ing. A further proof of their regard fof his memory was seen, but lately.
in gleams of pleasure lighting their faces on being promised that they
should soon listen to this story of his life. '
Irt. n.— CeMMERCUl iND INDUSTBIil CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES.*
MVMBBR ZXZU.
NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA.
Mr. Robertsok, the author of the volume, the title of which we have
placed at the foot of this page, sailed from Liverpool for New York in the
Collins steamer " Atlantic" on the 16th of November, 1853, and passed ^
few months in the United States in the winter of 1 853-4. During that
time he visited most of the leading commercial and industrial cities of tlie
Union, picking up, as he went along, a considerable amount of informa*
tion upon various subjects, generally, however, relating to the material in-
terests of our country. Mr. Robertson, as a manufacturer and merchant,
directed his special attention to those subjects with which it is the business
of mercantile men, having commercial relations with the States, to make
themselves more or less acquainted. The information thus acquired, is
communicated in an intelligible manner, and with a degree of accuracy
that is highly creditable to the author's candor and fairness, and the whole
is given in a small compass.
The subjects are connected by a brief narrative, in order to give variety
to what might otherwise be deemed tedious. This arrangement has been
convenient for the more natural introduction of the topics which are
brought under review.
After Mr. Robertson's arrival in New York, he visited Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Richmond, Charleston, New Orleans, Louisville, Washington,
Buffalo, and Lowell, and has introduced a variety of statistics, touching
the trade and industry of each.
These statistics will not, however, be particularly new to the readers of
the Merchants' Magazine^ as all of them have been embodied in its pa^jes.
His remarks are generally judicious, and he seems disposed to speak with-
out prejudice on all topics falling under his notice.
During the first few weeks Mr. Robertson was in the States, as he in-
forms us, he was much impressed with their apparent wealth. On this
* A Few If ontiis la America, cooUUnliig Bemarkt on its Commeretol uA Indostrlel Interealb
Bj Jahm RoBBiTton. ISmo., pp. 930. Londoa: Longmao it Co. Maaohester: Jamee iiaUls^
QOb 1896.
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i4 Commercial <md Indudtrial CUiea of the IT. Statm :
m^jeet he remarks : — " The solidity of the buildings in the cities, the im-
mense quantities of produce brought to the f^ea-ports, the activity of the
people, and their liberal, I might say, their profuse expenditure, led me to
form a high opinion of the great natural resources of the country. With
longer experience, and with more information, those opinions were much
modified. The country is not so rich as it seems to be at first sighty
though its wealth is more equally diffused than in England, and is much
more freely expended.
" I would here venture to mak^ a remark which more properly should
have formed a part of the text. The New Englanders — the Yankees, pro-
perly so called — are essentially a commercial people. Their natural incli*
nations lead them to trade — to manufacture — to drive a bargain — to spec-
ulate. To secure a field for the exercise of this their peculiar talent, they
have encouraged, and succeeded in establishing, an illiberal commercial
policy throughout the Union, under favor of which, undertakings of vari-
ous kinds have thriven that otherwise would not have existed for many
months. By means of protectiuu, undertakings have been fostered that
are a tax upon the community ; and their profits have been m?ide at the
expense of the nation. Hence, capital has been diverted to unnatural
channels, and the average rate of profit has been diminished throughout
the Union.
" On this account, the New England States, to some extent Pennsylva-
nia, and part of Louisiana, may be said to be burdens on the industry of
fee other States in the Union, and to prosper at their expense. Were the
tether States to inaugurate a more liberal policy, and to introduce the
principles of free trade, I venture to believe that in a few years the popu-
lation of the New England States would be considerably diminished, and
that in the meantime, emigration would go on towards the West as actively
as it has done in recent years from Ireland.^'
The people of the United States are not only " profuse " in their " expen-
ditures," but extravagant to a degree amounting to prodigality. We sin-
cerely believe that Americans, particularly in tne city of New York, are
the most extravagant people on the face of the earth. There are men,
merchants in that city, who live in houses costing $100,000, and expend
at the rate of 125,000 or $30,000 per annum, and some of the wives of
these men and merchants wear thousand-dollar shawls, and other things
to match. The sound, wholesome, prudential, and economical proverbs of
honest Ben Franklin are repudiated, and we have heard them designated
as " scoundrel maxims."
Without, however, moralizing on the extravagance of our people, wo
proceed to give a few brief extracts from Mr. Robertson's book, with spe-
cial reference to the several commercial and industrial cities of " the
States." We begin (in the order of his travels) with the city of New
York, the point at which he arrived on the 29th of November, 1853 : —
BROADWAT THE REPRESENTATIVE OF HEW YORK.
" As New York mav be said to represent America, so may Broad woy be said
to represent New York. At one end, It is the center of the Commerce of the
dty, and at the other, of its fashion. It contains the handsomest buildings in
the city ; all the large hotels, some of the large Atores, and all the mo^tt fiiHhion-
dbie and mo4t expensive ^ops. At the south end its pavement is buHled with
nereanttle men, in active pursuit of their buHiness, and its center is crowded
with omnibuses freighted with passengers, and wagons loaded with goods. Be-
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New York and Philadelphia, $5
t
yond its commercuil limits, the omnibuses 8(ill coottnue to ply, bnt largely in*
lerspereed with brilliant equipafes ; and its side-walks are thronged with lacKes,
richlv, I might almost say gaudily, dressed, whose chief occupation seems to be,
to admire the tempting wares which are exhibited in the shop windows, and to
spend the money which their husbands or other relatives strive to make at tiie
lower end of the street Thus one end of Broadway may be said to represent
the active commercial spirit of the city, and the other its extravagance and
gaiety.
" The other parts of the city proper have no special attractions, except for their
Commerce ; but in the northern end, many of the streets contain very handsome
houses, the residences of the wealthier merchants."
What our author says of the "excessive filthiness" of New York city,
it must be admitted is generally just, although that filthiness has beem
somewhat abated under the energetic and efficient administration of Mayor
Wood.
filthimess of new york.
•* A great drawback to the attractiveness of New York arises from its excess-
ive filthiness. Till I went there I had never seen such a dirty city. Althongii
the weather was then fine, and it had been dry for some time previonslv, yet
parts of some of the streets were almost impassable from mud and pools of dirty
water. Many of the streets had not been cleaned for years, and although the
citizens complamed bitterly of the nuisance, their remouHtances passed unheeded.
Even Broadway, the resort of tlie beautiful, the gay, and the fashionable, in
some places was not much better than others. Opposite the hotel at which I
lived, there was a large pool of water at left^i 200 feet in length, and of width
sufficient to prevent any one from attempting to leap across it without the risk
of going up to the ankles. In other parts of Broadway matters were not much
better ; and I have seen some of the inhabitants not hesitate to throw their a«het
and dirty water into the m.ddle of the street."
Mr. R. then goes on to show that the state of things above described
did not arise from scarcity of means at command to effect improvement,
quoting from official documents the taxes levied in the city, which he con-
siders " unusually large."
On his return to the city in the spring of 1854, he found Broadway " in
the most beautiful order," presenting ** a striking contrast to what it had
been six months before."
As a contrast to the expenditure of the city of New York, Mr. Robert-
son says that Manchester, (England,) with a population of more than half
that of New York, amounted in 1863, exclusive of poor-rates, to £101,222,
a little more than $500,000; while the taxes levied in New York in 1853
amounted to $5,067,275, of which sum $4,704,789 were collected, and of
this amount $3,311,741 were appropriated for the expenditure of the ci^
government By refering to Controller Flagg's report for the year ending
June 30th, 1854, we find that the expenditures for that year were
$3,706,593, or upwards of $3,000,000 more than the city of Manchester,
with more than half the population. And yet, Mr. Robertson affirms, and
we place entire confidence in his statement, "that in respect to the efficiency.
of its police force, and its fire department, the cleanliness of its streets, its
pavements, its general sanitary condition, and indeed the entire adminis-
tration of its municipal affairs, Manchester is under far better management
^an New York."
With one more extract from the chapter devoted to New York, we paa§
on to other cities visited by the author : —
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66 Oommereial and Induitrial Oitki of the U. States :
CHARACTER OF NEW YORK MERCHANTS, ETC.
"For that activity, and what they themselves denoramate ' RinartnepR,' the New
York men of business clnim pre-eminence in the Union, and I believe tlivy do
80 with much justice. The extent and variety of the New York Commerce, and
the muhitude of people with whom the merchants come in contact, fnvor confi-
dence in themselve-s quickness of apprehension, and promptitude in action, and
these are the qualities which form the character of a smart man. It may be
questioned, however, whether these qualities form the chnracter of a merchant,
properly so called ; or, whether the turmoil and constant excitoment in which
New York business is carriiKl on, U favorable to the prudent manni^ement of
those operations which require much consideration and foren^t. Hem-e, as is
contended by some conversant with the business of New York, much of that
more properly called mercantile — in contradistinction to thnt conducted by deal-
ers and commission accents — and Extending to a distant period, is conducted by
merchants in Boston and Pniladelphia. Uitdonbtediy most of the trade of the
port is carried on by merchants resident there, but as New York <»ffers the best
point for shipment of home produce, and for the distribution to the interior of
foreign commodities, merchants c.f the other cities I have named, transact much
of their business through this city, finding it to afford them the largest, and fre-
quently the most advantageous market
^ As a specimen of the smartness of New York men, I may repeat what was
related to me by a German merchant, who had opportunities of knowing some-
thing of the nature of the Commerce of the city.
"A dealer has a quantity of goods which he is anxious to sell. A buyer pre-
sents himself, but hin credit is not undoubted. Wishing, however, to secure the
sale of his goods, and at the same time desirous of avoiding any undue ri>k with
the buyer^s long-dated acceptance, the dealer endeavors to find out at what rate
this acceptance can be ^ sold on the street.' If, though that should be at a high
rate of discount, there still remain a profit on the sale, that is at once effected,
and the transaction is closed. With the acceptance he has no further concern ;
for as selling a bill on the street means * without recourse,' his liability ceases
when the bill passes out of his possession."
From statistics derived chiefly from the Merchants* Magazine, Mr. Rob-
ertson exhibits in a comprehensive form the sudden rise and unprecedented
progress of the Commerce of New York. " The proud position," he says,
now occupied by New York as the first commercial city of the New
World, insures it a still more rapid progress and yet higher pre-eminence.
On the evening of the 14th of November, 1863, Mr. Robertson left
New York for Philadelphia, and devotes some dozen pages of his book to
its population, Commerce, industry, and other matters of kindred interest.
PmLADELFHIA AMD NEW TOBK CONTRASTED.
** A marked change is perceptible in the character of the people, in compari-
son with what is seen in New York. The streets are much less bustling, and
the tone of the place altogether much more subdued, partaking, as one might
almost suppose, somewhat of the quiet earnestness peculiar to its founders. la
population, wealth, enterprise, and activity, it is inferior to New York ; and its
progress in recent vears, though very striking, has been much less rapid. How-
ever, as the port oi a State, scarcely second to any in agricultural, as well as
mineral wealth, it will, with the development of these resources, become a city
of much importance.
♦•Till about the year 1820, Philadelphia was the largest city in the States;
bat about that period it was outstripped bv its great rival New York, and every
year since that time, the disproportion between them has become more and more
marked. Still its progress has been very striking; and in almost any other
country in the world would have excited surpris^e.
^ **The condition of the population of Philadelphia do s not present the same
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New York and Philadelphia. 6V
extremes of wealth and poveKy — luxury and misery — that is to he found in
New York. Though it has a smaller population, it has more houses — an indi-
cation of the more comfortahle circumstances of the masses; td^d io consequence^
it may be, of the small immigration at this port."
FOREIGN COM MERGE OF PHILADELPHIA.
" The foreign Commerce of the city does not show the same progref^s as its
population, and is no indication of its wealth. Indeed, in comparison with the
earlier years of the century, it would be difficult to say whether it has increased
or diminished. ' Till very recently it had declined, but within the last three or
four years a favorable change has taken place.
" By the recent extension of their communications with the West, the inhabit
tants are sanguine that their city will become a large market for the distribution
of foreign merchandise. Indeed, it is that already, but its supplies are to a l.irge
extent received at second hand in New York. The merchants are now striving
to emancipate themselves from this dependence on their rival, and by the appoint-
ment of a line of screw ocean steamers, bringing them into direct intercourse
with Europe, they expect to bring direct to their port a large portion of those
commodities which have heretofore reached them through other channels. These
improvemente in their internal communications, and foreign intercourse, will, at
the same time, favor the increase of the export trade of the city.
" The imports consist of dry goods, iron, cotton, sugar, and other articles of
general domestic consumption, most of which till recently was used within the
tate. By the improvement of the railways and canals, a considerable portion
of the imports are now forwardtd for distribution in the West
" The exports consist of wheat, flour, corn, provisions, coal, &.C., neatly all of
which are the productions of the State, for thus far a very small portion of the
heavy products of the West find this route a convenient outlet to the sea. The
exports of breadstuffs alone, in 1853, were worth $3,736,098 ; and, in 1852,
there were shipped from Richmond — which almost joins Philadelphia — 1,236,649
tons of coal."
PHILADELPHIA AS ▲ MAKUTACTURnia CITT.
** As a manufacturing city, Philadelphia occupies the second place in the Union.
In 1850, she had $33,737,911 capital invested in manufactures. At the several
establishments 59,106 people were employed, and the value of the produce of
their labor amounted to $64,1 14,1 12. This information is derived from the cen-
sus, but, in the report of the Philadelphia Board of Trade, it has been showB
that the statements in the census are very imperfect and unreliable, and that, in
reality, the manufactures of the city are greater than here shown."
With a few more paragraphs from Mr. Robertson's book, touching the
*^ industrial and commercial interests of Philadelphia," we bring the pres-
ent paper to a close. These extracts, as will be seen, relate to the several
eauge* which have combined, in the author's estimation, io injure the trade
of Philadelphia, These causes, he says, were —
'* The opening of the Erie Canal, which brought New York into easy and
cheap communication with the West, drawing the traffic of those immense re-
gions to its harbor; the mineral wealth of the State of Pennsylvania, to tlie de-
velopment of which the attention and capital of its merchants were too largely
directed, at an early period, and before other circumstances rendereki it possible
that the mines could be worked — the capital being diverted from the more legit-
imate trade of the city and port; and finally the failure of the United States
Bank, and tlie ruin in which it involved the capitalists of the State.
** Philadelphia is in nearer communication with the West than New York, even
with Lake Erie, and much more so with the Ohio and the far West; and there-
fore, had its citizens been attentive to their own interests, they would not have
lo^t the opportunity of drawing to their harbor the products of the West While,
however, New York pressed forward its great undertaking, the Erie Canal, the
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58 Commercitd and Industrial Cities of the U. States.
Philadelphi&HB looked idly on, and were made sensible of the conseqnenocs of
their neglect, only when too late to remedy their error. The bulky and heavy
p^roduce of the West — the products of agricultore and of the forest — will seek
the cheapest rente to the sea-board, and that is obtained by the Erie Canal. For
the conveyance of sach articles other channels can be merely supplementary to
that route.
"The extensive introduction of railways into the States led many to believe
tbat, as Philadelphia was at a less distance from the leading points of the West
than New Yotk, she mi^ht be able, by her railway connections, to recover much
of the carrying trade, which rightly belong(>d to her situation, but which, by the
opening of the Erie Canal, had slipped out of her hands. This expectation is
more sanguine than reasonable. For the carriage of articles of country produce,
of great bulk and weight in proportion to their value, and which have to be con-
Teyed a long distance, canals seem to offer the cheapest, though not tlie most
expeditious route ; and at the points of transhipment, either on the lakes, rivers.
Of on the sea-board, they present greater facilities for the loading and unloading
of cargoes than can be offered at any railway terminus; and those facilitie-* are
obtained at a much smaller cost — an important consideration where cheapness
alone can enable ihe trade to be pursued to advantage. To these add, that the
quantities of produce coming forward annually is much greater than can be
readily conveyed by any ordinary channel.
"When the New York Canal and the railways which connect that city witlj
Lake Erie are completed, they will have the capacity of carrying to the east
coast in a season 9,000,000 tons of produce, while the railways of the Slate of
Pennsylvania, running to the same quarter, can carry only 1,700,000 tons. True
enough, other works are in progress, or in contemplation, which will enlarge her
carrying power to between five and six million tons per annum, but they will
not be in operation for some years to come.
" The goods carried westward are very much ligher in proportion to tlieir
value than those brought to the east, and consequently are of far less total
weight In that case, cost of carriage will not add nearly so much to their value.
It is therefore highly probable that, from Philadelphia being nearer to the West,
and, indeed, in the line of direct communication between New York and the
Ohio, she may supply that great valley with a large portion of the goods re*
eeived iVom the east coast Indeed, she now claims to be the great distributor
of the West, but with more enterprise on the part of her merchants, she may
jMreafler make that claim with more solid pretensions*
" The natural and acquired advantages of New York eity, and the position she
now occupies, wHI, for a long period, if not entirely, defeat any hopes that may
be entertained in Philadelphia of competing with her with any success, even in
the import trade. iStill, the position Philadelphia holds in respect to the West,
ought to encourage her merchants to mske an effort to diminish the disparity
now existing between the Commerce of the two cities.
" The distance of Philadelphia from the ocean — neariy one hundred miles— and
the limited accommodation afforded by her harbor, are by many deemed insHpei^
able obstacles to her ever becoming a great commercial city. Those obsUicles
are, however, only apparent, for the Delaware is at all times navigable to the
largest merchantmen, and the wharves can be extended to double their present
length. After the all but insurmountable obstructions which were removed in
the improvement of the navigation of the Clyde, by the enterprise of the mer-
chants of Glasgow, and after the triumphant success which has resulted from
that undertaking, the citizens of Philadelphia have no need to fear for the pros-
perity of their city, if they be only true to themselves.
" By the opening up and extension of their western communications, by rail-
ways and canals ; by the improvement and enlargement of their river and bar-
bor; and by the encouragement of increased intercourse with Europe — in all of
which undertakings they are now embarked— they will go far to recover much
of that commercial prosperity which was lost through neglect or mismanage-
ment, and they will come near to realize some of those hopes, which they s6
generally and bo very sangninely entertain."
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Pkfsiecd Geography of the Sea. 99
We designed, when we commeiiced this article, to have followed oitt
traveler in his visits to the other points of observation embraced in his
tour. But the great length of the interesting memoir of that " Prince of
Merchants," the late Thomas H. Perkins, in a former part of the present
number, compels ns reluctantly to defer the subject to a more convenient
opportunity.
Art. Ill— TAB PniSICAL eeOfiRiPlY OF THE SEl.
Lieutenant Maury has already won a distinguished reputation as aa
explorer of science, in association with the National Observatory, and his
recent work, upon " The Physical Geography of the Sea,"* will cause no
diminution of his well-earned &me. In this work he has presented us the
result of profound study and observation, acute analysis, and logical de*
duction, throwing valuable light upon navigation and the phync^ causes
bearing upon it, in connection with the laws which regulate the winds
and currents, and other phenomena of the sea. It will doubtless exercise
a beneficial influence upon nautical science, and consequently upon the
maritime enterprise which is prosecuted upon the ocean.
It appears that the treatise is in some measure based upon the facts in-
dicated by "The Wind and Current Charts,'' which were 'constructed
from the collected experience of navigators, respecting the winds and cur-
rents which prevail m different parts of the oeean. The charts, thus
founded upon the observations of successive navigators who recorded the
observations made at the time, are ascertained to be of practical advan-
tage in determining what would be the circumstances bearing upon any
particular voyage, and have tended to diminish the duration of voyages^
by enabling mariners to select their courses according to the indications
of the chart.
It was formerly customary for naviffators to take their courses by what
were termed " track charts," which defined the tracks of previous voy-
ages^ and thus the ocean was coursed by prescribed roads, which were
pursued with almost as little deviation as the turnpike roads of the land,
in consequence, with a view to the solution to improved tracks, and the
more thorough exploration of the ocean, inducement was proffered, through
the agency of the National Observatory at Washington, for masters of
vessels to send an abstract log of their voyages to the Department, on con-
dition that they should be provided with a copy of the charts and the
sailing directions founded upon them. The result thus far 'has been an
improved knowledge of the best tracks of navigation, and the consequent
diminution of the time employed and the distances required to be sailed
in such courses.
From the advantages which had been derived from those observations,
and the probable benefit of their continuance, the General Government in-
vited all the maritime States of Christendom to a general conferenoo, with
a view to a uniform system of observation of the character which has been
described. On the 23d of Augu^ 1853, the conference was held at Brus-
* The Physical Geography of the Sea. Bj M. F. Macet, LL. P., Llent. U. B. Nary. Naw York t
Harper k, BroUierib 1855.
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00 PhifHoal Oeogrophy of the Sea.
sele. It was constituted of representatives from the United States, Eng^
land, France, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, and
Portugal.
A uniform plan of observation which should be conducted on board the
vessels of the respective countries was recommended. CJo-operation in the
same cause was subsequently proffered by Spain, Prussia, Hambui^, the
republics of Bremen and Chili, and the empires of Austria and Brazil.
The minute records of meteorological and other observations which will
doubtless be made by the vessels of those nations, will probably furnish
the basis of more improved charts.
The present work contains precisely those scientific observations and
deductions which might be anticipated from the investigations to which
allusion has been made ; and they relate to the circulation of winds and
currents, the temperature and depths of the sea, its inhabitants, and the
phenomena which it sometimes assumes. We are presented with a phi-
losophical view of the Gulf Stream, which the author terms 6ne of the
most marvelous things in the sea ; he calls it " a river in the ocean,"
whose banks and bottom are of cold water, and whose current is warm,
with its fountain in the Gulf of Mexico, and its mouth in the Arctic Seas ;
with a speed more rapid than the Mississippi or the Amazon, with waters
as far out from the Gulf as the South Carolina Coast, of an indigo-blue,
yet the track so distinctly marked that its line of junction with the com-
mon sea water can be discerned by the eye ; the water of a quality which
appears to possess but little chemical aflSnity with the ordinary water of
the sea. The actual causes which have produced the Gulf Stream have
not been ascertained. A theory has been started that it draws its current
from the Mississippi — a theory which has been exploded. Others have
maintained that it is produced by the escaping waters which have been
forced into the Caribbean Sea by the trade winds, the pressing of those
winds upon the water forcing up into that sea a head for the stream, a
cause which the writer does not deem adequate to the effect.
It would seem that this current exercises an important agency in the
physical economy of the ocean. The Niagara is an immense river, de-
scending into a plain, and its channel is lost as it unites with Lake Ontario ;
but the waters of the Gulf Stream, to quote the language of the author,
" like a stream of oil in the ocean, preserve a distinctive character for more
than three thousand miles." Constituting a species of conducting pipe,
it is supposed to exert an influence upon climate. He remarks that it is
now no longer to be regarded merely " as an immense current of warm
water running across the ocean, but as a balance-wheel, a part of that
grand machinery by which air and water are adapted to each other, and
by which the earth itself is adapted to the' well-being of its inhabitants."
It is termed by mariners the " weather breeder " of the North Atlantic
Ocean, being swept by the most furious gales ; while the foffs of New-
foundland, which so much impede navigation, are believed to be derived
from the vast bodies of warm water which are carried through it to that
sea.
We are informed that several years ago, inquiries were set on foot by
the British Admiralty regarding the storms which prevailed in certain
parts of the Atlantic with disastrous results to navigation, and the conclu-
sion to which the investigation arrived was, that they were " occasioned
by the irregularity between the temperature of the Gulf Stream and of
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Physical Chograpky of the Sea, 61
die neighboring regions, both in the air and water.*^ This ocean river
i^pears, however, to have been formerly a sea mark of navigation more
generally than at the present time, in consequence of the greater skill of
seamen and the greater accuracy of nautical instruments in our own day.
As early as 1770, the more rapid voyages which were made between our
own country and Europe by one class of vessels than by another, were
supposed to have been caused by the knowledge of the track of the Gulf
Stream.
Another important office performed by this current is, that it furnishes
a refuge which supplies a summer heat in mid-winter to mariners, on their
approaches to our northern coasts, from the snows and tempests of that
season.
A consideration of the nature of the atmosphere constitutes an import
iDt part of the geography of the sea. As there are ascertained to be
uniform currents in the sea, so also there are regular currents in the at-
mosphere. Two zones of perpetual winds extend around the earth, which
blow continually, and are alleged by the author to be as constant as the
eurrent of the Mississippi. The laws which regulate the winds are uni-
form, and so are their general courses. Their primum mobiley or original
cause, is ascribed to heat; .but other causes in combination act upon
them.
We are likewise presented — in connection with a view of atmospheric
laws — with a consideration of the red fogs which are sometimes met near
the Cape de Verd Islands, as well as of those showers of dust which are
precipitated in the Mediterranean, termed " Sirocco dust," and by others
••African dust,'* since they are usually driven by winds supposed to pro-
ceed from the Sirocco Desert, or some other parched portion of Africa.
Although the vessel may be a hundred miles from land, these showers of
dust — of a bright cinnamon color — ^frequently fall in sucli quantities as to
cover the entire sails and rigging. We are presented with philosophical
arguments indicating whence these showers proceed, and how they are
blown from the shore and circulated through tne atmosphere.
A considerable portion of the volume is devoted to a cohsideration of
"the magnetism and circulation of the atmosphere." It is maintained that
heat and cold, rains, clouds, and sunshine, are distributed over the earth
in accordance with uniform laws. Indeed, the influence of magnetic
forces — a subject which has formerly been but partially investigated — is
considered in its relation to the circulation of the atmosphere, and even
the effect of geographical configurations of territory, is traced in its in-
fluences upon climate.
We are told that the sea, like the air, has its system of circulation ; and
that there are currents running hither and thither, modifying submarine
climates, which, like those of the land, furnish resorts for different classes
of the inhabitants of the ocean. It must be admitted that the circulation
of the waters bears a shade of analogy to sanguineous circulation, although
the present state of knowledge upon the subject appears to be somewhat
meager. Proof of the circulation of sea water is even derived from the
existence of those minute insects that have quarried from the sea those
coral islands, reefs, and beds which abound in the Pacific Ocean, construct-
ing shell-like groves, grottoes, and palisades amid the crystal depths, and
which without currents supplying new drops for their aliment, would have
perished in the very drop of water in which they were produced. Hence^
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62 The JPhymcal QeogT$^h^ ^ Qia Sea.
we say, says tlie author, " that the sea has ita system of cireiilation, for il
transports materials for the coral rock from one part of the world to an*
other, its currents receive them from the rivers, and hand them over to
the little mason for the structure of the most stupendous works of solid
masonry that man has ever seen — the coral islands of the sea."
Lights, heat, electricity, and nmgnetism, are the forces which are sup-
posed to cause circulation to the atmosphere ; hut electricity and magnet-
ism are believed to perform an important office in giving dynamical force
to the waters in the system of circulation. Marine currents are believed
to derive their motive powers ti'om heat ; but the author assumes that an
active agency in the system of marine circulation is exerted from the salts
of the sea, through the medium of winds, marine plants, and animals. In
reference to the influence of animal life upon marine circulation, it is re-
marke<l that a single little insect secretes from a single drop of water a
certain amount of solid matter, constituted of lime, for his cell. By this
subtraction the specific gravity of this drop of water is changed, and it
must accordingly be displaced by another drop, and it moves about until
the original specific gravity is recovered ; and here we find one of the
principal elements of cij'culation derived from animal life. Thus it is thai
these minute insects perform their part in thg economy of creation.
As the sea is divided into regions, characterized by peculiar winds, the
clouds perform important offices relating to the production of rain and
snow, and causing variations of climate. In that part of the work treating
of the geological agency of the winds, the author concludes that the vapor
which is condensed into rains, for the valley of the great American lakes
of the Northwest, as well as the Mississippi valley generally, and which is
carried off by the St. Lawrence, is not derived from the Atlantic, but ia
taken off by the southeast trade winds of the Pacific Ocean, The precise
depth of what is denominated " blue water," is unknown. Soundings o£
great depth have been reported by officers of our navy — one of 34,000
feet, and another with a line of 39,000 feet Minute insects have, more-
over, been brought up from a depth of more than two miles below the sea
level — a portion of that variety of animalculse, some of whidi cause the
sea to glow as by the influence of phosphorescence. Charts indicating
the temperature of the Atlantic, in its various parts, have been constructed
from actual observation.
It appears that the highest temperatiu*e of the sea occurs during the
month of September, and the lowest in the month of March ; while upon
the land February is deemed the coldest, and August the hottest month.
It is likewise maintained that the climate of our own hemisphere is modi-
fied by the curve of the line against which the sea dashes in the other.
It is well known that the ocean has its ** drift," depending upon causea
which have not been ascertained by the present state of nautical science,
and that it is subject to violent periodical conmiotion, from reasons which
have not been analyzed. Tracts of colored water — either crimson, brown,
black, yellow, or white — have often been perceived, which are supposed to
be derived from animal or vegetable organisms. In the present work wq
have a discussion of the causes which influence the occurrence of tem-
pests, and charts have been constructed, or are in the progresa of comply
tion at the Observatory, designed to show the direction and usual time of
the occurrence of fogs, calnis, light winds, rains, and storms, in the varioua
parts of the sea.
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CoinmeiiwU (uwl Indtutrial Cities <^ JSkuro^ W
Having pointed out some of the promineot feature of Lieut Maury'i
able treatise, to which we have been indebted for the £acts in the present
paper, it may be remarked in conclusion, that it is a valuable work, indi-
eating the author to be profound in science, who has explored with signal
ability the laws which govern tl\e ocean, and in this labor he has done an
important service to the cause of navigation. The volume is provided
with numerous plates which illustrate the text, and it will doubtless attain
a wide circulation.
Lieut. Maury dedicates his book to George Manning, Esq., '^ as a tokea
of friendship and a tribute to worth." Mr. Manning is an intelligent and
well-known merchant of New York city. A personal acquaintance of
several years, enables us to say that there is no one whom we would be
happier to see the recipient of the compliment
Irt IT.— CeiMERCIll ABB IflDDSTBIAl CITIKS OF EBROPB.
* NVMBSR XIII.
FRANKFORT-ONTHE-MAINE, GERMANY.
riAinCPORT— SEOOEAPfnCAl. ?08IT101I— HirrORT— OOTBBNIIBNT— ITf FOPCLATIOIf AMD B«ORIIOVI
WBALTH— BKSTRICnolIf AS TO CITIZKNIHIP— TBK RIVBR MAINB— PBODOCTf AMD HAMUfACTUEBB
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XIBOR POWBRS, BTOn BTC.
Thb famous commercial city of " Frankfort-am-Main^ one of the four
free cities of Germany, capital of State of same name, and seat of the
German government, is situated on both sides of the River Maine, in lati*
tude 50° 8' north, longitude 80° 36'. The city proper is on the north,
and its suburb, Sachsenhausen, with which it communicates by a substan-
tial stone bridge of fourteen arches, on the south side of the river.
The old town of Frankfort is antiquated, ill-built, and irregular ; but
the new town has many noble public and private buildings, and fine thor-
oughfares, including the Zell, New Mayence-street, Alle, a fine quay along
the Maine, the horse-market, &c. The territory of the city, fixed by the
Congress of Vienna, contains ninety-five square miles, some 70,000 inhab-
itants, and 5,000 houses. The government is republican, according to the
constitution of May 16, 1816. It has two burgomasters, chosen annually,
a legislative senate, and an executive assembly.
Frankfort has the first seat among the free cities, and was a free impe-
rial city in 1154; its rights and privileges being confirmed by the peace
of Westphalia. It was made a free port in 1831 ; is also one of the four
great emporiums for supplying Germany with all kinds of merchandise,
but the principal source of its great wealth is in extensive banking, corn-
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64 Cfommercud and Industrial Cities of Europe :
mission, and fnnding transactions. It communicates by railroads with
Carlsruh«, Mainz, and Wiesbaden ; with Paris and Calais via Cologne ; and
has a regular and constant traffic with steam packets on the Maine. Two
large fairs are held at Frankfort annually. Napoleon I. made it capital of
a Grand Duchy. The revenue of Frankfort in 1853 amounted to 1,655,200
florins, and the expenditures to 1,686,139 florins; the debt of the State,
6,680,0t)0 florins, and for construction of railroads, 6,768,700 florins.
A correspondent of the State Department at Washington, probably the
United States Consulate at Frankfort, enables us to lay before the readers
of the Merchants^ Magazine in a condensed form, recent (1855) and some
very interesting and reliable statements in relation to the Commerce and
general character of this important commercial city, which we here sub-
join :* —
" Frank fort-onrthe-Malne, the political capital of Germany, is indeed the true
metropolis of all those countries which are not immediately placed under the
sentries of Austria and PrusHia. It is the industrial and commercial center of
the south •wentem and central provinces. It is the regulator of the German
stock exchanges. It possesses of itxelf the capital employed in Germtn mnna-
factures, and in the market to which the whole country is tributary. Yet Frank-
fort is not a large city, like many of those in Europe and America. Its popula-
tion does not exceed 70,000 inhabitants, but its geographical situation — its
ancient rank, first as the residence of the emperors, then as a free city of the
empire — its great fairs, formerly the most renowned in Europe-— and its immense
wealth — have rendered Frankfurt what it now is. It is probably the wealthiest
city in the world, in proportion to the number of its inhabitants. That number
is but very slowly increasing, since the Senate of the city is extremely anxious
to admit to the frmchise of citizenship only those who can prove they are able
to maintain a family ; so no merchant can be admitted unless he proves himself
to possess at least five thousand florins ($2,000,) and generally persons who do
not possess even more wealth are not admitted at all unless they marry a citi-
zen's daughter. In that case the law is more favorable. The ancient customs
of the city corporations also prevent the increase of population. None shall
mend a shoe or drive a nail unless he be a master and a member of one of the
coriiorations, and he cannot become a member unless he be the son of a citizen
or marry a citizeii*s daughter. Tnis is a remn.uit of those * olden times' con-
demned by all judicious |5eople, ^nd maintained and praised only by the be-
nighted. The corporations of Frankfort have, during a long period, prevented
the establishing of manufactories in the city, and they have been near destroying
the mighty Commerce, the life and bloo<i of Fmnkfort.
**The Commerce of the city originated with its two great fairs, held in the
months of April and September, and of which I will speak more at length ia
another place.
*^ Frankfort has about 4,200 houses, estimated to be worth eigthty millions of
florins, and giving a yearly rent of three millions. This will give an interest of
4 per cent, if we reckon one-sixteenth of the houses as without ten mts. Yet
the capital invested in houses is generally reckoned to yield 6 per cent ; so it is
probable tne ditTerence results from the understating of rents before the author-
ities. Each proprietor is expected to make a return of the real rent, and the
sum Hf three millions is from the rent-tax office.
*' The River Maine on which Frankfort is bituated, is navigable up to the city
of Bamberg, in Bavaria. From Bamberg the Donan-Maine Canal leads to Kehl-
hiim, on the banks of the Danube. King Louis cf Bavaria, ordered that canal
to be excavated, (moved, perhaps, only by the idea that Charlemagne had en-
* Thetd exIraoU are publitbed tn a late number of Uie »* U^iom^ under the g eneral head of
** Dupartmeal Newe.**
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IVankf<ni-<mrihe-Maine, Germany. (i§
^eavored to cremte it a thonsand years af^o,) bat it proves of no great profit to
tbe country, and scarcely gives an income sufficient for restoration jAd annual
expenses. The Maine has, between Mayence (where it joins the Rhine) and
Frankfurt, a depth of forty to fifty inches ; between Frankfort and Wurzburg,
from thirty to forty inches ; between Wurzburg and Bamberg, from twenty-four
to thirty inches. Thi^ would be sufficient for vessels from 1,000 to 3,200 pounds
weight, but there are many obstacles tjo the extension and security of the navi*
gation, particuUrly towards the head of the river.
*^ From the most remote times the Maine has been the most important com-
mercial road of the interior parts of Germany. There are brought down it the
products of the country, particularly wood and timber from the Fitchtelberg,
the Frankenwald, the Stei^rwald, the Thnringerwald, the Kasswaki, the forests
of the Franconian Saal, (river,) the Rhoen, the Vogelsberg, the Spessart, and
the Odenwald. All these forest mountains are of many square miles in extent,
and furnish immense stores of material. The sand-stones from the banks of the
Middle and Upper Maine are renowned. The wines of Wurzburg and Kock-
beim (Kock) are of the best of Germany. Grain of every kind is exported
from the Middle Maine in large quantities.
'* These are the natural productions of the country. As to the products of
industry, the cities of Nuremberg and Furth, on the Donan-Maine Canal, and
Schweinfort, Wurzburg, Kanaw, and Oflfenbach, on the banks of the river, are
the principal manufacturing centers. Nuremberg \a known all over the world
by its toys; Schweinfort by its tapestry. Kanaw is the first place in Germany
for carpets and jewelry ; Offenbach for leather ware and fancy cases of every
kind.
** For all these manufactured goods, as well as for the products of nature,
Frankfort is the great emporium.
*' I scarcely need say that the River Maine has lost a part of its ancient im-
portance since railroads are crossing the country in every direction ; still it re-
mains, and always will remain, the indispensable road for heavy goods.
** Frankfort has lately become one of the three important centers of railroad
communication in Germany. Four great lines, and some others of a more local
character, meet in this city. The Maine-Neckar Railroad goes toward the south.
It leads to the Grand Duchy of Baden, wherefrom railroads are directed to
Switxerland, Wurtemberff, and Bavaria. The Cawnus Railroad leads to the
west and north-west, to Mayence, and to Wiesbaden, the capital of th^ Duchy
of Nassau. From Mayence a railroad goes to Ludwigshafen, Uiu harbor of the
Bavarian Palatinate, opposite Manheim, and up to Strasburg, and therefrom to
Paris, as well as to Switzerland. Another branch loads from Ludwigshafen*
and at the Nancy intersects the railroad from Straaburg to Paris. From Wiea-
baden another iron road (not yet finished) goes down the Rhine to Coblentz ;
and another, on the left side of the Rhine, will in a few years be directed from
Mayence to the same city of Coblentz.
^ The Maine-Heser Railroad goes through the greater part of the two Hesses
up to Cassel, and communicates with Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, &c On the
right side, its branches lead to Berlin and Saxony. On the left, a railroad com-
munieation will soon be opened to Cologne, the metropolis of the Rhine.
^The Kanaw Railroad connects Frankfort with Kanaw, and the chief places
on the Maine up lo Bamberg, and from that city towards the south with Nurem-
berg, Augsberg, Munich, and Austria; taking another direction from Bamberg,
it commnnkates with Leipsic, Dresden, and Rohemia.
**• There are local railroads to Ofi'enbach, the chief manufacturing town of
Hesse Darmstadt, to Soden, a mueh-frequented bathing place, and to near Ham-
burg, one of the famous spas of Germany. The whole of this distance is abost
to M finished.
^ With the only exception of Berlin, no German city is placed at the starting- '
point of so ffreat a number of railroads. Frankfort well understood how to
apply its wealth so as to secure for the future the advantages of its past leader-
ship of German Commerce.
VOL. xxxin. — NO. I. 5
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•6 Comtnercial and Industrial Cities cfJSurope :
** The territory of this free city ie so very small that it would have been ea^
for the j^iffhborinff ffovemments to lead the iron roads round it, but on the
other side, the Frankfort money-keepers formed railroad companies before the
governments thought it possible to make those roads at their own expense, and
so they rendered themselves masters of the Mayence, Wiesbaden, an Nanao-
Bavarian roads. On the other side, when the governments were negotiating to
make the railroads — a speculation of their own — Frankfort profited by the ri^ry
of the different surrounding States, and, by offering to spend greater sums than
were required for the small extent of its own territory, it secured for itself the
terminus of the Maine-Necker and the Maine- Weser roads. This apparent sac-
rifice of money to have established here the great starting-point, proved to be
most profitable in every respect, for both of these railroads are yielding an in-
terest of nearly five per cent, whilst the money invested had been raised at about
three and three-fourths per cent And as Frankfort obtained the condition that
the entire benefit of the roads should be shared in proportion to the amount of
cash actually advanced by each one, the free city at last made a most profitable
business of it.
** The high rank occupied by Frankfort in the stock trade, makes it the first
banking ptace of Germany. There are about twenty first-class bankincf-housea;
amongst these are the Rothschilds, Grunelius, Metzter, Bethmann de Neut'ville,
Ph. Nio Schmidt, and others, all well known in the commercial world. But the
number of possessors of a million, and of some millions, is much greater than
the number of the great bankers. The number of those in the stock trade and
exchange business may amount to 200 at least. There are about 60 brokers for
stocks, exchange, and dry goods.
^'A city bank, with a capital of 10,000,000 of florins, was established last
summer, and has just commenced business operations.
^ The cotton-goods trade of Frankfort is in the hands of some fifteen or more
wholesale houses; amongst these are firms known in England, America, and
China — as, for instance, Keiss, Brothers & Co., (in London, Manchester, New
York, and Hong Kong ;) Shuster & Brothers, (in London, Manchester, &c. ;}
W. M. Shuster & Son, Du Fay & Co , Kesbler 6l Co.
^ Of dealers in ribands and laces, there are some twenty-five houees ; in jew-
elry and bijouterie, fifteen to twenty houses; sprits, ten wholesale houses ; book-
stores, paper manufactories, and stationery warehouses, some fifty; chemical
and pharmaceutal products, many manufociurers, one of whom, the quinine ma-
nufacturer, Mr. Zumner, is perhaps the first in the world. There are some
twenty houses for the sale of iron and metal, and a great number for the retail
of French quincaillenie. For German woolens and yam, some thirty houses.
Glassware, from six to eight wholesale houses, some with extensive and rick
supplies. Agricultural products, from sixty to seventy houses. Clothing and
articles of fashion, one hundred or more. Wholesale silk houses, ten ; some
extensive soap and candle manufactories ; and stoves, from fifteen to eighteen.
Lithographic establishments, twenty ; those of Mr. Dorndorf and Mr. Nauman
are known all over Europe and America. Wholesale wine houses, from sixty
tti seventy. Hats and caps, from twenty-eight to thirty houses. Colonial goods,
twenty houses. Sticks and canes, ten houses. Hops, (an article of great im-
portanee,) twenty houses. Preserved and dried frui^ from ten to fifteen houses.
Tobacco and cigars, some fifty houses. Tapestry, carpets, and cloth of all kinds,
at least fifty houses. Watches and clocks, thirty houses. There are manufac-
tories of brassware of much importance, of perfumeries, of optical instruments,
of papa-stem ware, &c. There are four large etttabliahments for preparing for
market hares, rabbits, &c. There are seveml breweries, wood and timber deal-
ers, and establishments for making printers* black, &,e.
*' As I have already stated, the manufacturing industry of the surrounding
country may be looked upon as living upon Frankfort capital. I have heard the
yeariy revenues of the toul of the inhabitants of the city estimated at twenty
millions of florins, which, at the rate of five per cent, presupposes four hundred
millions of florins of capital. It is clear, the city and territory of Frankfort are
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Frankfort-on-ihe-Maine^ Germany. 6Y
^nite too limited for the employment of snch a capital, and hence many of the
inhabitants have been obliged to employ their funds and wealth in foreign enter-
prises. The great tradesmen have founded houses in France, England, America,
and over the whole business world.
•* Frankfort is a member of the Great German Commercial Union, and its cus-
tom-houde is one of the most considerable of the league. In the partition of
duties it obtains a part three times greater than the share which would be al-
lowed to her if made on the proportion of the number of inhabitants. The mo-
tive is obvious. The city generally consumes three times and more of the
provisions and merchandise than any of the German countries with the same
amount of population.
"The Commerce of Frankfort since its accession to the Zollverein in 183d,
has declined in some articles, particulariy in English cotton manufactures and
silk goods. In others it has been constantly increasing, especially in leather and
leather ware, in German woolens nnd Ince goods.
•• One of the chief articles of export is hatters' fur. Frankfort and neighbor-
hood are among the principal places of production, or rather for preparing this
material.
" The hare skins are brought here from Russia, Wallachia, Turkey, Austria,
and Germany generally, to the estimated amount of three millions of skins, or
six thousand bales annually. Much of this great supply is obtained at Leipsic,
which is one of the centers of this trade.
" About 1,600 bales of these skins are consumed by the hatters in Germany
and Austria, and the remaining 4,500 bales go into factories to be turned into
hatters' fur for more distant markets. About five-sixths of this, or the produce
of 3,750 bales, are forwarded to the United States, and the other one- sixth, or
the produce of 750 bales, goes to France, Italy, and other parts of Europe. The
aggregate value of the supplies of this article sent yearly to the United States
has been stated to me by one of the largest dealers here to amount to ^400,000
or 0500,000. If he be correct, a great number of invoices must have escaped
Botice. He may, however, have had reference to the amount realized for tite ar-
tkles in the United States.
" France, Engknd, ai^d Belgium produce also in some quantity hares' fur, but
the far greater amount of their export is Coney wood, of which this part of En-
rope furnishes very little.
" Iq the last report of the honorable secretary of the treasury it is proposed to
admit hares' fur duty free. This would certainly not prejudice any branch of
industry in the United States, because neither hares nor rabbits, in any number,
are grown there, and there are no establishments there to cut and prepare the
for, nor can there be any to compete with those of this country, in consequence
of the higher price for labor.
•• Hatters' fur may be said to be an aKicle of first necessity. If admitted free,
it would, to be sure, enable our hatters to compete with those of France, but I
do not think it would have the effect to increase the importation, because it is
one of those articles of natural production the supplv of which is not at all in-
fluenced by the demand, and the United States already receives the larger por-
tion of what this country has to offer. Nor would it check the importation of
French hats materially, for those who have used such will probably not be de-
terred from continuing to do so by a trifle of difference in the price.*
^ The export of German wines had rather increased during the past year, but
for the year now commencing it may not be so great in consequence of the bad
rintage. Some have estimated this year's produce of the German vineyards at
only one-fourth, and others at only one-eighth of an ordinary yield. I confess I
have not been able to gather information on this subject on which I can place
full confidence. In fact, the true character of the vintage is not yet known, but
it is certain that prices are some 25 per cent higher than one year ago.
* The bats mads In New York br oar best iDuiiiflictar«n» GsnlO) IM., are sapsrior to tlioae made
4a EiigUuKl or Fraaoe.— £d. Jf«r. M»g»
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68 Commercial and Industrial Cities of Europe :
" It would be difficult for me at present to state the difference between the
wholesale and retail rates, as profits here — as elsewhere — are constantly fluo-
tnating.
*• The exports of stationery ghow an increase during the past three years, and
I am assured the coming year will exhibit a further augmentation. This station-
ery is of the fancy order, such as cards, envelops, &.c.
*' Cigars now form an important item in the exports to the United States.
Those from this neighborhood are mostly made of tobacco produced in the coun-
try, especially on the river lands between this and Carlsruhe, in Baden. Some
of this tobacco is of good quality, and the low rate of labor here makes the
manufacture and export of cigars a large and profitable business.
" The shipments of hosiery have not proved to be profitable, and will probably
cease altogether. The article of varnished leather is in the same category. It
has been said that the exports of jewelry ceased some three years ago, but such
is not the case. At Hanau, in Hesse Cassel, at about half an hour from this, are
some of the most renowned jewelry manufactures in all Germany, and very large
quantities are there made expressly for the American market
'*The trade to the United States In woolen cloth is mostly in the hands of
two or three houses. Some establishments manufacture expressly for the Amer-
ican market, and other supplies consist of goods that remain over from the great
Grerman fairs, and are sent to distant places, so that they may not press upon the
home market, and affect the regular prices here. The last fair at Leipsic was a
very bad one, in consequence of the Eastern troubles. I am told that at the
close of the fair dealers from this city secured large quantities of woolen goods
at less than the manufacturer's price, and shipped them off to America according
to the conditions of the purchase.
** As to the salaries of clerks and prices of labor, 1 am enabled to give the fol-
lowing rates furnished me by a citizen of the place : —
•* The salaries of clerks in banking-houses, 1260 to $700 per year ; the salaries
of clerks in merchant^houses, f 260 to (600 per year; servants in banking and
merchant houses, $120 to 8150 per year.
" Wages of a carpenter per day, in summer, 29 cents net ; wages of a carpen-
ter per day in winter, 27 cents net; wages of a mason per day in summer, 29
cents net ; wages of a mason per day in winter, 27 cents net ; wages of a black-
smith per day 40 cents, or 50 cents per week and boarded ; baker, 40 cents per
week and boarded ; coopers, 48 cents per week and board ; house servants, wo-
men, from SI to S2 40 per month — men at all prices, from 16 to |8 down to
their board only. Recently the price of labor has somewhat advanced, but still
there are a great many unemployed hands. Expert workmen and good and ex-
perienced servants obtain higher rates than here stated, but there is a vast throng
who cannot even get work at rates under these.
" Frankfort is the center of the German confederation, where is traced out
the political course of all the minor governments of this country. Nothing im-
portant can be done in Grermany without having been known here, without hav-
ing been discussed or resolved oy the Diet, composed of the representatives of
the minor governments, bs well as of Austria and Prussia.
" The importance of this position has become more evident since the compli-
cation of European affairs, as the part to be played by Grermany will decide, one
way or the other, the great questions now dividing and agitating the govern-
ments of this continent
" Austria and Prussia have been contending for more than a century for the
preponderance in Europe. Their rivalry is the guaranty, I will not say of the
existence, but without doubt of the independence, of the minor governments.
Since the peace of Paris in 1814 and 1815, it has been the first object of these
smaller States to be the followers one day of Austria, and the other day of
Pruffsia, according as the questions of the day would seem to require it for
keeping up that beloved independence which, for the greater part of them, can-
not be anything else than a name. Another course might havs been adopted
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IVamk/ort-on-the-Mainej Gtrmomy. M
but the selfish ambition of the most of these phantoms of States did not allow
them to lay aside their little hostilities and rivalries in order to unite themselves
sincerely and firmly against the preponderance of the greater power.
^ Of the minor States, Bavaria, a kingdom of four-and-a-half millions of sub-
jects, is the most important. Bavaria more than once endeavored to put herself
at the bead of the other confederates, and to form with them a more united
body, that would be able to lay its weight in the balance of European politics;
but it was in vain. Those governments that bore with impatience the domina-
tion of the great powers would still less submit to a neighbor whom they looked
upon as their equal.
" The constitution of the German confederation seems to have been made for
the purpose of destroying their strength, so far as regards the questions of lead-
ing order in European amiirs. Germany never can act as one power, and on
every occasion of anv importance she has proved unable to piny the part which
her geographical position and her population ought to have assigned her. The
treaties which were intended to unite her governments never preserved them
against divisions and hostilities among themselves, whenever there was a neces-
sity for genera] and intimate union.
^ The authority of the German emperors havin^become a mere nothing some'
centuries a^o, and the increase of the power of Prussia rendering it quite im-
possible to revive it, there were no means of constituting a new empire until the
fall of Napoleon eeemed'to afford an opportunity for restoring the independence
of Germany. Then, if there should be a futurt Qermanyj Uie only way to • be
followed was to make her a confederation, whose members diould have equal
rights, however different their powers and importance might be. There are
States having five or six thousand inhabitants — as, for instance, the principality
of Dcbtenstein — and yet there are questions in which, the unanimity of votes
being prescribed, the vote of that title prince may destroy the resolutions of
Austria and Prussia. In the questions of war and peace, the votes of Austria,
Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, Wurtemberaf, Hesse Cassel, Hesse Darm-
stadt, Baden, Brunswick, Hassan, Mecklenberg &hwerin, Luxemburg, (Kin^ of
Holland,) Holstein, (King of Denmark,) though united in the same resolution,
may be rendered nugatory bv the votes of the other governments, because these
States put together nave only forty-five votes in the full Diet, and the funda*
mental law requires two-thirds of the sixty-eight votes of the flill Diet in decis-
ions of questions of this character. Thus, by right of law, the rulers of two-
and-a-half millions of subjects have the power to control or to render null the
decisions of governments that have more than a million of soldiers at their dis-
posal. It is clear that such a state of things in Europe can by no means mahi-
tain itself, only so lonr as great interests are not involved in the contest Neither
in questions of secondary importance is Germany more able to move and act m
one body. It is now more than thirty years since Prussia first endeavored to
unite Germany in a commercial confederation, and it is only recently she suc-
ceeded in overcoming the opposition of some of the weaker governments.
•* Whatever may m considered necessary by the state of public affairs in En-
rope — whatever may be useful for the interior — the questions of war and peace
— the questions of Commerce and social economy — reouire in this country long
and tiresome diplomatio negotiations, and, notwithstaoaing the Incessant watc£
words of Qtrman toelfare and German glory^ none of the rulers think of Ger-
many, but only of their important little selves, and thev even forget at every
moment that most of them would be reduced to dust at the same time when the
remains of Grerman unity, however weak and precarious it is, should be broken
down. On every possible occasion the jealousies of these governments appear,
and the weaker they are the more they are anxious for opportunities to make a
show of importance. The great object of the ministers to the Diet is to find
out the business of others, and to prevent the accomplishment of anything ben-
eficial except to his own particular chief."
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to The Seven Censtuee of the United States.
Art. T.— THE SEFEN CENSUSES OP THE UNITED STATES.
"progress of the united states in population and wealth."
A new edition of the work of Hon. Geo. Tucker, of Philadelphia, for-
merly of the University of Virginia, and a member of the lower hall of
Congress from the latter State, first issued in 1843, has just appeared from
the press of the Merchants^ Magazine, with an addendum by the author,
embracing the results of the census of 1860. Here we have a summary
view of all the statistics furnished by the seven decennial enumerations,
consecutivelv made under the injunction of the constitution, and a concise
exhibit of the more remarkable facte developed from a careful collation of
these interesting tables. It is exceeding well adapted to the use for which
the author intended it, as "a sort of hand-book to the legislator, the
statesman, and to all who are conversant with political arithmetic."
The .author's inquiries have conducted him " to important inferences on
the subjects of the probabilities of life, the proportion between the sexes,
emigration, the diversities between the two races which compose our pop-
ulation, the progress of slavery, the progress of productive industry," <kc.
As the matter, both of the original volume and the appendix, was pub-
lished in the Merchants' Magazine, it will be unnecessary to particu-
larize the resulte of Mr. Tucker's investigations, but a few randon instances
of the facte elicited, may be given.
The largest decennial increase of population in any New England State
was in Vermont in the period 1790-1800, being 80.8 per cent; the least
decennial increase of any State of the same section was in Rhode Island
during the same period, that State being then almost entirely stationary.
The largest decennial increase of a Middle State was in New York 179(K-
1800, being 72.6 ; the least in Delaware 1810-20, being 0.01. The
largest and least decennial increase in any State of the Southeastern sec-
tion were in Georgia 1790-1800, and North Carolina 1830-40, being
96.4 and 2.09 respectively. In the Southwest Arkansas ^ave the largest
per centage 221.09 in 1830-40, although Mississippi, while a territory, in-
creased 1800-10, 336.96 per cent; and Tennessee 1840-60, the least,
20.92, In the Northwest, the largest per centage, 886.88, was in favor
of Wisconsin in 1840-60; and the least, 13.36, against Kentucky in
1830-40.
The annual mortality in the United States is estimated at 1 in 43.4,
and by other data at I in 30.3 for the whole population ; but from imper-
fections of the census, neither of these rates is to be considered reliable.
One curious result is the fact exhibited by the census in each of the
years 1830, 1840, and 1860, of an excess of males over females in all
classes below 70 years of age, except in the single class of fifteen to ttoenUf
gears, where the females outnumber the males by an excess of Jive per cent
in the two earlier and two-and-a-half per cent in the latter year. Unknown
natural causes mag produce this astonishing result, but we are sorry that
no reasonable explanation of it appears to us, other than in the reluctance
of unmarried females to pass into the region of gloomy hope that lies be-
yond the teens. We had hoped the prevalent idea of this proclivity of fe-
males at a certain period of life to depreciate their experience, was a mere
calumny, emanating from the malicious of the other sex ; but as a sober,
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Journal cf Mercantile Lat^» 71
fkct-dealing people, we must say, the census figures, that could not well
lie, in this case, too strongly confirm the charge. Let the ladies beware
when the census-agents pay them the next decennial visit
The census of 1850 justifies the suspicion entertained, we may say,
rather, the absolute certainty of the errors of that of 1840, in regard to
the number of insane among the free colored. There must necessarily be
inaccuracy on this point, as regards both whites and bla(^ The question
of insanity is often one that puzzles the judgment of the shrewdest medi-
cal gentlemen, and is sometimes matter of great perplexity in the courts.
Hundreds and even thousands of perfectly sane people are accounted in-
sane by their neighbors, merely on account of some eccentricity which
they are unable to comprehend. Who decides for the census-tjiers the
character of a man's mind ? Certainly no man admits his own derange-
ment of intellect, and if the opinion of his neighbors is taken, it may be
rendered according to either the malice, the whim, or the stupidity oi the
neighbor himself. We want the truth in the census, and the result of the
efibrt of 1850 has conclusively shown that more questions may be asked
than can be well answered, and that by trying to get at too much, discredit
may be thrown upon the truthfulness of the whole result Mr. Tucker
endeavors, while admitting the palpable errors of the census of 1840 in
regard to the insanity of the free colored, to partially sustain the exploded
inference against the health of that class ; but a sufiScient reply to even
this compromise between the two censuses, is found in the fact which Mr.
Tucker himself freely sets forth, of the superior longevity of the free blacks
to either the slaves or the whites. We allude to this matter in no relation
to the subject of slavery, but simply as a question of fact
We might mention some other points in regard to which Mr. Tucker's
inferences are questionable, but as there is so much sterling merit and
sound truth in the book, we will pass these by. As a whole, perhaps, no
other writer would have used his material more judiciously than Mr.
Tucker has done.
JOURNAL OF MERCANTILE LAW.
BHXS OF EXCHAHOE AHD BD:XS of lading — ^DBCISION OF THE TRIBUNALS OF HAVRE.
A case of much interest to commercial men has recently been decided in the
Freneh courts in Havre, directly the reverse of the English practice in regard to
the use of shipping documents for the security of bills of exchange drawn against
cotton and other produce from this country. It is also at variance with the hith*
erto received custom adopted by our bankers in regard to French bills. The
ship's bill of lading has been held to control the property not only until the ex-
change is presented and accepted in Liverpool or Havre, but until the acceptance
itself is made satisfactory to the holder, or cashed at bank rate by the acceptor
himself. Sudi, however, is not the law of France. The consignee in Havre is
no party to any contract here outside the bill of exchange itself. The property
passes to his control when the bill is accepted. The case was as follows : —
A merchant in Mobile bought for a merchant in Havre 353 bales of cotton,
and drew for the amont at sixty days' sight. The draft was sold to L. W. & Co.»
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It Jonmal cf MercamUk Lmm.
aceoropanied with the bill of lading, with the understanding that if the draft waa
accepted, and the acceptance was satisfactory to the holder, the bills of lading
be remitted to the person on whom the draft was drawn ; but if it was refused
acceptance, or if the acceptance was not satisfactory, then the holder was author-
ized to put said bills of ladins^ in the hands of another to operate the sale on
account of the proprietor, and apply the proceeds to the payment of the draft.
The bill was accepted 1>y the drawee, who claimed in exchange for his accept-
ance the bills of Inding, which the holder refused except on receiving good secu-
rity for the ultimate payment of the acceptance.
An action was brouffht by the acceptor before the tribunals of Havre to obtain
the bills of lading. 'Hie following points were decided by the court: —
1. The holder of a bill of exchange, not yet accepted, but who intends pre-
senting the same for acceptance, cannot exact from the drawee who is charged
with the fulfillment of the provisions of said bill any guaranty not stipulated in
the contract of exchange itself.
Especially the holder of a bill of exchange cannot exact from the drawee, in
addition to his acceptance, a security for payment at the expiration of the term,
or any other guaranty not stipulated in the original contract
2. The holder of a bill cannot produce, in justification of his position, agree-
ments between him and the drawer which are irrelevant to the bill, and to which
the drawer is an entire stranger.
3. An acceptance is sufficient when given in conformity to the rules laid down
in Articles 122 and 123 of the Ciide of Commerce, and the drawer has the right,
when he offers an acceptance conformably thereto, to insist on a delivery of the
bills of lading of the goods for the payment of which the bills of exchange has
been drawn.
EXPRESS BUSINESS AS DISTINGUISHED FROM COKMON CARRIERS.
In Supreme Court, (New York,) before Judge R. H. Morris, Herman Heii-
field, el alf v$, Alvin Adams, et al.
This case, which Is of great importance to persons engaged in the express
business, as distinguished from common carriers, came before the judge without
a jury, as the following statement of fkcts is admitted by the parties : —
That the plaintiffs are in partnership in New York and have a resident partner
in San Francisco, and that the defendants are co-partners in the express business,
carrying packages for hire between the city of New York and San Francisco.
It also appeared the defendants do not own any of the naeans (vessels and boats)
of transportation between New York and San Francisco, neither are they in any
manner interested in them, nor have they the least management or control of
them either in person or by agents. The packages which the defendants ex-
pressed to San Francisco, they have conveyed in their own name ft'om place to
place, in the vessels and conveyances owned by others, plying upon the route
between the two cities, used in common by the community. The plaintiffs on
the 28th day of August, 1850, delivered to the defendants two trunks contain-
ing clothing, worth $2,026 09, to be forwarded and transported by the defend-
ants to San Francisco to Mr. Burnett, the house of the plaintiffs, to be sold for
plaintiffs, and on their account The trunks were properly protected with can-
vas. The plaintiffs paid to the defendants $219 75 compensation for forwarding
and transporting the trunks. The defendants, upon the receipt of the trunks
and the money, gave the plaintiffs the following receipt : —
Adam • i& Co.'i New York akd CAuroRNiA Packaor ExpRRfS, I
M B w VoRX, AuguM 88, 1850. t
Received from Hersfield, Burnett d& Back, in apparent ffood order, to be trana-
ported by our Express, the following articles, marked as below, which we prom-
ise to forward in like order, subject to the agreement now made, to Mr. Burnett,
at San Fmncisco. It is agreed, and is port of the consideration of this contract,
that we are aot to be responsible for any loss or damage arising from the dao*
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JimnuU cf MtramHU Lam. 78
ffert of ocean or ri?er luiTigatioii, leakage, fire, or from any caate whatever, un-
less the same be proved to have occarr^ from the fraud or gross negligence ot
ourselves, our agents or servants, and we are in no event to be made liable be-
yond our route as herein receipted, value under 8100, unless otherwise herein
stated. Freight paid here, $219 76— marked [N3,] *50J^1. Packages — two
trunks. San Francisco. For Adams d& Co.,
COBB.
The defendants shipped the trunks on board one of the steamers plying be-
tween New York and Chngren in their own name, and paid the freight on them.
The trunks arrived safely at Chagres. On the 9th of September, 1850, the de-
fendants shipped these trunks in their own name, paying freight for them, on
board a flat-boat, Capt. Thomas Angels, for Cruses, on the route to San Fran-
cisco, which was the usual conveyance. The boat arrived safely at a point upon
the Chagres River below the town of Varmos, on the evening of tlie 12th of
September, 1860. The night was dark, and the river was rising rapidly. Capt.
Angels deemed it imprudent to proceed, and made the boat fast at the bank of
the river. At / oVlock on the morning of the ISth of September, it was dis-
covered that the boat was leaking, owing to the springing of a plank, produced
by the pressure of the current and drift wood passing down the river, and not
by any insufficiency of the boat or neglect of master or crew. Captain and
crew made every effort to prevent the boat sinking, but the pressure or the cur-
rent caused the boat to careen, and she sank. Captain and crew exerted them-
selves to save the cargo ; they got much of it on the bank, and among it the
trunks in question, and then the crew deserted. The master of the boat re-
ahipoed to Chagres the trunks in question, and other packages saved from the
flatpt>oat. On the 26th of September, 1860, Capt Angels 'called upon three re-
spectable merchants of Chagres to survey the packages saved from the flat-boat,
and among them the trunks m question. The surveyors considered the trunks
in question and their contents as being damaged and unmerchantable. They
signed a certificate to that efiect, advising that they should be sold. The con-
duct of the captain and the surveyors was honest On the 2l8t of September,
1860, the trunks and goods in question were sold by Capt Angels at public auc-
tion, and were purchased by W. Porter, the highest bidder, for #360. The sum
9360 was afterwards remitted to the defendants at New York, and was received
by them. The goods from the two tf unks were sent by Mr. Porter to San
Francisco, and sold by him for #2,000. There was a semi-monthly means of
transportation from Chagres to San Francisco. The goods were never forwarded
to Mr. Burnett There was a semi-monthly means of communication between
Chagres and New York. The plaintifls were not notified of the accident or of
the sale. The defendants have ofiered judgment for #669 76, beins the amount
for which the trunks and goods sold at Chagres, and the amount of freight paid
in advance, and interest on both sums. There is no pretence that fraud has
been committed by the defendants or their agents, or that defendants or their
agents knew of the accident or of the sale, until informed of both at New York
by the receipt of the amount of sale transmitted to them.
The judge delivered the following opinion in writing, which the plaintiff en-
tered to contest before the court above : —
The defendants in this case, not being owners of or interested in the vessels
and boats in whkh these trunks were to be conveyed between New York and
San Francisco, were not common carriers, and are not liable as such. The de-
feiidants are bailees for hire to receive these trunks at, and to forward them from
and to, place to place, to destination, by the ordinary and approved means of
conveyance, and had a legal right to define the extent of their liability. By the
contract in this case, defendants obligated themselves to deliver the trunks and
contents specified to Mr. Burnett, at San Francisco. They were not to be liable
** for any loss or damages arising from dangers of the ocean or river navigation,
leakage, ^to^ or from any cause whatever, unless the same be proved to have
occurred from the fraud or gross negligence of the defendants, their agent) or
servants.** In this case it is established that up to the time when Captain An-
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14 Journal of Mercantile Law.
gels and his crew recovered the trankn from the sunken fl^t-^oat and placed
them upon the bank of the River Chngres, there had been no fraud or gross
negligence by the defendants or their agents— consequently, the defendants are
nob liable for any damage that had occurred up to that period. The only re-
maining question is whether, according to the spirit and letter of the defendants'
agreement with the plaintiffs under the facts proved, they or their agents were
guilty of gross negligence in not delivering the trunks and contents in their
damaged condition to Mr. Burnett, at San Francisco. The defendants* contract
must be construed with reference to the rights and obligations of other persons
engaged in the transportation of these trunks to and with the plaintiffs. Capt.
Angels, of the flat-boat on the River Ch'aflrres, was a common carrier, and during
the time he was in possession of the goods was responsible to the plaintiffs to
the full value of the trunks and contents, $2,025 09, for the faithful perform-
ance of his duty, and as an insurer, and for all his legal liability as common car-
rier; and he has a right, for the purpose of saving himself harmlesa^of legal re-
sponsibility, to do with these trunks and contents whatever the law, under similar
circumstances authorized common carriers to do; and the defendants under the
authority contained in their agreement had no power to prevent him. In addi-
tion to this, the defendants and tlieir agents had no knowledge of what Capt.
Angels was doing. The first information thev received upon the subject was
after he had sold the trunks and goods. The defendants, therefore, had not been
guilty of negligence.
Decision. There must be judgment for plaintiffs for $567 75, being the
amount for which the defendants offered that plaintiffs might take judgment,
(and wnich offer must control,) wiUi costs to the defendants, since the offer of
judgment
TBE BOOK TRAD2 — INJUNCTION PERPETUATED— DECISION OF JUDOS KELSON.
In United States Circuit Court In Equity, before Judge Nelson. Josephine
M. Bunkley vs, Robert M. De Witt, James Davenport, William S. Tisdale, and
Charles H. Beale.
MOTION FOR AN INJUNCTION. JUDGE NELSON, J. «
This is a bill filed by the complainant against the defendants for the purpose
of restraining them from the puolication of certain manuscripts of a work en-
titled ** My Book, or the Veil Uplifted," of which she claims to be the proprietor
and authoress, and for which she has taken out a copyright
The motion is now for a preliminary injunction, and involves the merits of the
controversy only so far as may be necessary to asi'ertain whether or not the
cese presented is such as to require the court to interfere and restrain the publi-
cation till the final hearing.
The defendants set up two main grounds of defense : 1, that the complainant
is not the proprietor or authoress of the manuscripts : and 2, that admitting her
to be the proprietor and authoress, Beale, one of the defendants, was duly au-
thorized to contract, on her behalf, for the printing and publication of the work,
and did, in pursuance thereof, contract with De Witt d& Davenport, two of the
other defendants, for such publication.
As to the first ground — the book has already been printed, and a copy handed
up with the papers on this motion, and is now before me.
It is entitled "My Book, or the Veil Uplifted; a Tale of Popish Intrigue and
Policy. By Josephine M. Bunkley, late Novice at St Joseph's, Maryland. In-
cluding a Narrative of her Residence at, and Escape from that InsUtution."
There is also on one of the fly-leaves the following: "To American parents
and daughters, as an affectionate warning against error ; and to those unselfish
patriots who have nobly dared to free, and to preserve the public from the dan-
gers of Jesuitical influence, this volume is respBctfully dedicated by the author."
And in address to the reader on another leaf, it is remarked, " that the writer
would liave preferred to remain unnoticed, and to enjoy the quiet repc^sc^of do-
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Joumail €f MereafUUe Law* *l%
Beslic life, without being forced to a88ume a position to whiah^he is totally an-
aecastomed. After having effected her escape from the inatitotion in which she
wan confined, and which Hhe entered with pure intentions and bright anticipa-
tions, sbe wonld willingly have suffered the veil of oblivion and pardon to have
fidlen over the tramtaction. But as her assertions have been denied, her motives
misrepresented, and her good name threatened, she has no alternative, in justice
to herself and friends, but to speak the ' whole truth and nothing but the truth,'
in order to vindicate her action. Her * statement' will be found in the following
pages; as she earnestly desires to imprens tlie American people with a senile of
thdr danger from the eontroling influence of a religion which tends to degrade
the mind, and subject the will to the sWay of a wily priesthood, a simple story,
founded on fkcts, is added, for whidi the author requests the indulgence of her
readera."
We have referred to these extracts as evidence of the authorship of the work
contained in the book itself; and whom, as it respects the complainant and these
defendants, has a very material bearing upon the issue between them. Their
position is, as respects this branch of the defense to her bill, that she is not the
authoress, but, on the contrary, that the work is the joint production of Beale,
one of the defendants, and Miss Upshur; and, being the authors, they, or any
one representing them, had a right to contract for the publication, and to take
out a copyright
The book itself, as we have seen, refutes this position, unless, indeed, we
adopt the conclusion that the complainant's name has been most unwarrantably
It is said, however, that she consented to the use of her name, although not
in point of fact, as the authoress. This defense sounds harshly in a court of
equity from parties who deny her authorship, and at the same time are seeking
to realize to themselves great profits, which it is supposed will result in the sale
of the work from the use of her name. If the fact of consent was shown, it
would indeed turn the complainant out of court, but it would be upon the de-
feet of her own case as presented, rather than any merit in the defense.
A complete answer, however, is that the consent claimed is not sustained
upon the proof before me. We will simply add, upon this branch of the case,
that there is considerable evidence of the authorship of the complainant to a
large portion of the book, as the case stands, besides that derived from the work
itself, and whksh, taken together, overcomes the contrary evidence relied on.
The next question is, admitting the complainant to be the author, was Beale,
one of the defendants, authorize to contract for the publication of the book
with the publishers?
There is certainly some conflict in the evidence on this point. As this branch
of the defense assumes the complainant to be the proprietor, and are charges,
the burden is upon the defendants to establish the authority. We have looked
into the papers with some care upon this question, and with a view to its proper
determination, and must say that the weight of the proof, as it stands, is
against iu
The defendants, De Witt & Davenport, the publishers under the contract
with Beale, have already printed the book, and of course have been subjected to
a considerable expense, and an appeal has been made on this ground in their
favor, as distinguishing the case rrom that simply between one complainant and
Beale. But the proofs showed that these defendants not only had notice of
eompUinant's rights, but were expressly forbidden by her to print or publish the
books — she complaining that Beale had no authority to make the contract before
they had entered upon this expense.
They are, therefore, chargeable with notice of the want of authority on the
INirt of Beale, if, in point of fact, no such authority existed, and are in no better
•ituation than Beale himself in this issue with the complainant.
Indeed, the proofs show that these defendants, after they were forbidden to"
print and publish, and before they entered upon the business, sought a negotia-
tion themselves, through their friend and agent, with her, to procure her consent,
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^ 76 Journal of MtrcantUe Law.
and failed, the complatnant insisting thai the maonsoripis belonged to her, and
bad been improperiy withheld, and that Beale had no authority to make t ie
eontract.
The case is a peculiar one. The defendants are seeking to print and put into
eirculation a work in the name of an authoress, which name, as is obvioos, is
supposed to give to it its chief interest and attraction in the public estimation,
against her remonstrance, and, as she claims, not only in .violation of her rights,
but also in some respects, as printed and sought to be published, in disparage-
ment of her chart cter, and one, and the principal answer to her complaint is
that she is not the authoress, and that the work is the production of other minds.
Another ground is, that although not the authoress, she consented, in consid^
oration of receiving a portion of the profits of the work, thai her name should be
used as the authoress of it.
A third, that being the authoress and proprietor, and therefore having a right
to control the printing and publkation, she authorized Beale, one of the defends
ants, to contract for the same with De Witt d& Davenport, two of the o.her de-
fendants.
There is no pretense that he had any written authority. It is sought to be
made out by verbal statements and corroborating circumstances. l%is is met
by the denial of authority in any form by the complainant, supported by the de-
position of her father and sister. If they are to be credited, Beale has repeatedly
admitted that he bad no authority, had done wrong, and expressed his regret at
his conduct in the business.
The deposition of the father, who naturally must have taken a deep interest
in the matter, is verv full and particular, both as to the relation on which Beale
stood in respect to the manuscripts of his daughter, the terms and conditions of
it, and also as to his admissions since the difloculty has arisen, repeatedly made
to the father, that he had acted without authority in entering into the contract
for publication.
The book itself contains a certificate of the mayor, and other public men of
Norfolk, of the character of the father as ** a gentleman of probity and honor,"
and entitled, therefore, to the highest confidence.
We are satisfied, therefore, that neither of these grounds of defense has been
sustained, and that in the present posture of the case, the preliminary injunction
heretofore granted must be continued till the final hearing.
LIABILirr OF 1. LCH>6Ilf6*H0U8B KEBPBR.
In the American Law Register, for March, is an essay on the " Liability of
Lodging-House Keepers,*' with which it would be well for such persons to be
acquainted. A case came before the Queen's bench in England, where a lady
sought to obtain damages, of the woman who kept a l>oarding-house in which she
resided, for the loss of a box, which was taken as follows:
The lady being about to leave the house, sent one of the defendant's servants
for biscuits. The servant left the door ajar, in consequence of which, during
his absence, a thief entered and stole the box from the hall. The plaintiff, as
has been said, was a boarder in the house at a weekly payment, upon the terms
of bein^ provided with board, lodging, and attendance.
The judge, at the trial, instructed the jdry that the defendant was not bound to
take more care of the house and the things in it than a prudent owner would
take, and that she was not liable, if there were no negligence on her part, in
hiring and keeping the servant And he left it to the jury to say, supposing the
loss to have been occasioned by the negligence of the servant in leaving the
door ajar, whether there was any negligence of the defendant in hiring or keep-
ing the servant.
When ^0 case came before the full court of four judges, two of them, (Wight-
man and Eari J: J.,) held the ruling of the trial to l^ correct But the Chief
Justice Campbell, and Justice Coleridge, held the contrary, with whose opinion
the essayist coincides. Lord Campbell said, ** There might be negligence in a
servant in leaving the outer door ot a boarding-house open, whereby the gooda
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Cammereial OhrtmieU and Bmew. *J*J
of a guest are stolen, wlHeh might render the master liable. I think there is a
duty oo bis part, analogons to that ineambent on every pmdent householder, to
keep the outer door of the house shut at times when there is a danger that
thieves may enter and steal the goods of the guest If he employs servants to
perform tliis duty, while they are performing it they are acting within the scope
of their employment, and he is answerable for their neffligenee. He is not
answerable for the eonsequences of a felony, or even a willful trespass commit-
ted by them ; but the general rule is, that the master is answerable for the neg-
ligence of his servants while engaged in offices which he employs them to do ;
and I am not aware how the keeper of a lodging-house should be an exception
to the rule. He is by no means hound to the same strict care as an inn-keeper;
but within the scope of that which he ought to do, I apprehend that he is equally
liable, whether he is to do it by himself or hb servants. The doctrino that in-
quiry is to be made, whether the master was guilty of negligence in hiring or
keeping the servants, is, I believe, qnite new."
COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW.
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PORT8 POR BLBVBN MONTBI— CAIH RBVBMUB AT MBW YORK, BOtTOM, AND POILaDBLPHIA^
axrOBTB OP OOMBBTIC PRODDOB— BAMXB OP DIICOOMT AMD IMUB, WITM BOMB BBMARKB OS
RBCBar COAMCRB OP POLICY, BTC.
We stated in our last that the business of the country for the next year de-
pended in a gr§at degree upon the incoming harvest At the date of writing
that statement, there were many fears in regard to the harvest on account of the
drouth then prevailing in all parts of the country. These fears are now for the
most part happily dissipated. The breadth of gronnd sown is greater than ever
before, and the most cheering accounts reach us from every quarter. There are
instances of local damage, but the great portion of the crops are yet uninjured,
and we may hope will be safely garnered. The influence of these favorable
prospects is everywhere apparent Trade is reviving, and business men are re-
newing their operations with fresh courage.
Our caution in regard to speculation in breadstuffs, we are glad to know,
saved some of our readers from heavy losses, and oar position has been fully
sustained by the course of trade. Notwithntanding all the predictions of famine
prices, based on estimates of a short supply, flour has come forward freely, and
the markets on the seaboard have steadily declined. There may be a temporary
reaction before the new wheat shall be threshed, but if the yield is as abundant
as now promised, specnlators will have the worst of it Never were the harvest
fields in this country so closely watched as during the current season, and the
'* harvest home *' will this year swell into a song of thanksgiving that shall be
heard throughout our remotest borders. Th^ deficiency last year was not
owing so much to the damage done to the growing grain by the drouth, as to
the diversion of labor from agricultural pursuits. For several years the various
railroad enterprises, and a growing inclination for trade or speculative projects
that promised an easier fortune than could be wrung from the soil, had united
in drawing our people from the pursuit of husbandry, so that the production did
not increase so rapidly as the hungry consumers.
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is
Commercial Chronicle and Beview.
The snrplas of old erop was each year relatively Ims, until a partial failure of
the crops in Europe drew off nearly all oor stores, and the decreased producttoa
of the last year, owing to the want of rain, completed the depletion. Many
writers among us becnme seriously frightened, and, reckoning the home con-
sumption the same as in years of plenty, predicted a serious deficiency that
eould only have resulted in an absolute famine. Our readers will bear ua wiW
ness that we steadily opposed these eff«>rts at panic making, and while we gave
the writers in question due credit for their sincerity, avowed our belief in a
sufficiency for all practical purposes. Comparatively high prices have been
maintained, but not within 30 per cent of the rates thus anticipated, and no
scarcity has been felt, and no suffering has resulted at any point, or in any mar-
ket throughout the country.
Money is everywhere abundant, and although the demand for it has revived
under the increased activity in other business, the rates of interest are unchanged,
and at the principal money centers capital is freely offered upon prime security
at 6 a 7 per cent. The banks stand very strongly, and notwithstanding the lai^
sbipmento of specie to Europe, their stock of coin is quite sufficient for all use-
ful purposes. At New York the amount of specie in the vaults of the banks
has but slightly varied. We continue our table of the weekly averages since
January Ist: —
WBXKLT AVEBAOIS NKW TOaK CITT BAKES.
Loans and
Date. Capital. Dtscuuina. Specie. OrcntatloB. Depotita.
Jan. 6, 1855 48,000,000 82/244,706 18,596,968 7,049,982 64,982.158
Jan. 18 48,000,000 88,976,081 15,488,525 6.686,461 67,808^98
Jan. 20 48,000,000 85,447.998 16,372,127 6,681.855 69,647,618
Jan. 27 48,000^000 86,654,657 16,697,260 6,7a9,828 20,136 618
Feb. 8 48,000,000 88,145,697 17,459,196 7,000,766 72,928.817
Feb. 10 48.000.000 89,862.170 17,124,891 6,969,111 78,794,848
Feb. 17 48,000,000 90,850,081 17,889,085 6,941,606 76,198,636
Feb. 24 48,000,000 91.590.504 16,370,875 6,963,562 74,644,721
March 8.... 48,000,000 92,886,125 16,581,279 7,106,710 75,958,844
March 10... 48,000,000 92,881,789 16,870,669 7.181,998 76,259,484
March 17... 48,000,000 92,447,845 16,988,982 7,061,018 76,524,227
March 24... 48,000,000 98,050,778 16,602,729 7,452,281 76.289,928
March 81... 47,688,415 93,684.041 16,018.105 7,837,688 75,600,186
April 7 .. 47,855,665 94.499,394 14.968,004 7,771.584 77,818,908
April 14... 47,855,665 94,140,899 14,890,979 7,523,628 77,282,242
April 21... 47,855.665 93.682,893 14.355.041 7,510,124 75,744,921
April 28.... 47,855,666 92,505.961 14,282,424 7,610,985 76,219,951
May 5 47,855,665 98,093,248 14,825,050 8.087,609 78,214,169
May 12.... 47.865,665 91,642.498 14.586.626 7,804,977 75,850.692
May 19 47,865,665 91,675,500 16.225.056 7,638 680 77,361,218
May 26.... 48,684,730 91,160,518 16,814,632 7,489,637 76,766,740
June 2. 48,684,780 91,197,658 16.897,674 7,655,609 76.348,286
June 9 48,684.780 92,l09.i>97 16,006.155 7.602,668 77,128,789
June 16 48,684,880 98,100.386 14,978,568 7,462,161 77,894,454
We also continue our weekly statements of the Boston banks from the date
given in our last : —
May SI. MaySS. Jone 4. June 11. June 18.
Capital $32,710,000 $82.710000 132,710.000 $82,710,000 $82,710,000
Loaos and discounts.. 62.387,867 62,004,324 61,992,058 62,813,211 62,698,944
Specie 8,137,441 8,201,248 8,875,358 8,409.181 3.598,651
Doe ft-om other banks 7,145,087 8,040.088 8.006,670 8,621,400 8,814,169
Dueto other bankn.. 6,864381 6,989,178 6,066,804 6,166384 6,118394
DepoeiU 14.929,017 14,620,292 14,781.982 15.004,126 16,446,898
Circulation 7,321,806 7,292.828 7,113,978 7,696,796 7,864,402
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ComtwreM Chronicle and Heview, 79
It will be aeen that at Boston the specie has slightly iocreased, and is larger
than at previous periods since April 23d. From most other parts of the country
there has been a flow of specie towards the seaboard, while the balance in the
Sub-Treasury has also decreased. From California the receipts continue large,
but are less easily summed up, owing to the fact that since the second suspen-
sion of Messrs. Page, Bacon &. Co., large sums have been brought in the hands of
passengers, not entered upon the ships* manifests.
The following will show the deposits at the New York Assay Office during
the month of May : —
DSPOSTTS AT THX A8SAT OmOK, HEW TORE, POB THE MONTH OF XAT.
Gold. surer. TotaL
Foreign corns. $28,000 00 $4,000 00 $82,000 00
Foreign ballioQ 47,000 00 274 86 47,274 86
Domestic ballioo. 1,847,800 86 16,989 74 1,868,740 60
Total deposits $1,922,800 86 $20,214 10 $1,948,014 96
Total deposito payable in bars. $1,864,265 41
Total depo&its payable in coins 88,749 65
$1,948,014 96
Gold bars stomped 1,864,704 48
Transmitted to the Uoited States Mint at Philadelphia for coinage. . 87,086 62
The deposits at the Philadelphia mint for the month of May were $496,000 in
gold, and $372,300 in silver, the latter purchased by government, making a total
of $868,200. l*he coinage was $355,756 in gold, and $440,000 in silver, inclo*
ding 1,635,845 pieces. Nothing was coined at New Orleans. The deposits
were $79,256 20 in gold, and $818,246 63 in silver — making a totol of
$897,502 83.
The government has noir coined about $20,000,000 of the new silver coin
made under the law of Congress of February 2lHt, 1853, which reduced the
weight of half dollars, quarters, dimes, and half dimes, about 7 per cent. This
coin is not a legal tender in payments of over five dollars, and only about
$15,000,000 is in the hands of the people, the remainder being in government de-
positories and not wanted for convenience.
The stock market has been buoyant both for railroad stocks and State bonds,
and prices of nearly all descriptions have steadily improved. There has not
been, however, much fever of speculation, and but little sustained animation is
expected until after the summer holidays.
Foreign exchange has been firm at rates above the flpecle point, and there has
been a steady flow of specie to London and the continent. The average for the
month has been 110 for 60-day bills on London, and 5.12i for Paris. The
heavy rains have given hope of an increased supply of cotton bills, but no per&
manent relief is now expected until we shall renew our shipments of breadstufis
to Europe.
The imports from foreign ports continue to deeline. At New York the total
for May was $5,535,195 less than for May, 1854, $2,894,257 less than for May,
1853> and $3,926,251 more than for May, 1852, as will appear from the following
comparison :—
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80
Oomntereial Cfkronide and Bevietd,
VOKSICnf IMP0ET8 AT mnf TOBK VOE VAT.
18a. im. \m. im
Entered for consamption $6,096,996 (10,256,071 112,004,888 $8,082,524
Entered for warehouMDg 458,109 2,590,000 8,151,964 2,886,959
Freegoods 789,046 1,487,248 1,858,954 1,156,918
Specie and bullion 880,584 207,924 165,925 69,590
Total entered at the port $7,719,785 $14,540,248 $17,181,181 $11,645,986
Withdrawn irom warehoQse 1,880,871 1,049,550 1,588,652 1,782,884
This leaves the total imports at New York since Janaary Ist, $25,071,725 *
less than for the corresponding five months of last year, $24,421,866 lese than
for the same period of 1863, and $4,417,787 more than for the same time in
1852. We annex a comparison, including the seyeral dates specified: —
FOKnON nCPOETB AT WWW TOEK FOB fTVB XONTBS FROM JANUAET IST.
im. 18M. im. i8Si
Entered for consumption $89,418,781 $68,242,647 $61,971,984 $37,877,2(0
Entered for warehousmg 4,887,027 8,496,277 10,721,104 11,116,646
Freegoods 6,281,888 7,851,707 7,088,241 6,574,684
Specie and bullion 1,448,484 785,041 1,249,218 885,887
Total entered at the port $51,586,080 $80,875,672 $81,025,641 $56,958,817
Withdrawn from warehouse. 7,615,198 5,848,258 9,285,872 10,986,450
The warehousing business has been less in May, but during the last fife
months it shows an increase upon the total for the same time last year. Of the
decline in the imports, as shown above, not quite one-half has been in dry goods;
the total of this description for the month is 82,030,662 less than for May, 1864,
tl,6r2,244 less than for May, 1863, aod $414,663 more than for May, 1862, «s
will appear from the following summary : —
nrpoETs OF FoanoM dry ooods at hsw toek nc hat.
SMTBESD FOB OOKSUMPnOIC
18§2. 18§I. 18M. 18it.
Manufactures of wool $897,805 $1,026,451 $1,028,867 $549,187
Manufactures of cotton 277,851 880.808 788,982 826,545
Manukotures of silk 51t(,368 1,500.858 1,026.881 818,045
Hanufactures of fla:t 263,607 857.649 860,087 288,47 1
Miscellaneous dry goods 246,796 24 1,651 129,218 188,579
Total entered for coDsnmptioo . $1,708,427 $8,506,417 $8,278,485 $2,160,777
WITBDRAWlf FROM WAREHOUSE.
180. 18$S. 18i4. im.
Manufactures of wool $70,584 $88,567 $158,521 $108,228
Manufactures of cotton . ^ 87.902 29.007 87,128 77,558
Hanufactures of Bilk 188,717 79,177 100,182 124,161
Manufactures of flax 40,855 9,890 28,724 75,428
Miscellaneous dry goods 26,705 9,597 12,511 57,148
Total $814,268 $210,788 $882,061 $442,688
Add entered for consumption 1,708,427 8,506,4 17 8,278,486 2,160,777
Total thrown 00 the market .. . $2,017,690 $3,717,155 $8,660,546 $2,608,810
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Commereial Chronicle and Bevieta, 81
■MTBRXD FOR WABSBOUSIlfO.
1851. 18». 18S4. im.
Mftnofactiireeofwool 1109,786 1178,918 $642,867 |109,821
MftDufactures of cotton 89,619 68,967 194,201 68,649
Manufkcturesofulk 111,309 107,694 811,891 26,638
MRDulactiireeoffiax 26,680 48,740 82,847 18,189
Miscellaneous dry goods 19,817 26,469 46,222 61,082
Total $806,961 $480,778 $1,177,028 $264,174
Add entered for consumption 1,708,427 8,606,417 8,278,486 2,160.777
Total entered at the port $2,010,888 $8,987,196 $4,466,618 $2,424,961
The receipts of dry goods at that port since January shows a decline of
tl6,451,103 as compared with last year, $16,177,024 aa compared with 1853,
and $2,231,516 as compared with the same period of 1852 : —
IMPORTS OF POaBON DRT GOODS AT THB PORT OP NRW YORK FOR PIV^ MONTHS, PROM
JANUARY 1st.
SMTKRXD FOR COM8I7MPTIOH.
i8». mt. im. im.
Manufoctnresofwool $4,688,869 $8,496,117 $7,626,647 $4,408,660
Manufactures of cotton. 4,296.267 6,718,790 7,948,864 8,862,288
Manufactures of silk 8,166,667 18.806,811 12,149,488 6,629.689
Manufactures of flax. 2,648,389 8,799,691 8,436,496 2,061,648
Miscellaneous dry goods. 1,868.622 '2,689,874 2,688,771 1,936,826
Total $21,642,604 $84,948,688 $88,699,611 $18,288,895
withdrawn from warehousb.
18S3. 18U. im. im.
Manufactures of wool $779,610 $498,791 $1,166,141 $1,066,768
Manufactures of cotton 1,004,280 664,698 1,608,682 1,612.108
Manufactures of silk 1.163.660 671,666 1,808.667 1,481,647
Madufacturesofflsz 666.149 117,280 601,446 741.420
Mbcellaneous dry goods. 219,324 201,768 190,676 606,887
Total withdrawn $3,782,963 $2,044,083 $4,669,461 $6,407,725
Add entered for consumption . . . 21,642,604 84,948,688 88,699,61 1 1 8,288,895
Total thrown upon the market. $25,276,667 $86,992,716 $88,869,072 $28,696,120
XNTSRRD FOR WARBH0U8IN0.
mi mi 1854. 18Si.
Manufactures of wool $688,486 $767,202 $1,608,180 $792,168
Manufactures of cotton 636,078 610,254 1,878,697 989.259
Manufactures of silk 1,484.510 826.778 1,519,176 1,271,783
Manufactures of flax 187,772 180,294 488,208 686,176
Miscellaneous dry goods 187,967 204,659 168,182 468,115
Total $8,029,767 $2,666,187 $5,092,838 $4,062,451
Add entered for consumption.. . . 21,642,604 84,948,683 88,699,611 18,288,896
Total entered at the port $24,672;861 $87,517,870 $38,791,949 $22,340,846
The exports for the month of May from New York to foreign ports have heen
large» both in specie and general merchandise. ExcluBive of specie, the total is
only $624,437 less than the very large amount shipped in the same month of
last year, when breadetuffs were going out freely ; and is $777,694 more than
for May, 1858, and $772,161 more than for M«y, 1852. The exports of specie
are not larger than has frequently been cleared from New York in one month
VOL, XXXIII. — NO. I. 6
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82 Commercial Ohronkk and JUview,
MDce (he discovery of gold in Califoraia. Thus, in September, 1854, the exports
of specie were $6,547,104; in June, 1851, 16,462,170; and in July, 1851,
$6,004,170. The exports of foreign goods have slightly increased. We annex
a Comparison of the several items: —
KXPORTS mOX NSW TOBJL TO rORUOlT POBTS FOR TBI MONTH OF MAT.
im. mi 18H. i8».
Domestic produce $4,249,924 $4,166,964 $6,824,427 $6,071,890
Foreign merchandise (free) 106,818 248,698 182.449 244,264
Foreign merchandise (dutiable)... 646,978 487,670 842.487 868,782
Specie 1,884,898 7,162,467 8,661,626 6,820,162
Totol exports $6,787,608 $7,069,649 $9,960,989 $10,996,028
Total, exclusive of specie 4,902,716 4,897,182 6.299,818 6,674,876
The total exports from New York to foreign ports, exclusive of specie, since
January 1st, are only $1,803,356 less than for the corresponding five months of
1854, and are $4,590,332 more than for the same period of 1853, and $6,277,987
more than for the same time in 1852, as will appear from the annexed snm-
inary : —
BXPORTS FROM NEW YORK TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR FIVE MONTHS FROM JANUARY Ist.
1861. im. 18i4. im.
Domestic produce. ^18^79,462 $20,866,061 $26,671,067 $22,880,718
Foreign merchandise (free) 896,719 687.809 684.816 2,666.876
Foreign mercbaifdise (dutiable).. 1,936,981 1,646,987 1,828,028 2,263,646
Specie 9.067,664 6,890,700 11/) 17,684 18,212,402
Total exporU $29,979,806 $27,990,607 $40,101,079 $40,402,641
Total, exclusive of specie 20,912,162 22,699,807 29,088,896 27,190^89
We are now within one month of the close of the fiscal year, and as there is
much interest felt in regard to the result of the year's foreign Commerce, we
have carefully compiled a comparative statement showing the exports of specie*
and the total exports and imports at New York from July 1st to May 3l8t: —
fOREIQN IMFORTB AND EXPORTS AT NEW YORK FOR ELEVEN MONTHS, ENMNG MAY 81 ST.
Exports of tpede. Total exportt. Total imports
1866 $84,196,941 $91,278,827 $142,611,914
1864 29J 16,068 97.176.848 177,286,671
Difference $6,079,888 $6,896,621 $84,774,787
From this it will be seen that the exports of specie from that port for the last
eleven months have increased $5,079,883 ;» the total exports of all descriptioiw
to foreign porta have decreased only $5,896,521, while the total imports from
foreign ports have decreased $34,774,757. The exports from the gulf ports
have doubtless declined in a greater proportion, but this is a very favorable show-
ing for the Commerce of New York, considering the times through which we
have passed. Nearly all of the exports have paid a profit to the shipper, while
that portion of the imports which has been sent to us on foreign account, being
chiefly a refuse of stock unsaleable to other markets, has mostly sold for less
than the invoice price.
The revenue has of course declined with the imports, but the receipts are am-
ple for all the wants of government, and there is still a handsome balance in the
Treasury. The following will show the comparative receipts at New York: —
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Cammerciai CknmieU and Review.
98
OASB ovnn riohtcd ay hew toex fok fiyb mouths, feom JAMVAmy Itn,
18St
Jamuny $2,600^62 64
Febrotfj 2,«8M56 47
HATch 2,780.869 61
18M.
$8,811,187 87
8,878,89« 47
8.986,967 68
18S4.
$4,879,286 82
2,867,294 60
8,627,119 49
Total 8 months.. $7,617,867 72 $11,126,600 47 $10,878,699 81
April 2,447,684 07 8,848,262 14 8,166.490 21
Maj 1,962,110 86 2,862,868 66 8,248,164 41
18Si.
$2,660,088 82
2,666,164 94
2,868,084 96
$7,668,288 21
1,994,710 10
2,400,482 60
Total 6 months.. $12,017,682 66 $17,826,606 17 $17,886,868 98 $11,988,480 91
The total cash receipts at New York for the eleven months of the fiscal year
are $30,342,408 23, against 939,206,250 26 for the same time of the previous
year, showing a decline of $8,863,842 93 at that port
We also annex a comparative statement of the receipts for cash duties at Phil-
idelphia and Boston since January Ist: —
aXOKIPTS FOB DUTIES.
-FHILADBLPHIA.-
1865.
18M.
\m.
$1,998,688
$1,880,724
$968,711
624,618
879,472
228,988
677,481
828,428
226,888
- 18S4.
First quarter $2,848604
April 680,908
Jlay 667,147
Total from January Ist ... . $8,681,669 $8,190,887 $2,088,619 $1,418,082
This shows a falling off since January 1st of $490,672 at Boston, and $675,537
at Philadelphia, equal to a falling off in imports at those ports of nearly five
millions and a half of dollars.
We annex a summary comparison of the shipments of certain leading articles
of domestic produce from New York to foreign ports. The weekly exports
continue large, although there is little of breadstuffs or cotton to go forward.
Had the crop of cereals in this country last year been a large one, the exports
hence would have been nearly as large as during the famine year nearly ten
years ago.
XZFOaTS OF CEBTAIN ARTIOLBS OF DOMBSHO PBODUOB FROM NBW TOBK TO VOBBUIV
POBTS FROM JAMDABT IST TO JUNB 18tH : —
Ashes — ^pots, . ,
pearls ,
Beeswax
18j4.
8,248
881
ibs^ 110,916
.bbls.
- 18S5.
4,541
1,188
97,610
Wheat flour., bbls. 660,972 208,884
Rye flour 9,488 12,648
Com meal 48,816 28,481
Wheat bush. 1,168,463 29,808
Rye 816,168 6,189
Oats 11,608 12,111
Com 2,246,665 1,668,422
Candles— mold..boxe8 29,849 28,982
sperm 8,269 6,987
Goal .tons 14,878 8,666
Cotton .bales 162,091 188.618
Hay 1,689 8,004
Hops 476 6,988
18S4. 18$S.
Naval stores . . . .bbls. 800,268 888,668
Oils-— whale.... galls. 106,291 66,891
sperm 220,782 426,192
lard 16,894 27,879
linseed 1,684 6,889
ProFiwons—
Pork bbls. 42,182 107,964
Beef: 86,898 44,616
Out meats, lbs. . .10,791,452 18,768,790
Batter 1,112,880 824,686
Cheese 818,808 1,096,681
Lard 7,476,097 4,940,289
Rice trcs 16,409 9,849
Tallow lbs. 1,788,667 1,096,842
Tobacco, crude., pkgs 19,686 17,999
Do., maDufactured.lbB. 1,416,139 2,166,086
Whalebone •. 760,644 747,887
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84 Commercial CfhronicU and Review,
The above shows a falling off since January Ist eqnal to 661 per cent in wheat
flour, and 33 per cent in corn, while it shows an almost total cessation in the
shipments of wheat and rye, the total of both being less than 35,000 bushels
against about 1,500,000 bushels for the same time last year. The shipments of
cotton since January Ist from New York have fallen off about 20,000 bales, but
from all other ports the shipments from September 1st to date have increased
about 80,000 bales. In pork the shipments in the above table show a very large
increase for the current year; and the same may be said in beef and cut meats,
the latter including bacon of all descriptions. In shipments of butter and lard
there has been a large decline, both ruling very high. If the present prospects
fire realized we shall have a more abundant stock of produce for export another
year.
In Connecticut and New Jersey the system of banking under general laws is
to be abandoned, and the banks 'organized under it are mostly to go on under
charters. This is a retrograde step in legislation, and appears to be a concession
to tlie clamors of a faction rather than a change of policy through conviction.
We believe that many of the laws restricting the operation of banking might be
repealed, and that in the end most of them will be given up. Banking in its le-
gitimate sense, the loaning of money, ought to be free as air. We would go as
far as the repeal of all laws fixing an arbitrary rate of interest We have no
fears of any monopoly not protected by law. If the banks combined to raise
the rate upon borrowers, so much capital would be drawn to the business that
the very competition would break down the combination. Let the usance for
money be fixed and regulated like the value of any other commodity, by the de-
mand and supply. It* a bank were organized by a set of swindlers, they could
hurt nobody in the way of loaning money, and let depositors look out for them-
selves ; they need the protection of law no more than people who give credit in
any other relation of business. The case is different, however, in regard to banks
of circulation. To facilitate the ordinary transactions of business, that which
passes as currency should command general confidence, and be worthy of it be-
yond a question. No man need make a deposit in a bank until he has had am-
ple time to satisfy himself of its solvency. But the masses who receive and
handle bank notes in small transactions can know very little of the credit to be
attached to each, if such credit depended solely upon the character of the insti-
tution itself, and hence the importance of a general law compelling all who issue
such notes to give security for their redemption. Such security should be am-
ple and easily converted into coin, and bonds and mortgages should therefore be
excluded. Gold and silver form the best basis, but this security if left with the
banks is sometimes missing, and therefore the law requiring a deposit of value
with some responsible State ofilicer. Gold and silver coin is now so plenty, that
all bank bills below five dollars should be prohibited in each of the States. If
this were done there would be less importance in securing the redemption of
bank notes, as there would be a much smaller amount left in the hands of the
poor, who are always the greatest sufferers by bank failures, being less skillful
ie matters of finance. Private banks will come in the end to do most of the
regular banking business, and we should not be surprised if the only issue of
bank notes should then be such as were based on an actual deposit of the full
amount of gold and silver in government vaults.
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Oommercial Chronicle and Review, 85
HEW TORI COTTON MARKET FOR THE HONTH EllDINO JUNE n.
VEBPARCD POE THE ■BECBAllTt'M4aASIRE BT VHLBOEM J& PEBDKBIOEION, BEOEKEI,ltBWTOES.
At the close of oor last monthly report, May 18th, our market was aotive at
10^' cents per poond for Middling Upland, and lOf cents for Middling Orleans.
At that time there were hot few parties in the trade who anticipated a further
advance, yet in reviewing the past month we find the sales to be the largest that
have ever taken place in this city, and at an improvement in price of fully two
cents per pound on all grades, and for desirable lists and qualities the advance
has been greater in some cases.
The transactions during the month have been mostly of a speculative charac-
ter; our home trade has, however, materially aided to sustain prices, not so much
owing to their extensive purchases as to their confidence in prices, and the im*
provement in the value of the manufactured article, which, on print cloths, in
equal to the advance in cotton during the past six weeks. With the exception
of those spinners who are under contract, the purchases for the home trade have
been only for immediate consumption ; the probabilities are that our own manu-
fteturers will be competitors for the balance of the crop with the spinners of
Europe, and that present prices will see little or no diminution until the opening
of the season with the present growing crop.
The advices from Europe during the month have been of a satisfactory char-
acter. An abundant money market has enabled buyers in the Liverpool market
to operate to an enormous extent — the sales being over 100,000 bales per week,
and for seven consecutive weeks the total transactions were 841,120 bales, at an
advance of Hd. per pound. This improvement in the staple has caused a more
extended inquiry for and a rise in thie manufactured article, and there is no talk
in the manufacturing districts of working short time^that bug-bear has lost
much of its power on this side of the Atlantic, and if the spinners of Europe
are to day richer than they were ten years ago, it is also a fact that they are
compelled to run their machinery even at a trifling loss, in consequence of the
equalization of capital and labor. The day is passed in England when the bone
and sinew, ^ the hewers of wood and drawers of water," were looked upon as
nere automatons to do the will and bidding of the capitalist, and to be set at work
or cast adrift, as a rise or fall in the market occurred. *' If the rich but knew,**
says Bulwer Lytton, seems about to be understood and acted upon, and a report
to short time, or a stoppage of mills, is now an operation that requires more
nerve than it did ten years ago, and which would be more disastrous to capital
than labor.
The quantity taken by the trade in Liverpool fW>m January 1st to June 8th
averages 46,997 bales against 33,497 bales for same time in 1864, and it is re-
presented that the stocks in spinners' hands, either manufactured or unmanufac-
tured, b extremely small.
The amount of cotton to be received up to the 1st September can now be
very nearly arrived at, and while opinions vary the general impression is that
2,750,000 to 2,775,000 bales will be the extent of the crop of 1854-5. It is
satisfactory to know that the growing crop is represented to be in a fine condi-
tion, and it is not improbable that the receipts for the present year may be aug-
mented 20,000 to 30,000 bales from the growing crop.
The transactions for the week ending May 25th were limited by the Increased
pretensions of holders and the small stock offering. The sales were estimated
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86 Commercial Chronicle omd Beviem.
at 12f000 ba!ei-H>Be half on speculatioii, the balance to tiie home trade and for
export ; the advance for tbe week bein^ fully \ cent per pound, the market clo^
log with an upward tendency at the following rates : —
raicn aooptbd vat 26th fob tab roLLOWiKO qCAuriBa: —
UpUuKL Florida. MobU«. M.O.^T«sM.
Ordinary 9^ 9^ 9i 9f
Middliag 10} 11 llj Hi
MiddliDgiSur Hi llf 12 12i
Fair 12 12^ 12} 18
The advancing tendency in prices continued during the week ending June lat,
tbe aalea being 26,000 bales, at f cent per pound improvement Much confidence
being felt in a still higher range of prices, the week closed with buoyancy at the
following quotations : —
PaiOBS ADOPTin JUKE IST rOB THB FOLLOWING QUALITIES . —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.IbTezaa.
Ordinary 9i 9i 9i 10
Middling «... llf Uf 12 12}
Middlingfair 12} 12f 12} 18
Fair 12f 18 18} 18|
The sales for the week ending June 8th were estimated at 35,000 bales, includ-
ing 12,000 bales sold in transitu. The stock in first hands being much reduced,
and an easy money market enabling speculators to hold their purchases for a
material advance, the quantity on sate was small. The market closed with much
firmness at an advance for the week of } a } cent per pound : —
PBICES ADOPTED JUNE 8tB POB THB POIXOWnCO QUALITIES!^ —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. K.O.IbtexM.
Ordinary 10 10 10} 10}
Middling 12} 12} 12} 12}
Middlingfair 13 18} 18} 18}
Fair 18} 18} U 14}
The transactions for the week ending June 15th were 18,000 bales, at a fuN
ther advance of } a } cent per pound. At the close of the week there was leea
inquiry in consequence of telegraphic reports from the South of increased re«
ceipts, owing to a rise in the rivers. With receipts even beyond, and a total
crop exceeding that of last year — which is not possible—present prices would
be sustained if not enhanced so long as consumption abroad is not interrupted.
The market closed firm, with light offerings, at —
PEIOBS ADOPTED JUNE 16tB FOB THB rOLLOWINO <}UALITIBB: —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N. O. k, T^xas.
Ordinary lOj 10} 10} 11
Middling 12} 12} 12} 13
MiddUogfaur 18} 18} 18} 14
Fair 18} 18} 14 14}
The sales for the week closing June 22d were 10,000 bales, and although tbe
foreign accounts were of a highly satisfactory character, there was an increased
desire on the part of speculators to realize on a portion of their purchases. The
•ales at the close of the week were at uregular prices, aad the quotations an-
nexed must be considered nominal : —
FBIOBS ADOPTED JUNE 82D POE THB FOLLOWUie QUAUTIES:-*
UpUnd. Florida. Mobile. N.O.IbTesaa.
Ordinary. 10} 10} lOi 10}
Middling 12} 12} 12} 12}
MiddliDg£air 18 18} 18} 18}
Fair 18} 18} 18} 14
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Journal €f Banking^ Currency^ and Finance.
8T
JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE.
PROPERTT, TAXES, km POPULATIOflT OF PBUBrSTLVilflA.
The report of the Auditor- General of PenDsylvanU furnishes the following state-
ment, showing the ▼aloation of real and personal estate in the several counties of the
CooMAon wealth, taxable for State purposes; the assessment of tax thereon for the
jear 1854, as fixed bj the Revenue Commissioners at their last triennial meeting;
also the population of each county, according to the census of 1860, and the taxable
inhabitaDts therem for the year 1854 : —
AneMOMiit
CXrantles. Valastlon. of taxes. Popalation. Taxablea.
Adams I4J49.866 $14,668 18 25,931 6,252
Alleghany 26,285,810 80,858 08 188,290 80,112
Armstrong 2,476.487 7,885 98 29,660 7.671
Beaver 4.104,964 12,676 97 26.689 6,061
Bedford 2,837,887 7,082 00 28,052 6,828
Berks / 22,599,200 69,16118 77,129 17,408
Blair 4.670,689 14.456 11 21,771 5,768
Bradford 4,078,992 12,480 18 42,831 9,221
Bucks 17,667,012 53,866 67 56,091 18.761
Botler -2,974.824 9,797 68 80,846 7.678
Cambria 1,871.844 4.878 22 17.778 5.634
CarboQ 2,248,125 7,105 19 15,688 4,128
Centre 5.041,476 15,620 68 23,865 6,026
Chester 22,690,418 69,247 6(i 66,488 15.188
Clarioo 1,787,827 6,311 86 28,566 5,668
CUntoQ 1,987,118 6.268 02 11.207 3.116
Clearfield 1.249,182 8,846 04 12,580 8,884
Columbia 8,112,988 9,788 68 17,710 6,468
Crawford 8,424,527 10,468 48 87.840 9.666
Cumberiaod 10.946.866 88.817 77 84,827 8,886
DaopUn 10.456,188 82.885 87 85,754 8,897
Delaware 8,544,698 26,547 84 24,809 6,045
Srie 4,868,916 18.627 60 88.742 11.886
Elk 622.425 1.869 87 8,581 U75
Fayette 5.188.825 15.949 90 89.112 6,949
Franklin 12.492.572 88.612 05 89,904 9,416
Fulton 797,800 2,422 10 7,567 2,286
Ferert 146,839 488 12 246
Oreeoe 2,957,868 9,144 02 22,186 5,526
Huntiogdoo 5,447,844 16,746 83 24,186 6.572
lodioia 2,690.475 8,248 48 27,470 6.999
JeflersQQ 1,026.890 8,164 68 18,618 8.854
JoDiaU 2,827,846 8,612 92 18,029 3,891
Laneasttf* 82.592,596 100,654 7 1 98.944 26.666
Lawrence 8.174.986 9,796 82 21,079 6,119
Lebanon 8,105.664 24.807 21 26,071 6.828
Lehigh 8,599.966 26.519 44 82.479 7,909
Luseme 6,771,527 20,982 98 18.072 13,787
Lycoming 4,861,187 18,463 62 26,267 7,498
Mercer 8,918,008 12,078 69 88.172 8,201
M'Kean 591,546 1,814 44 6,254 1,546 <
Mifflin 4,851,475 18,696 92 14,880 8,450
Monroe 1.591,210 4,909 41 18,270 8.251
Montgomery 17,529.013 58,788 58 58,291 15,461
Montour 1.864,427 5.81150 18,219 2,981
Hortbampton 18.958.778 48,210 80 40,289 10,688
Northnmberland . .« 5,284,929 16,847 19 28,286 6.401
Perry 8,113,608 9,608 48 20,088 4.795
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88 Journal of Banking^ Currency, and Fhanee.
Oouiitiet. Valaation. of taxes. Populatioiu Taxablet.
Philadelphia 1150,949.866 $474^91 96 408,762 86.948
Pike 786,076 2,226 66 6,881 1,628
Potter 746.697 2,262 79 6,048 1,708
Schuylkill 11,869.089 86,628 97 60,718 18,268
Somerset 2,912,78* 8,940 46 24,410 6,479
Sullivan 461,066 1,867 49 8,694 982
SuBquebanna .; 2.716,480 8,868 92 28,688 7,076
Tioga 1,697,198 6,028 61 28,987 6,770
Unioix 6,066,680 19,096 41 26,088 5,779
Venango 1.876,841 4,280 49 18,810 4,847
Warren 1,886,664 4,230 62 18,671 8,667
Washington 9,896,880 80,418 40 44,989 10.684
Wayne 1,614.190 4,942 07 21,890 6,886
Westmoreland 7,988,272 24,698 00 61.720 10,941
Wyoming 927,464 2,890 84 10,666 2,846
York... ^. 11,682,881 86,886 76 .61,460 16,186
ToUl 1681,781,804 $1,649,967 76 2,811,786 658^86
G0TERNM£NT OF THE UNITED STATES— ITS COST.
The National Intelligenetr recently published in a supplemental sheet, filling some
twenty-four of its wide columns, a list of appropriations made at the Oongressiooal
Session of 1864--66, (prepared and published agreeable to law.)
Tills document ought to possess interest for every reader, aqd ought to be examined
by every one, as exhibiting in the main the objects on which the public revenue it
expended. The aggregate of the classified heads of expenditure is as follows : —
Civil, diplomatic, and miscellaneous $17,266,929
Army, fortifications, military academy, Ac 1 2,67 1,496
Indian department, naval, revolutionary, and other pensions. 4,468.686
Naval service. 16,012,091
Poetoflice department 19,946,844
Ocean steam mail service . 8«674,46S
Texas debt •..: 7.76Q,000
$71,674,867
This vast sum of $71,674,867 is only the amount of specified appropriations. The
great mass of contingent objects of expenditure, of which the sums were unascertained
and could not be specified, may swell the grand total of the expenses of the year to
perhaps seventy -five millions of dollars. Although the Government expenses most
necessarily increase with the growth of the country and the corresponding necessities
of the public service, one can hardly imagine the necessity of so vast an augmentation
of the necessary expenses of the Gk>verDment as seventy-five millions of dollars ; and
the immensity of the sum must arrest the attention of every intelligent reader.
TiBUU& STATEMENT OF THE DEBT OF UTE REPUBUC OF TEXAS.
We annex for the information of our readers an ofiSdal statement made up at the
Controller's Office on the 1st of May, 1866, of the portion of the debt of the late Be-
# public of Texas, which, according to' the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury
and the opinion of the Attorney-General of the United States, is secured by a pledge
of Impost Duties, exhibiting the rate of adjustment established by Texas, and the rate
proposed by the recent act of the United States Congress. Also the excess and de-
crease of each mode of payment compared with the other, and the dividend in the
dollar, on the ostensible amounts, realized by each mode of adjustment ^**
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Jtmmal of BaaMng^ Chimney, and Finance.
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tK) Journal of Bankhtff, Currency ^ and Finance*
Jnterett has beeo calculated oo all the abore liabilitiea iasoed to bear ioterest from
their respective dates of iseoe, or from the date of the last payment of interest to Ist
July, 1800, except on the first and second issoes of Treasury Notes, on which interest
is computed only to 1st January, 1841, as it is considered that interest ceased to run
at that time oo those two classes of securitiea under the laws of Texas.
Of the 8 and 10 per cent bonds entered in the above statement, the State has paid
1298,065 86, principal and interest, which sum under the Texas creditor's bill recently
passed by Cknogress, would be refunded to the State.
COHDITIOll OF THE NEW ORLEANS BANKS.
We bare com pilecT from the official statement the subjoined taUe showing the oon-
ditioo of the banks in New Orleans for the weeks endmg Saturday, May 19 and June
2, 1865 ; also a comparative statement for the lour weeks ending June 2, 1866 j —
ACnVX MOTKHXKT— UABILITIK8.
. MAT 19, 1866. JUITB 2, 1866.
Due distant One dlstaat
Banks. Ctrcalatloii. Deposits. Jt local b«nk& Circalatioo. Deposits. Jt local b*kB.
Bank of Louisiana. $976,904 $2,641,346 $611,479 $938,389 $2,578,658 $584,711
Louisiana State . . 1,144,715 2,985,725 501,358 1,090,485 2,944,718 448,514
Canal 984,000 1,018,261 216,683 987,795 1,088,368 286,947
Citiiens* 2,094,870 8,116,867 80,808 2,174,495 2,989,844 119,939
Mech. <fc Traders' . 864,890 872,838 40,841 855,815 772,969 49,800
Union 648,800 789,899 160,289 596,926 641,627 188,807
Southern 268,705 247,754 1,200 240,790 197,711 1,200
Bank of K.Orleans 649,620 729,089 46,778 688,790 755,884 80,588
Total $7,017,004 12,850,228 1,648,881 $6,896,819 11,814,726 1,661,006
EV8OCK0K1.
Specie. 90k1«7 paper. Exchange. Specie. 90-dA7 paper. Exehaage*
Bank of Louisiana. $1,960,150 $2,540,801 $717,802 $1,952,728 $2,565,974 $442,674
Louisiana State . . 1,887,876 8,660,798 128,777 1,710,095 8,479,661 162,468
Canal 1,005,010 1,679,206 764,289 886,088 1,684,654 889,088
Citiiens' ... 1,887,548 8.478,582 752,126 1,736,180 8,449,189 746,670
Mech. <k Traders' . 426,488 1,148,008 69,126 870,489 1,096.768 48,946
Union ^. 431,142 727,927 610,952 249,154 671,690 440,886
Southern 280,019 271,349 684,841 163,558 280,070 618,892
Bank of N.Orleans 264,189 1,071,147 182,499 818,414 1,016,118 159.984
Total $8,128,024 14.477,768 8,809,852 $7,886,601 14,198,024 8,459,050
OOMPARAnYE BTATXMIIIT VOR rOUE WBKK8.
liajlS. May 19. Ilaj96. Jane 2.
Specie $8,128,024 $8,041,867 «$86,157 $7,461,685 $7,386,601 «$165,080
CircuUtion 6,991,729 7,017,004 t26,276 6.920,424 6,896,819 ♦24,l06
Deposits. 12,669,666 12,850,228 ♦819,488 11,808,688 11,814,728 \\\fi^n
Short loans 14,916,496 14,477,768 ♦488,727 14.882,817 14,198,024 ♦187,798
Exchange 4,065,062 8,809,362 ♦48,997 8,460,428 8,469,050 ♦1.878
Due dbtantb^nks 1,766,882 1.648,837 ♦2,768 1,579,707 1,551,006 ♦28,791
Long and short loans, May 19 $20,668,487 $21,100,387
Long and short loans, May 12 20,646,619 20,947.824
Total increase for the week. . . $6,808 $168,51 8
The decrease is ngnified by a (♦,) and increase by (f .)
The deposits of gold at the Branch Mint at New Orleans for the month of May,
1856, amounted to $79,256, which was, with the exception of $2,222, from Oalifomia
The BtlTer deposits at that mint for the same month were $818,246, showing a total
of gold aad sil?er of $897,60^
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Journal rf Bankmg^ Curreney^ and FmoMd. 91
DB1T8 OF TBB UIITBS 8TATB8 iO THE STATES OP TAB UfflOlT.
[rKOM THE OltUOChAR OF MAftlK A KAKX.]
Ttea. States. Debt* PopalaUoa. TazablM.
November 80, 1864. . . .United States .... $44,976,466 28,191,876
March 1855 Alabama 4,671,000 774,622 79,233,027
December 81, 1864 Califoniia 1,284,148 264,486 66.982,820
Nevember 80, 1868. . . .Qeoisia 2,801,982 906,186 864,426,174
December 81, 1864 IIUikSb 13,994,615 851,470 187,818,079
December 81,1864 Induma 6,898,189 988,416 290,418,140
December 81, 1864. . . .Kentaeky 6,067,288 982,406 800,000.000
Deeember 81, 1864.... Louisiana. 12,469,860 617,762 444,181,612
September 80. 1853 Maryland. 16,182,909 688,084 261,243,660
Janaary 1,1854 Massaehuaetta ... 6,868.780 994,614 673,.342,285
Deeember 81, 1864. . . .Mtchigaa 2,581,646 697,664 59,787,266
November 1865 . . .Missouri 8,062,000 682,044 187,247,707
December 81, 1864. .«. New York 26,260,000 8,097,894 1,268,666,190
December 81, 1864 . . . , North Carolina 2,928,668 869.089 226,800,472
Jaooary 1, 1854 . . .Ohio 14,289,867 1,980,829 698,896,848
December 81, 1864 Pennsylvaoia. 40,084,916 2,811,786 581,781,804
October 1,1868 Tennessee 6,746,866 1,002,717 201,246,886
October 1, 1864 Vir^nia. 22,474,177 1,421,661 466,64£,17^
The estimates of 1860, under the oolamn of Tarable Property, are taken from the
eeoBisB^ and include property not taxed, as well as that which is subject to taxation.
Omxk The State is at present redeeming $500,000 of the loan of 1866, at 108 per
PainraTLTAHiA. Beveaue from ordinary sources in 1854, $6,218,099. Expenses for
ordiDary purposes, inslnding interest, $4,116,744. The public works, which cost
$86,060,667, yielding no income to the State, the latter has authorised them to be sold
to the highest bidder, at a minimum of $7,000,000.
Tbkabsbc We hare no later statement than the above (1st October, 1863.) The
State has further granted its credit to railroads to the extent of $10,000 per mile,
making probablv an aggregate of $6,000,000.
ViaeiNiA. The State has further guarantied $8,906,874, of Oity Oanal and other
securities. The State owns $26,868,732 of stock, which yield an income equivalent to
6 per cent on $10,280,449.
REMARKS.
Alabama. This debt is being rapidly reduced, under the operations of the Sinking
Find.
Oboboia. No report has been made later than November 80, 1868. The debt has
not been increased since then.
Ilunois. The debt, during the last two years, has been reduced $2,750,038. The
Oovemor states that it will, no doubt, be entirely liquidated before ten years. The
proceeds of a special tax is applied to the back mterest; the proceeds of the sale^ of
certain public lands^ to the redemption of the priocipaL
Inoiava. The debt comprises f 6,040,000 of 6 per cents, and $1,768,139 of 2^ per
cents.
KaartJOKr. The public works, costing $6,484,740, yielded an income in 1853 of
$460,289.
Louisiana. Amount of debt bouirht in by the Sinking Fund in 1854, $98,000.
Maktlamd. From this sum, the $8,178,687 lying in the Sinkmg Fund is to be de-
docted.
MASSACHUswrs. The State owns $18,966,106 of productive property; $2,077,796
nDprodnotive real estate ; and $5,049,666 mortgagee on railroads.
MiomoAjr. The Oovemor recommends the application of the present surplus on
band of $668,008 to the redemption of certain bonds, redeemable at the pleasure of
tlieSUte.
MiseouRL The State has further lent its credit to railroads for $5,800,000.
Nnw York. The canals, which have cost $40,000,000, yield a revenue equal to 6
per eent on $60,000,00a
NoaTH Caroluia. The debt will be increased $1,000,000 by Uie loan to bid for on
the 14th inst, and $2,000,000 more in the course of 1855-56.
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92 Journal of Banking, Currency, and Finance,
VALUE OF PROPERTT, REAL AND PERSONAL, IN CONNECTICUT*
The assessed value of property io the State of Coanecticat on the first day of Oc-
tober, 1858 and 1864, is exhibited in the annexed table. Railroad stock and some
bank and insurance stock, amounting to about thirty millions of dollars, are not in-
cluded, as they pay taxes directly to the State : —
A88X88XD VALUE OF PROPKRTT IN OONNXCTIOUT.'
ISM. 18S4.
Total amoqnt of property $194,141,867 |202,089.881
Total amount of polls 676,960 681,464
Total amount of assessments 6,6S1,4S6 6,819,191
Dwelling houses, number of 60,878 61,267
Dwelling houses 68,972,772 66,862,707
Land , 66.694,958 67,490.822
Mills, stores, Ac 12,916,281 14,118,498
Farming utensils 98,064 224,848
Piano- fortes and other musical instruments 260,446 808,91 1
Household furniture 1,177,289 1,198,81 1
Quarries, fisheries, Ac 929,681 661,097
Bridge, turnpike stock '. 262,646 806,888
Bank, insurance, and manufacturing stock 14,108.980 17,686,481
State, canal, Ac., stock 886,908 828,815
Railroad, city and other bonds 1,896,666 1,978,61 1
Amount employed in merchandise 6,664,026 6,918.981
Amount employed in manufacturing operations. 10,298,207 9,678,748
Amount eipployed in yemels and Commerce 8.288,1 82 8.882,804
Money at interest 16,877,489 16,1 64.488
Money on hand 886.468 629.186
Horses.Ac 2,167,868 2,828,268
Neat cattle 4,789,146 4,160.921
Sheep, swine, Ac 808,820 256,466
Coaches, pleasure-wagons, Ac 821,102 887,276
Other taxable property 6,687,442 6,988,712
TRANSACTIONS OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND. *
The annual accounts presented to Parliament pursuant to the Acts 26, 48, and 69,
George III., have just been published. They show that the amount of all exchequer
bills, treasury-bills, or other government securities which were purchased by the gov-
ernor and company of the Bank of England, or on which any sums were lent or ad-
vanced by the said Bank of England, during the year ended the 6th of January, 1866,
included the following sums — viz., in the quarter ending on the 6th of April, 1864,
£8,711,201; in the quarter ended the 4th of July, £790,000 ; in the same qoarter,
£6,862,048; in the quarter ending on the 10th of October, £600,00; in the same
quarter, £4,029,289 ; and in the quarter ending the 6th of January, 1865, £2,460,682.
All these advances were made on the growing produce of the Consolidated Fund.
There were also advanced on exchequer bills two sums of £1.760,000 and £800,460.
All these amounts were paid off during the year, except, £286,900, whidi remained
undischarged in the hands of the Bank on the 6th of January last The balances
issued for the payment of dividends due and not demanded, and the payment of lofc-
ery prises or benefits not claimed, amounted as follows — ^vis., on the 6th of April,
1864, to £1,099,209, of which £990,968 was advanced to Qovemment; on the 6th of
July to £1,079,164, of which £979,164 was advanced to Government; on the 10th of
October to £1,013,298, of which £918,298 was advanced to Government; and on the
6th of January, 1866; £1,066,081, of which £913,298 (the same sum as in the prece-
ding quarter) was advanced to the government The sums left in the Bank of Eng-
land consequently amounted on the above-named quarter days to £108,266, £100,000,
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Journal of Btmking^ Currency^ and Finance, 98
£100,000, aod £152,788, respectiveljr. An aooouot of the receipt and expeDditure of
the Fom of £2,794,722 daring the year 1854 by the oommiseioDers for the reduction of
the national debt, shows that the greater portion of the receipts accrued from ^ cash
received at sundry times from the Exchequer,'' and that nearly all of this cash, or
£2,77 1,597^ was expended in the purchase of exchequer-bills. The rest of the receipts
were appropriated to the purchase of £2,974 Consuls, and £24,921 Reduced Annuities
Consolidated. A supplementary return states that on the 16th of February, 1854,
Mr. Qladstone, the Chancelor of the Exchequer, applied to the Bank for advances on
Exdieqner-bills, of such sums as should not leave a larger amount of the said bills in
the hands of the Gk>vemor of the Bank than £1,000,000 ; and that on the 8 th of June,
1854, a similar advance was requested to the amount of £750,000. Both requests
were complied with by the Court of Directors of the Bank of England.
THE DBBTS OF CITIES Iff THB UfflTED STATES.
The following table shows at a glance the debts, population, and value of taxable
property in several of the largest cities in the Union. It is believed to be nearly
correct: —
dtj. Debt. PopahUlon. Tsxable value
New Tork, Jan. 1, 1855 |18.9tt0,866 1855. . 700,000 1854. . $462,285,790
Albany,Mavl 2,682,016 1865.. 60.000 1864.. 21,506,261
Baltimore, Jan. 1 11,672,689 1855.. 200,000 1850.. 80,287,960
Bodtoo, Jan. 1 7,779,855 1855.. 160,000 1854.. 207,018,200
Brooklyn, Jan. 1 1,284,540 1865.. 200,000 1854.. 88,928,685
Cincinnati, March, 1854 2,929,000 1855. . 150,000 1854. . 40,000,000
Cleveland, June, 1855 720,000 1853. . 31,000 1853. . 18,510,779
Chicago, Febi 728,000 1856.. 80,000 1854.. 24,892,039
DetroU, June 12 817,624 1854.. 40,878 1854.. 12,518,115
Jersey City, May 700,000 1854.. 20,989 1854.. 12,878,285
Lonisville, March 9 1,137,000 1854.. 70,000 1854.. 86,000,000
Milwankie, March 1,081,550 1854.. 85.000 1864.. 4,700,000
New Orleans, April 1 12,147,262 1855.. 160,000 1854.. 72,247,420
Philadelphia, Jan 19,870,085 1854.. 500,000 1854.. 155,260,000
Pittsbuigh, Jan. I 2,985,794 1864.. 62,000
St. Louis, May 1.. 8,905,096 1855.. 115,000 1854.. 51,228,859
Sacramento, April 5 1,480,536 1 852 . . 1 0,000 1 854 . . 9,000,000
San Francisco, Jaa 1 1,509,000 1854. . 84,776 1854. . 84,296,195
Wheeling, Jan. 1 1,215,951 1855.. 14,186
BELL'S PHILOSOPHY OF JOIffT-STOCK BiffKIffG.
It will be seen by the following extract from a review in the London EeoncmUtt
that G. M. BxLL, Esq., (a name favorably known to the readers of the Merchants
Maganne,) has published a new edition of his treatise on the ** Philosophy of Joint-
Stock Banking." In reviewing the work, the JS'conomM/ justly remarks: —
" It states nearly all that a book can state on the subject ; for, after ingenuity has
exhausted itself iu describing all the possible cases that (he manager of a joint-stock
bank has to consider, there are always new circumstances arising which the mother-
wit of the maoager must decide for bimselfl For them the ' file aflfords no precedent.'
Correctly and emphatically does Mr. Bell say, ' that the entire security of the whole
system of banking rests on this one word— management.' Banking, however, is not
in chis respect singular. All business depends on management, and even when it is
precnbed by an act of Parliament, there must still be management to adapt it to cir-
camstances as well as the act. The direction of an act is really adding to all the diffi-
culties of a busioeds the difficulty of knowing what the act prescribes, and conducting
the business accordingly. Mr. Bell is an enlightened advocate of perfect free trade in
blinking ; and we presume all men are bv this time convinced that no folly or pre-
fumptiun is greater than that of igporant legislators pretending to regulate a business
which those who carry it oo have in a great measure yet to learn.''
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94 Jtmmal of Banking^ Currency, and Finance,
GOLD AHV SPECIE RECEITED IN ElfGUHD 111 1864.
According to HerapaiKi (London) Joumalt the following are the net arriTala of
gold and specie ; that is, the excesses of the published arrivals over the departures
for the past year 1804, np to the 80th December :— Total for the jear, £21,400,188.
This is ezclnsiye of sums brought and sent away by private indiyiduals, loans, Ac.
In the following table, which has cost no little labor, from its size, to compile, the im-
ports of the precious metals are apportioned to the countries from which they were
{^hipped. It should be observed that these are the imports, irrespective of exports to
them or any other places. Imports are not included which are trifling in amount, or
from places which send us but little gold. It the last column, under the head of
South America, Pacific, Ac^ is included £:!6 8,000 from the East Indies, £880,000 from
Mexico, and £40,000 from Russia: —
Booth America.
United Steles. AwtrtHa. West Indies. PaciflcJce.
Total £8,604,760 £9,428,880 £4,846,510 £1,5*78,180
** This table shows that we have had nearly as much of the precious metals from the
United States as from Australia, and about half as much from our West India colo-
nies 8S from America. The balance of trade, therefore, has been greatly in onr fisvor
from all three places. But it is a remarkable fact that our unbalanced exports horn
America, if the payments were at all of short date, were much greater during the
lest, than the first six months of 1 854, that is during the wilder part of the AniericaB
mania. In December, however, the returns of gold fell off to less than half the aver-
age of the preceding ^ye months, no doubt owbg to the rupture of American credit,
and the fear of our merchants to export i he Australian trade, measured by a aimi-
lar rule, showed much more done in the first half of 1854 than in the last, whidi is
easily accounted for by the markets being glutted by our wild exportations to that
colony.
** It is here worthy of remark that, according to the gold returns, the unbalincod
ex| orts — which are usually, though not always truly, oiinsidered a measure of our ad*
vantage by the trade — are only about one-sixth to South America, the Pacific^ Ac, of
what they are to our Australian colonies."
COMMERCE IBD HNAHCES OF RUSSIA,
Some elaborate tables have just been published by the statistical department of the
British Board of Trade, conveying all the latest infcrmation obtained regarding the
commerce and finances of Russia. From these it appears that in 1852 the public debt
of the empire, domestic and foreign, was £68,185,808. In the same year the revemM
from customs and excise duties was £4,924,608. As regards the general revenue, the
amount is not given for a later period than 1849, when, exdnsive of Poland and Fkt-
land, it was £24,794,735, of which £7,275,458 was from direct taxes, £7,745,110 from
indirect taxes, and £9,774,167 from the brandy monopoly. Under the head of shippingt
the tables show that the total of vessels entered at Russian ports in 1858 was 8,616
of an aggregate burden of 1,570,645 tons, more than half of which were to the ports
in the Black Sea and the Sea of Asoff. The total dearance? were 8,407 vefsela, of
1,520,160 tons. Of this trade fully a fourth was carried on in British ships, Tarkish
Greek, Swedish, Sardinian, Dutch, Austrian, Prussian, and Danish, coming next in
order. The most important of any single port b Odessa, where the arrivals in 1858
amounted to 589,178 tons, while the value of the cai^goes shipped, and whidi coodat-
ed principally of grain, was £5,627,500, or about 150 per cent above their i
1851.
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Commercial StaUsUa. 96
IWW BAJHIVe IkW OF UTDUVA*
All bunks ara prohibited from iasuiDg more than one-twentieth of their bill oircuU-
tinn in denominations under fire dollars. No bank can reiemie the bills of the banks
of other States. The majority of the stock of any bank most be owned by resident
citizens of the State. The stocks allowed to be taken by the aadiior as securities for
the issued bills, are ** such as form any portion of the public debt now created, or here-
after to be created, the United States or by that State, and chargeable on the treas-
ury, or such other States of (he Union as pay interest semi-annually, or at any less
period, on their public debts ; but such debts shall, in all cases, be, or be made to be,
equal to a stock producing six per cent per annum ; and it shall not be lawful for the
treasurer to take any stock at any rate above its par value, nor its market value."
The thirty-day notice of the old law, after suspension of payments, before the bank
can be wound np, is abolished, and the auditor is compelled to proceed to redeem the
IhUs of a suspended bank immediately after he shall have given notice to the bank,
whidi he is bound to give on evidence of any defoult in specie payments. Banks can
only be organized in towns having one thousand inhabitants and can only carry on
basiDess at their respective locations. The owners of banks have to prove that they
aie possessed of unincumbered taxable property in the State, subject to ezecntioQ.
THE RATES OF INTEREST IV L0UI8IAIA.
We give below the several sections of a bill passed at the late session of the Legfi-
lature of Lomsiana, and approved by the Governor March 15th, 1856: —
Skction 1. That all debts shall bear interest at the rate of five per cent, from the
time they become due, unless otherwise stipulated.
Sac. 2. Ihat article two thousand eight hundred and ninety-five of the Civil Oode
shall be so amended that the amount of conventional interest shall in no case exceed
eight per cent under pain of forfeiture of the entire interest so contracted.
Ssa 8. That if any person hereafter shall pay on any contract a higher rate of in-
terest than the above, as diecouot or otherwise, the same may be sued for and recov-
ered within twelve months from the time of such payment.
Sxa 4. That all laws contrary to the provisions of this act, and all laws on the
same subject matter, except what is contained in the Civil Code and Code of Practice,
be repealed.
COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.
STATISTICS OF THE WHALE FISHERY.
According to the annual statement of the New Bedford Shipping List, there was
Hnported into the United States in 1854 of sperm oil, 76,096 barrels; whale oil,
SI 9,837 barrels, and of whalebone, 8,445,200 pounds. The import of oil and bone
for each year from 1841 to 1854 has been as follows. —
Boas,
lbs.
2,276,989
8,167,148
2,582,445
2,000,000
1,600,000
2,000,000
Bpemoil, Whale oU.
Boae,
Sperm oil,
Whale oil
bbla.
bbls.
lbs.
bbls.
bbla.
1853 ....
108,077
260,114
6,652.300
1846 ..,.
95,217
207,493
1852
78,872
84,211
1,259,900
1845 ....
157,917
272.780
1851
99,691
828,488
8,916,500
1844
139.594
262,047
1850
' 92,892
200,608
2,869,200
1843 ....
160,985
206,727
1849
100.944
248,492
2,281,100
1842...,
166.687
161,041
1848 ....
107,976
280,656
2.008,000
1841....
159,304
207,848
1847 ....
120,678
818.150
8,841.680
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Commercial StaHsiies,
VALUE OF EXPORTS AHD IMPORTS OF fTHITED STATES.
The followiDg table, compiled from the report of the Register of the Treasury, ex-
hibits the total valae of exports to, aod imports from each foreign oooDtry ; also the
valae of the domestic produce, and of the foreign produce exported to each foreign
country during the year ending June 80th, 1864 :—
DotnesUe
Countries. prod ace.
Russia 1385,521
Prussia »...
Sweden and Norway 1,085,602
Swedish West Indies 1 2,741
Denmark . . « 87,870
Danish West Inc^ies. 928,924
Hamburg 2,265,519
Bremen 8,886,077
Holland 2,299,710
Dutch East Indies 109,208
Dutch West Indiea 87 1,880
Dutch Guiana 68,745
Belgium 8,848,890
England 186,111,708
Scotland 8,097,662
Ireland 1,006.017
Gibraltar 446,445
Malta 148,628
Hanover
British East Indies 567 ,1 98
Cape of Good Hope. 292,628
British Honduras 208,91 8
British Guiana. 718,096
British West Indies 4,766,398
British American Ck>lonie8 .... 4,698,771
Canada. 10,510.878
Australia 2,999,685
Falkland Islands
Other British possessions
France on the Atlantic 29,749,466
France on the Mediterranean. • 1,218,786
French West Indies 661,626
French Guiana 100,148
French possessions in Africa
Spiun on the Atlantic 1,890,848
Spain on the Mediterranean. . . 8,21 2,868
Teneriffe <b other Canariea .... 19,618
Manilla A Philippine Islands. . 27,852
Cuba 8,228.1 1 6
Other Spanish West Indies . . . 990,886
Portugal 127,160
Madeira 47,708
Fayal and other Azores 1 0,030
Cape de Verdes 80,087
Italy 1,686,827
Sicily 246,151
Sardinia 188,805
Tuscany 11,785
Trieste A other Austrian ports. 1,697,819
Turkey 219.496
Hayti 1,880,187
Mexico 2,091,870
Central Republic of America 250,639
New Grenada 865,254
— EXPORTS.—
Foreign
^
Valae of
produce.
Total.
imports.
$146,095
$480,616
$1,644,286
• • • • •
47,778
89,824
1.124,926
616.178
12,741
22.690
28,647
111,417
8,097
84,026
962,960
286.044
618.761
2.874,280
2.822.971
826,901
9.211,978
14,648,927
142.966
2,442,666
1.696,970
76,578
184,776
1,041,609
22,066
898,445
684.978
7,678
61.428
104,286
1,158,004
6,006,894
8,462,241
6,668,631
140.675,389
140.888,788
190,886
8,287,998
5,820.469
86,485
1,092,502
229,885
81,827
527,772
59.678
21,245
169,778
88,695
69,219
686,412
6,878,821
7,830
299,958
448,903
68,728
262,641
288.954
1,168
719,249
47,489
168.277
4.909,675
1.126,417
2,672,888
7,266,164
2,206,021
6,790,888
17,800,706
6,721.589
149,444
8,149,079
214,202
4,844
978,866
80.727,821
82.892,021
201,874
1,420,160
2,889,372
60,602
612,027
161,086
685
100,888
29,618
1,390,848
688,504
81,040
8,248,408
.1,579,074
804
20,417
89,598
46,660
74,502
2.965,282
828,686
8,651,762
17.124,889
60,997
1,061.888
2,860,863
28,715
150,866
243,592
47.708
80,007
440
10,470
21.684
2,208
82,245
8,985
166,439
1,761.766
971,728
18,900
260,051
959,300
2,020
190,826
85,676
87,082
48,767
1.152,717
206.290
1,908.609
741.919
106,702
826,198
808.114
829.688
2.209,725
2,857,262
1,048,616
8,136,486
8,468,190
68,846
808,884
2.860,422
82,062
987,806
1,478.620
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Commercial StataHet.
il
Omntiiefl.
Teoezuela.
Braail
Oriental Republic of Uruguay.
Ar^«iitiDe Eepublic
ObiU
Peru.
China
West Indies generally
Europe generally
A^ia generally
Liberia
Africa generally
8outh America generallgr
South Sea Islands
Ecuador
Pontifical States
Oret^nland «
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Japan
Sandwich L^iands
Kurtbwest Coast
Uncertain places
DomaBtte
produce.
1,181,604
4,046,867
4.'>0,856
688,720
1,942,380
651,707
1,293,925
167,049
5,050
1»7 16.924
47,241
886,779
— laCPOETB.-
Fwreign
produce.
69,279
192,884
62,102
108,005
260.929
33,448
104,168
200
88,048
109,308
66,086
1,560
'55,891
Total.
1,200,888
4,289,241
512,957
761,726
2,19S,269
685,155
1,398,088
157.049
5,050
200
i,VoV,972
156,549
962,815
M60
56,891
I of
imports.
8,072,649
14,110,887
457.179
2,144,971
8,832,167
1,005,406
10,506,329
60,730
1,386,566
28^,698
10,106
57,684
60
Vl9,186
Total $252,047,806 128,748,514 1275,796.820 $801,494,094
AME&iaV ii\D FOREIGN T0NN16B ENTERED AHD CLEARED TflE U. STATES
«
A STATISTICAL VIEW OV THE TONNAGE 09 AICEBICAN AND POEEION VESSELS ARRIVINO
Fauir, AND DSPARTINO TO XAOH roaSION OOtJNTar, DUaiNO the tear ending JUNE
80, 1854:—
, AXEaiOAN. ^ , FOREIGN. ^
Gomitries. Entered. Cleared. Entered. Cleared.
Ru^ia. 1L487 8,891 945 1,486
Prassia „ 519 .... .... 296
Sweden and Norway 4,747 4,781 5,628 4,896
Swedish West Indies 1,168 367
Denmark 714 567 1,894
Danish Weet Indies 12,749 22,846 6,992 7,984
Hamburg 8,428 5,717 86,014 28,968
Bremen 84,661 18,048 129,676 74,262
Holland 10,880 16,204 8,866 15,004
Dutch East Indies 8,645 8,688 441 4,818
Dutch West Indies 15,1 66 7,920 4,808 690
DutchGuiana 4,899 2,927 180
B*»!gium 86,480 42,682 18,217 11,171
England 826,859 868,970 482,122 488,246
Scotland 80,866 22,018 86,895 28,008
Ireland 8.781 9,120 26,087 14,432
Gibraltar 197 12,189 862 624
Malta 681 8,197 .... 803
Hanover .... .... 628 ....
British East Indies 56,664 45,812 1,379 686
Cspe of Good Hope 2,887 8,869 477 881
British Honduras 6,076 4,189 2,821 8,687
British Guiana 6,129 12,181 1,172 8.161
British Weet Indies 66,965 97,389 40,762 39,678
British American ookmies 121,105 295,781 868,460 537,809
.OanAda 867,489 880,941 674,188 648,289
VOL. XXXIII. — NO. I. 7
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98
Commercial Statktiei.
Aostralia 4,548
Falkland Islands 256
Other British possessions ....
France on the Atlantic 216.483
France on the Mediterranean. 17«666
French West Indies 8,514
French Guiana 990
French possessions in Africa ....
Spain on the Atlantic 8,461
Spain on the Mediterranean 1 8,740
Tenerifife and other Canaries 1 ,099
Manilla and Philippine Islands 22,614
Cuba 467,856
Other Spanish West Indies 62,228
Portogat 1,154
Madeira 2,270
Fayal and other Azores 2,186
Cape de Verdes 886
Italy
Sicily 24,190
Sardinia
Tuscany
Trieste and other Austrian
Turkey
Hayti
Mexico
Central America
ports .
590
12,466
1,791
10.018
48,822
87.569
84,197
New Grenada 160,967
VenesueU.
Brazil
Oriental Republic of Uruguay.
Argentine Republic
Peru!!!..! !..!!!!!.'
China
West Indies generally
Europe generally
Asia f^enerally
Liberia
Africa generally
South America generally
South Sea Islands
Ecuador
Pontifical SUtes
Greenland
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
IndUn Ocean
Japan
Sandwich Islands
Korthwest Coast
Uncertain places
/ AlCERICAN. V
Eatend. ClemredL
89,421
106
212,824
17,728
18,576
2,284
8,940
12,140
1,046
16,798
898.049
81,014
2.866
821
560
4,891
8.862
10,688
2,886
18,015
8,948
88,246
29,768
86,814
170,460
12,268
60,848
17,892
8.526
22.871
121.825
68,658
/ F0RKT6N. ^
Entered. Cleared.
8,794 4,989
216 ....
16,616
77,910
8,449
11,245
19,408
158,400
61,196
215
12,982
594
8.966
1,981
446
41,186
10,714
1,850
22,287
2,082
894
689
18,672
700
8,487
409
48,449
6,412
8,814
600
19,885
2,862
28.882
7,951
6,826
1,966
11,750
899
1,985
42.182
8,710
6,012
686
124
15,867
2,198
4,819
1,941
6.081
8.605
1,467
1.950
8.898
14,612
681
1,669
22.816
21,822
19,280
1,861
2,097
'265
1*078
14.926
8.166
6,097
181
8,164
87,224
843
26,188
8,628
6,094
286
468
8,718
2.246
887
6,401
669
4,797
16,178
8.499
1.164
4,074
2.829
1,761
1,880
22,408
86,685
18,64'
1,709
686
192
2,111
1.451 1,417
4,408 6,092
Total 8,762,116 8,911,892 2.182,224 2,107,802
BRITISH EXCISE RETURNS IN 1868 AND 1854.
The excise statements for the year hare also been issued, and the subjoined taUe
eidiibits the quantities of each article charged with duty in the United Kingdom du-
ring that period as compared with 1868, and also the quantities retained for home
eoDsomptioQ. Paper continues to show an increase, caused by a further improToment
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Commercial SicUisHcs, 09
in the export demand In Bpirits, likewise, tbere has been a oonsiderable angmenta-
tioo, with an increased home consumption. The small quantities of sugar which ap-
pear in the list consist of that made by the Irish Beet Company : —
QaanUtlen retained ft>r home
Quantities cluyrged with dntj. oonaumptlon.
18U. im. im. i8i4.
HopsL lb& 81,751,698 9,87*7,126 80,949,690 9,291,968
Malt bush. 42,089,748 86,819,664 41,992.178 86,812,727
Paper lbs. 177.688,009 177,896.224 164,886,186 161,784,204
Spirits galls. 26,428,444 26,148,611 26,021,817 26,888,684
Sugar cwts. 1,688 2,204 1,688 2,204
IMPORT AJIB EXPORT OF WOOL IN GREAT BRlTAUf.
The subjoined statement of the import and export of foreign and colonial wool for
the years ending on the 6th of January, 1863, 1664, and 1866, is deriyed from the
drcnlar of J. T. Simes <fc Oo^ of the 8d of March, 1866:—
DCPOaTS.
18S1. I8S4. I85S.
OokmiaL lbs. 67,529,406 67,062,096 70,786,646
Foreign 84,168,459 60,186,087 84,068,987
Total 91.692,864 117,248,182 104,864,482
■XPOBTB.
18SI. 18S4. 18SS.
Colonial lbs. 7,865,249 8,460,209 16,940,868
Foreign 8,911,690 8,286,796 7,526,426
Total 11,266,939 11,697,004 24,467,284
The export of British wool (in pounds) during the three years ending as above
waein —
mi. mi im.
18,919,277 6,784,129 12,988,989
The consumption of woqI, of late years, has increased yery rapidly in England and
the continent The British woolen manufacture now stands next to the cetton mann-
ftcture, and employs one hundred and fifty millions of dollars of British capital ; and
the product forms more than a fourth part of British textile manufactures. Down to
1814, the British imported forty millions of pounds of wool, mostly from Spain; they
Uien procured it from (Germany ; and within a few years immense supplies have been
deriyed from Australia. It was predicted and feared that the gold discoyeries would
diminish the product in this country, but this has not been the case. Here are the ex-
ports firom Australia in 1861 and 1868 . —
1851. 18SS.
Western Australia. IbsL 868,696 24,069
South Australia 8,896,608 8,889,748
Kew South Wales 14,772,112 16,674,988
Victoria 17,269,621 20,822,692
Tan Dieman's Land 6,198,088 6,614,766
Hew Zealand. 809,208 690,780
Total 41,810,117 47,076,694
But the war of last year has diminished the product of the continent ; and in Great
Britain there has been a fUlmg off of 60,000 bales in the import. At this time France
is the largest nuurket in the world for wool She uses sixty millions of dollars' worth
annually, and is largely increasmg her exports. The Zollyerein and Belgium use fifty
millions of doUari^ worth.
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100
Commercial SkUistia.
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Commereial Staiisties, 101
TRADE IHB COMMERCE OF THE SAHDWICH ISLA5DS.
W. GooDALE, Oollector Oeneral of Cnetoms, poblishes in the Polynenan hie official
tables of etattstics for the year 1854: —
1863 — Valae of goods imported 11,160,856 18
1854— Valae of goods exported 1,266,022 71
DoDMstic exports ID 1868 281,699 17
Domestic exports io 1864 274,029 70
Number of national veseels at Honolulu, 1868 10
Number of national voseels at Honolulu, 1854 26
Number of merchant vessels, 1868.. 211
Number of merchant Teasels, 1854 • 148
Number of whaling vessels, 1868 538
Number of whaling vessels, 1864 526
Gallons of spirits and wines for consumption, 1853 «... 18,208
Gallons of spirits and wines for consumption, 1854 17,587
Revenue from spirits, 1858 $70,209 68
Revenue from spirits, 1854 65,965 87
The total quantity of oil and bone transhipped was as follows: —
Sperm oil galls. 156,484 I Bone lbs. I,479,67l8
Whale oil 1,688,922 |
Tbe above was all shipped to the United States, except about 85,000 gallona whale
•il and 47,000 pounds bone, shipped to Bremen and Havre.
COTTON km 8LAFE STATISTICS.
The Baltimore American says : —
The South-western Kewt makes up from the census reports some very important
statistics, peculiarly interesting to tbe cotton growing and slave States, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Loui^iuna, Texas, and Arkansas. The whole
area is 662,185 square miles, of whica 21,676,682 acres are improved land. Tlio whole
number of slaves is 1,798,768, whose avernge rate of increase for the last ten years is
54.46 per cent The number of bales of cotton made is 2,204,521, averaging 1.197
bales per thousand slaves. Average number of acres of improved land per bale
is 10.12.
These statistical views are not limited to the present. The calculations are carried
forward forty years to 1890, with the following result: —
Actual number of slaves, according to the ratio of increase in the United States,
(28.97) 5,004,219. Actual number, according to the ratio of increaFe in the planting
States, (54.49) 10,295,962. Slave population demanded by the crop, 18,218,715.
Acres of improved land required, 160,102,539. Bales of cotton demanded by plant-
ing States, 15,820,400.
THE « INDIAN CHIEF "—A VETERAN SHIP.
A writer in the Norfolk Herald^ in noticing the arrival at Talchuana, February 10,
1865, of the ship Indian Chief, Oaptain Fieh, of New London, remarks: —
The above-named ship, Indian Chief is the same identical craft built by Mr. Porter,
in Portsmouth, Virginia, and launched in 1811 — laid up at Broadway, in the Appo-
mattox, all the war, and began her first voyage to London in 1815, from which time
until 1819, (when she was sold to New York,) ehe was the pride of Virginians marine.
This noble ship was built for, and under the superintendence of, that noble old seaman.
Captain Edward Watson, of Norfolk, by whom ehe was commsnded. Now, according
to mj reckoning, this gallant old ehip is forty- four years old, and ^he is still dobg hard
service on the other side of the glooe — still staunch, strong, and seaworthy. Only
two years ago her present owners represented her to the writer of (his, as being, from
her model, soundness, and fine sea qualities, one of the best whaling ships in Uie Pa-
cific Ocean.
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102 Commercial Begutations.
TRlDfi BBTWSEJI SffOLA5D AID TURKET.
The trade between Turkey and EogUuid has very oooaiderablj inoreased within the
hist few years. One of the principal exports to England consists of grain, but it was
not until 1842 that the Turkish government permitted the shipment. Between that
year and 1848, the increase in the exports of Indian com from Galatz was from
697,062 quarters to 1,270,745 quarters, or 110 per cent. The quantity of wheat ex-
ported from Ibraila during the same period increased from 667,909 quarters to
1,862,909 quarters, or 180 per cent The increase in the exports of Indian com from
the same port was from 224,810 quarters to 1,448,619 quarters, or 645 per cent Some
opinion may be formed of the extent of the agricultural resources of Turkey, when
such results have been accomplished within the last few years.
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.
TREATY OF COMMERCE, ETC, BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AID THE
ARGENTINE CONPEDERATIOV.
The following treaty between the United States of America and the Argentine
Confederation was concluded and signed by their respective plenipotentiaries, at Sao
Jose, on the twenty-seventh day of July, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, which
treaty being iu the English and Spanish languages, (the Eoglish only being here pub-
lished,) is word for word as follows : —
TREATY OF FaiBlf DSHJP, OOMMXROB, AND NAVIGATION BETWEEN THE UKFTBD STATES AND THE
ARGENTINE OONFEDBRATION.
Commercial intercourse having been for some time established between the United
States and the Argentine Confederation, it seems good for the security as well as the
encouragement of such commercial intercourse, and for the maintenance of good un-
derstanding between the two governments, that the relations now subsisting between
them should be regularly acknowledged and confirmed by the signing of a Treaty of
Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation. For this purpose tliey have nominated their
respective plenipotentiaries — that is to say, the President of the United States, Rob-
bet C. ScuENCE, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States to Brazil, and John S. Pendleton, Charge d' Affairs of the United States to the
Argentine Confederation, and his Excellency the Provisional Director of the Argentine
Confederation, Doctor Don Salvador Maria del Carril and Doctor Don Joes Ben-
jamin QoRosTiAGA — who, after having communicated to each other their full powers,
found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles :—
Article 1. There shall be perpetual amity between the United States and their
citizens on the one part, and the Argentine Confederation and its citizens on the
other part
Art. 2. There shall be between all the territories of the United States and all the
territories of the Argentine Confederation a reciprocal freedom of Commerce. The
citizens of the two countries respectively shall have liberty, freely and securely, to
come with their ships and cargoes to all places, ports, and rivers in the territories of
either, to which other foreigners, or the ships or cargoes of any other foreign nation
or State, are or may be permitted to come; to enter into the same, and to remain and
reside iu any part thereof, respectively ; to hire and occupy houses and warehouses for
the purposes of their residence and Commerce ; to trade in all kinds of produce, man-
ufactures, and merchandise of lawful Commerce ; and generally to enjoy, in all their
business, the most complete protection and security, subject to the general laws and
usages of the two countries respectively. In like manner, the respective ships of war
and post-office or passenger packets of the two countries shall have liberty, freely and
securely, to come/o all harbors, rivers, and places to which other foreign ships of war
and packets are or may be permitted to come ; to enter into the same ; to anchor and
remain there and refit, subject always to the laws and usages of the two countries re-
ipectively.
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Commercial Begulatumi. 103
Art. 3. Hie two high cootrmnUog parties agree that aay &yor, exemption, privDege,
or immuoity whatever, in matters or Oommerce or navigatioo, which either of them
has actually granted, or may hereafter grant, to the citixens or subjects of any other
government, nation, or State, shall extend in identity of cases and drcnmstances to
the citizens of the other contracting party gratuitously, if the concession in favor of
that other government, nation, or State shall have been gratuitous ; or, in return for
an equivalent compensation, if the ctincession shall have been conditional.
Abt. 4. No higher or other duty shall be imposed on the importation into the terri-
tories of either of the two contracting parties of any article of the growth, produce,
or manufacture of the territories of the other contracting party than are or shall be
payable on the like article of any other foreign country ; nor sliall any other or higher
duties or charges be imposed in the territories of either of the contracting parties on
the exportation of auy article to the territories of the other than such as are or shall
be payable on the exportation of the like article to any other foreign country ; nor
shall any prohibition be imposed upon the importation or exportation of any article
of the growth, produce, or manufiicture of the territories of either of the contracting
Erties, to or from the territories of the other, which shall not equally extend to the
;e article of any other foreign country.
AaT. 5. No other or higher duties or charges on account of tonnage, light or harbor
does, pilotage, salvage in case of average or shipwreck, or any other local charges^
shall be imposed in the ports of the two contracting parties on the vessels of the other
than those payable in the same ports on its own vessels.
Aet. 6. The same duties shall be paid and the same drawbacks and bounties al-
lowed upon the importation or exportation of any article into or from the territories
of the United States, or into or from the territories of the Argentine Confederation,
whether such importation or exportation be made in vessels of the United States or
in vesstsLs of tbe Argentine Confederation.
Aet. 7. The contracting parties agree to consider and treat as vessels of the United
States and of the Argentine Confederation all those which, being furnished by the
competent authority with a regular passport or sea-letter, shall, under the then exist-
ing laws and regulations of either of the two governments, be recognised fully and
honajide as national vessels by that country to which they respectively belong.
AnT. 8. All merchants, commanders of ships, and others, citizens of the United
States, shall have full liberty, in all the territories of the Argentine Confederation, to
manage their own a^^rs themselves, or to commit them to the management of whom-
soever they please, as broker, factor, agent, or interpreter ; nor shall they be obliged
to employ any other persons in those capacities than those employed by citizens of
the Argentine Confederation, nor to pay them any other salary or remuneration than
such as is paid in like cases by citizens of the Argentine Confederation ; and absolute
freedom shall be allowed in all cases to the buyer and seller to bargain and fix the
price of any goods, wares, or merchandise imported into or exported ht)m the Argen-
tine Confederation as they shuU see good, observing tbe laws and established customs
of the country. The same rights and privileges, in all respects, shall be enjoyed in
the territories of the United States by the citizens of the Argentine Confederation.
The citizens of the two contracting parties shall reciprocally receive and enjoy full
and perfect protection for their persons and property, and shall have free and open
access to the courts of justice in the said countries respectively for the prosecution and
defense of their just rights, and they shall be at liberty to employ in all cases such
advocates, attorneys, or agents, as they may think proper ; and they shall enjoy, in
this respect, the same rights and privileges therein as native citizens.
Akt. 9. In whatever relates to the police of the ports, the lading and unlading of
ihipj, the safety of the merchandise, goods, and effects, and to the acquiring and dis-
poning of property of every sort and denomination, either by sale, donation, exchange,
testament, or in any other manner whatsoever, as also to the administration of justice,
the citizen) of the two contracting parties shall reciprocally enjoy the same privileges,
liberties, and rights as native citizens ; and they shall not be charged in any of those
respects with any higher imposts or duties than those which are paid or may be paid
by native citizens, submitting, of course, to the local laws and regulations of each
country respectively. If auy citizen of either of the two contracting parties shall die
without will or testament in any of tbe territories of the other, the consul-general, or
consul of the nation to which the deceased belonged, or the representative of such
consul general or consul, in his absence, shall have the right to intervene in the posses-
•ioB, administration, and judicial liquidation of the estate of the deceased, conform-
ably with the laws of the country, for the benefit of the creditora and l^gal heirs.
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104 Commercial BegukstwM,
Art. 10. The dtisene of the United States residhig in the Aigentine Ooofederfttioa'
and the ciluieDs of the Argentine Confederation residing in the United States, shall
be exempted from all compulsory military service whatsoever, whether by sea or by
land, and from all forced loans, requisitions, or military exactions ; and they shall not
be compelled, under any pretext whatever, to pay anv ordinary charges, requisitions,
or taxes, greater than those that are paid by native citizens of the contracting parties
respectively.
Abt. 11. It shall be free for each of the two contracting parties to appoint consuls
for the protection of trade, to reside in any of the territories of the other party ; b«t
before any consul shall act as such he shall, in the usual form, be approved and ad-
mitted by the government to which he is sent ; and either of the contracting parties
may except from the residence of consuls such particular places as they judge fit to
be excepted.
The archives and papers of the consulates of the respective governments shall be
respected inviolably, and under no pretext whatever shall any magistrate or any of
the local authorities seize or in any way interfere with them.
The diplomatic agents and consuls of the Argentiup C«>nfederation shall enjoy, in
the territories of the United States, whatever privileges, exemptions, and immunities
are or shall be granted to agents of the same rank belonging to the most favored na-
tion ; and, in like manner, tbe diplomatic agents and consuls of the United States in
the territories of the Argentine Confederation shall enjoy, according to the strictest
reciprocity, whatever privileges, exemptions, and immunities sre or may be granted
in the Argentine Confederation to the diplomatic agents and consuls of the most fa-
vored nation.
Abt. 12. For the better security of Commerce between the United States and the
Argentine Confederation, it is agreed that, if at any time any interruption of friendly
commercial intercourse, or any rupture should unfortunately take place between the
two contracting parties, the citizens of either of them, residing in the territories of
the other, shall have the privilege of remaining and continuing their trade or occupation
therein, without any manner of interruption, so long as they behave peaceably and
commit no offense against the laws ; and their effects and property, whether introf ted
to individuals or to the State, shall not be liable to seizure or sequestration, or to any
other demands than those which may be made upon the like effects or property be-
longing to the native inhabitants of the State in which such citizens may reside.
A&T. 13. The citizens of the United States and the citizens of the Argentine Con-
federation respectively, residing in any of the territories of the other parties, ^hall
enjoy in their houses, persons, and properties, the full protection of the government.
They shall not be disturbed, molested, nor annoyed in any manner on account of
their religious belief, nor in the proper exercises of their peculiar worship, either with-
in their own houses or in their own churches or chapels, which they shall be at liberty
to build and maintain in convenient situations, to be approved of by tbe local govern-
ment, interfering in no way with, but respecting the religion and customs of the coun-
try in which they reside. Liberty shall also be granted to the citizens of either of the
contracting parties to buir those who may die in the territories of the other in burial-
places of their own, which in the same manner may be freely established and main-
tained.
Art. 14. The present treaty shall be ratified on the part of the goyernment of the
United States within fifteen months fiom tbe date, and within three days by his Ex-
cellency the Provibional Director of the Argentine Confederation, who will also present
it to the first Legislative Congress of the Confederation for their approval.
The preceding treaty was ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the same
exchanged in tbe city of Parana on the 20th day of December, 1854, and made public
by the proclamation of the President of the United States, bearing date, city of
Washington, 9th of April, 1856.
FREE IVAVIGATION OF THE RIVERS PARANA AND URUGUAY.
TREATY BKTWXBN TBE tHsTTED STATES ANU THE ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION.
A treaty between the United States of America and the Argentine Confederation
was concluded and signed by their respective plenipotentiaries at San Jose de Flores,
on the 10th day of July, in 1858, which treaty, being in the English and Spanish lan-
guages-*the £Dglish only being here pabliihed— is word for word ae follows : —
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OommsrekU Regulaii&M, 105
Tbe Preeideni of tbd UdIM States aod bis Ezcelleney the Prorisional Director of
the Argentine CoofedcratloD, being desirons of strengthening tbe bonds of friendehip
which so happily subsist between their reepectivea States and countriea, and convinced
that tbe sorest means of arriving at this result is to take in concert all the measures
re<)iii»ite for fHcilitaiiog and developing commercial relations, have resolved to deter^
mine by treaty the conditions of the free navigation of the rivers Parana and Uruguay,
and thus to remove the obstachs which have hitherto impeded this navigation.
With this object they have named as their plenipotentiaries— tliat is to say, the
President of the United States, Robert C. Schenck, envoy extraordinary and minister
^enipotentiary of the United States to Brazil, and John S. Pendleton, charge d'affaires
of the United States to tlie Argentine Confederation ; and his Excellency the Provis-
iooal Director of the Argentine Confederation, Doctor Don Salvador Maria del Carril,
and Doctor Don Jose Benjamin Gorostiaga; who, after having communicated to each
other their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following
artieles: —
Article I. The Argentine Confederation, in the exercise of her sovereign rights,
concedes the free navigation of the rivers Parana and Uruguay, wherever they may
belong to her, to the merchant vessels of all nations, c^ubject only to the conditions
which ihis treaty establishes, and to the regulations sanctioned, or which may hereaf-
ter be sanctioned, by the national authority of the Confederation.
Art. 2. Consequently, the said vessels shall be admitted to remain, load, and un-
load in the places and ports of the Argentine Confederation which are open for that
purpose.
Art. 8. The govemmeot of the Argentine Confederation, being desirous to provide
every facility for interior navigation, agrees to maintain beacons and marks pointing
OQt tbe channels.
Art. 4. A uniform system shall be established by the competent authorities of the
Confederation for the collection of the custom-house duties, harbor, light;*, police, and
pilotage dues along the whole course of the waters which belong to the Confederation.
Art. 6. The high contracting parties, considering that the island of Martin 0-arcia
may, from its position, embarrass and impede the free navigation of the confluents of
the River Plate, agree to use their influence to prevent the posses$«ion of the said isl-
and from being retained or held by any State of the River Plate or its confluents
which shall not have given its adhesion to the principle of their free navigation.
Art. 6. If it should happen (which God forbid) that war should break out between
any of the States, republics, or provinces of the River Plate or its confluents, the nav-
igation of the rivers Parana and Uruguay shall remain free to the merchant flag of
fdl nations, excepting in what may relate to monitions of war, such as arms of all
kinds, gunpowder, lead, and cannon balls.
Art. 7. Power is expressly reserved to his Majesty the Emperor of Brazil and the
governments of Bolivia, Paraguay, and the Oriental State of Uruguay to become par-
ties to the present treaty in case they should be disposed to apply its principles to the
parts of the rivers Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay, over which they may respectively
possess fluvial rights.
Art. 8. The principal objects for which the rivers Parana and Uruguay are declared
free to the Commerce of the world being to extend the mercantile relations of tbe
countries which border them, and to promote immigration, it is hereby agreed that no
fiivor or immunity shall be granted to the flag or trade of any other nation which shall
not equally extend to those of the United States.
Art. 9. The present treaty shall be ratified on the part of the government of tbe
United States within fifteen months from its date, and within two days by his Excel-
lency the Provisional Director of tbe Argentine Confederation, who thall present it to
tbe first legislative congress of the Confederation for their approbation.
The preceding treaty was " done ** at San Jose de Flores on the lOtb of July, 1868,
by Robert C. Schenck, John S. Pendleton, Salvador Maria del Carril, and Jose Benja-
min Gorostiaga, and duly ratified on both parts ; and the respective ratifications of
the same exchanged b the city of Parana on tbe 20tb December, 1854. Tbe procla-
mation of the President of the United States was published in Washington, April
9tb, 1666.
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106 Commercial BegulaUons.
UW OF LOUISIAilA ]lEUTiy£ TO S£iMBI.
The following being a correct copy of an act passed the last session of the Legisla-
ture of Louisiana, and approved March 16th, 1855, is published in the MerehanU*
Magazine for the information of seamen and shipping merchants :—
AN ACT aSLATITK TO SBAMKN.
Section 1. That the master of every vessel arriving from sea, at anv- port of this
State, shall give to every person shipped on board such vessel who shall be entitled
to his discharge, or who shall be discharged there, a certificate in the following form :
A B, one of the crew of the ship or vessel, called the of on her
voyage from to is hereby dischaiged.
Dated of in the year of
(Signed) C D, Commanding said vessel
Ssa 2. That if any seaman shall desert from any vessel in any of the ports of this
State, or in the voyage from the sea up to either of them, the master of the vessel
shall, within twelve hours after his arrival, if such desertion shall have taken place
before his arrival, or within twelve hours after the desertion, if it shall happen in the
port, make out an advertisement containing the name of the seaman and of the vessel
to which he belonged, together with a description of the person of the deserter, which
advertisement shall be signed by the master, and within the time aforesaid put up in
the office of tJie mayor of the city of New Orleans.
Sbo. 3. That in all seaports in this State other than that of the city of New Orleans,
the advertisements required by law shall be made at the custom house of the parish
in which the port may be situated ; and the legal proceedings herein provided for
shall be had before, and determined by any of the justices of the peace of the port
Sec. 4. That no master of a vessel, nor any person for him, shall ship any seaman
who shall not produce such discharge, unless he shall previously thereto give twelve
hours' notice that such seaman has applied to be shipped without a discharge, to all
the masters of vessels then in port, who have within two months next before adver-
tised any deserter from their vessels. Until the expiration of which twelve hours, the
master of any vessel to whom such seaman may apply to be shipped is authorized to
detain him on board his vessel to the end that he may be reclaimed, if he is a deserter ;
but if such seaman be not so reclaimed, it shall then be lawful to engage him without
producing any such certificate. And if any master of a vessel shall ship any seaman
contrary to tie pijovisions of this section, he shall forfeit $60, to be recovered by any
person who shall sue for the same.
Sjco. 5. That the justice of the ]>eace, on the verbal complaint of any person that he
is entitled to receive his discharge, and that the same is denied by the master of the
vessel to which he belonged, shall issue a citation directed to the master, commanding
him to appear before him to show cause why such certificate should not be granted ;
the justice shall examine, in a summary way, into the circumstances of the case, and
if he finds that the seaman is entitled to his discharge, he shall give judgment to that
effect ; and if the discharge has been previously demainded and refused, he shall add
to the judgment an order that the defendant pay the complainant $10 for hb damages,
and pay the costs of the proceedings ; and a copy of so much of the judgment as or-
ders the discharge shall be given to the complainant, which shall have all the effect to
a legal discharge.
Sec. 6. That it shall be the duty of all persons who shall carry on the business of
shipping seamen, previous to their engagement of the same to give bond with two
good securities, freeholders of the parish, payable to the governor and his successor in
office, in the penal sum of $10,000, conditioned as follows: That he (the shipping
master) and his securities shall be liable, in solido, for the price and value of any slave
or slaves who have been regularly shipped by the said shipping master, and car-
ried out of the State of Louisiana ; the same to be recovered by the owner of such
slave, with all damages accruing thereon, by prosecuting upon the bond: provided,
that said bond shall not become void by the first or any otner recovery, but may be
put in suit and recoveries had thereon as often as any breach of the condition may
happen, until the full amount of the bond shall be paid. And any person who shall
act as shipping master without complying with the foregoing conditions, shall be fined
$1,000 and suBer imprisonment for six months at hard labor.
Sfic. 7. That whenever any master or owner of any ship or vessel, steamboat, or
other craft, shall ship any seaman, cook, or steward, for said ship or vessel, it shall not
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Journal of Insurance, 107
be Iftwful for tliem, under a penalty of a fine of one thousand dollars, and imprison-
ment at hard labor for six months, to employ any shipping master or other person,
excepting they bare complied with the preceding section.
Sec. 8. That all fines incurred under the provisions of the foregoing sections, shall
be recovered for the benefit of the New Orleans Oharity Hospital, and may be proae-
euted at the instance of the institution.
Sia 9. That the owner of such ship, steamboat, or other water craft, and the master
thereof, as well as the vessel, steamboat, or other craft, shall be liable to the owner of
any sUve so taken out of the State, for the value of said slave.
Sec. 10. That all persons engaged in the business of shipping seamen, who have
given bond in conformity with law, shall, in case of death, bankruptcy, or the removal
&om the State of his sureties, be compelled, within fifteen days thereafter, to renew
his bond : and in case of neglect or refusal, the person so offending shall be fined five
hundred dollars, together with all costs.
Sbo. 11. That whenever the sureties above named or either of them, shall remove
from the State, die, or become bankrupt, the bonds signed by them shall be considered
null and void, as regards the persons carrying on tlie business of shipping: seamen.
Skc. 12. That all laws contrary to the provisions of this act, and all laws on the
same subject matter, except what is contained in the Civil Code and Code of Practice,
same subi<
berepealc
led.
CUSTOMS DUTIES IN CANADA.
F. Hinks, Inspector-General at Quebec, has issued the following department order :
CusTOMB Dkpartmknt, Qukbbc, 12th May, 1855.
In virtue of tlie authority of the third section of an act of a Provincial Parliament,
passed the sixteenth year of her majesty's reign, and chaptered eighty five, entitled,
** An Act further to amend the laws relating to duties of customs," it is ordered that
the following packages be chargeable with duty, viz. : all packages containing spirits,
wines, cordials, or liquids of any kind in wood, bodies, flasks, and all packages of
glassware or earthenware, sugar, molasses, syrups, treacle, coffee, rice, tobacco, flour,
provisions, and no deduction to be allowed for the weight or value of the paper or
string covering sugar, <&c. All packages containing hoap, candles, pipes, nails, chains,
paints, spices, nuts, vermicelli, macaroni, glass, tin, Canada plates, tins, trunks, and
jars containing merchandise, and all other packas^es in which the goods are usually
exposed for sale, or which necessarily or generally accompany the goods when sold.
And that the following packages are to be exempt from the payment of duty, vix.:
Bales, trusses, cases covering casks of wines or brandy in wood, cases and casks con-
taining dry goods, hardware, or cutlery, crates and ca^ks containing glassware or
earthenware, cases containing b 'ttled wines or bottled spirits, and all other packages
in which the goods are not usually exposed for sale, or which do not necessarily or
generally accompany the goods when sold. By command,
F. HINKS, Inspector-GeneraL
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.
STOCK nRE INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NEH^ YORK, JANUARY 1, 1865.
STATISTICAL TABLE or THE REPORT MADE BY THE STOCK FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES OP THS
STATE or NEW YORK TO THE CONTROLLER, JANUARY 1, 1866.
We have compiled a tabic from the reports made by the Fire Insurance Companies
to the Controller on the 1st of January, 1855. We have given in the first column the
amount of capital ; in the second column the premiums received during the year 1854 ;
in the third the gross amount of assets on hand at thatHate, beyond their capital; in
the fourth the amount of liabilities and unearned premiums, calculating the latter at
the rate of 45 per cent of the amount received during the year ; in the fifth and sixth
the surplus or deficiency, as shown by calculation from the previous columns ; in the
seventh the per centage of dividend on the capital paid b/ each company ; and in the
eighth the amount at risk.
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108 Journal of Insurance,
"We have made this table for the purpose of condensing the reports of the com-
panies in sQcb form that they may be seeo at a glance ; and have made a calcolatioa
for nneamed premiums at the rate of 45 per cent on the whole amount received by
each company during the year, and added this to the liabilities. TTiis we think a lib-
eral allowance for short time policies, and we know that all careful underwriters make
an allowance of this kind when estimating their surplus, and the Controller, in his re*
port to the Legislature on the 9th of March, 1864, pages 18, 19, and 20, calls atten-
tion to this, and there makes a calculation at 60 per cent as an illustration.
"We know that the business of each company is constantly changing, and that many
of them are now in a much better condition from what they were on the Ist of Janu-
ary last, owing to the small number of fires since tbat time ; but great care should be
shown in drawing from the surplus to make dividends, that the capital or unearned
premiums should not be encroached upon.
We fear that our merchants do not examine this part of their business sufficiently.
They will not sell an invoice of goods without first making a thorough itiquiry as to
the character, standing, and responsibility of the parties to whom they are making
sales, but will often obtain insurance from any company they can find that will insure
them at a low rate of premium, without even asking the question if there is any re-
sponsibility. We shall at some future time examine this subject more fully.
9 8 »S. £S 55 o o :*-
Companies.
K
6?o
&s
■rsS
m
[8 s : r
IV
Sis i : : i
. ■ . o - rTP- • ...
-fitna $200,000 $87^872 186,873 $16,921 $19,962 16 $5,086,626
Albany 100,000 60,247 68,504 30,467 83,037 18 6.466,728
Arctic 250.000 41,866 27,938 18,610 9,328 7 8.5.j0.00O
Astor 160,000 62,130 22,687 86.846 $18,768 6 6.401,074
Atlantic 160,000 88.406 48,860 66,645 11,786 6 9,853,825
Beekman 200.000 49,633 20,866 27,439 6,673 . 4,167,626
Broadway.... 200,000 68,717 16,632 23,486 6,804 6 7,131.680
Brooklyn 102,000 69,277 89.881 89,904 23 6 7,085.811
City. 210,000 83192 134,208 40.272 93,936 26 11,834,878
Citixena* . * . . . 150,000 84,727 77,258 40,395 36,868 20 9,890,522
Clinton 250,000 47,207 84.»88 26,248 9,690 7 6,871,668
Columbia.... 200,000 83,700 26.207 19,845 6,862 4 8,66-2,427
Commonwealth 250,000 72.099 32.481 86,782 4,261 12 6,748,711
Commercial.. 200,000 76.900 82,497 45,777 18,280 4 7,468,698
Continental... 500,000 126,682 96,547 67,018 88,534 10 15,227,769
Com Exchange 200,000 89,660 44,617 64,119 19,502 6
Eagle 800,000 79,977 79,516 87,603 42,012 16 18,413,466
East River... 150.000 20,726 8,264 11,976 8.712 . 8,148.707
Empire City... 200,000 51,800 43.648 80,621 13,127 6 6,000,000
Excelsior 200,000 66.073 88,086 42,678 9,642 10 6,414,623
Fireman's.... 204,000 98,896 76,222 55,703 20,619 26 11,180,460
Fulton 160,000 65,646 23,930 86,108 12,178 6 6,569,490
Greenwich.... 200,000 87.445 42,431 19.907 22,624 15 7,636.986
Grocers* 200,000 40,538 81,983 18,586 13,347 8 4,949,374
Hamilton 150,000 60,523 189,740» 51,200 61,460 . 4,648,430
Hanover 160,000 41,391 17,020 21,086 .,... 4,065 14 4,148,560
Harmony 160,000 63,024 28.820 34,842 6,022 4 5,000,000
Home 600,000 899,720 241,578 264,104 12.526 13 26,697,084
Howard 250,000 202,480 108,279 118,244 9,966 20 20,610,505
Irving. 200,000 60,908 28,432 27.619 4,187 7 5,406.006
Jefferson 200,000 76,848 119,998 89,767 80.281 28 10.202,50t
Knickerbocker. 280,000 67,180 65,606 84,036 21^70 20 9,242,981
• Whole
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Journal of Insurance*
109
I
Companies.
I
3L
Lafarge 150,000
Lenox. 160,000
Long Island.. 200,000
Lorillard 200,000
MaobatUD . . . 250,000
Market 200,000
M*rch.ATradV 200,000
Mercantile.... 200,000
Merchants' . . . 200,000
Metropolitan.. 800,000
Nassau 150,000
National 150,000
N. Amsterdam. 200,000
N.Y. Bowery. 800,000
N.Y. Equitable 210,000
N.Y. Fire AM. 200,000
Niagara 200,000
North River.. . 850,000
N. American.. 250,000
Pacitic 200,000
Park 200.000
People's 150,000
Peter Cooper . 150,000
Pbeniz 200,000
BepubUc 150,000
Rutgers. 200,000
St Marks .... 150,000
St. NichoUs . . 150,000
Stuy vesant. . . 200,000
United Sutes. 250,000
Washingtan . . . 200,000
Williambburg.. 150,000
48,286 4,878 29,805 24,092 4 8,299,582
34,736 12,692 16,980 4,288 4 8,884,686
72,795 105,828 85,738 70,085 20 8,986,974
72,175 87,118 88.141 8,977 10 7,175.508
84,148 56,410 41,940 14,470 20 1C,014,672
75,200 28,682 35,425 6,798 5 6,654,560
41,729 29,676 22,010 7,666 8 4,895,467
58,455 ^7,808 88,555 9,248 5 5,464,164
79,626 87,002 41,976 4,974 6 9,765,295
11,686 7,880 5,951 1,879 4 1,771,120
45,144 48,389 80,529 12,819 8 5.806,196
77,889 100,448 87,736 62,708 25 8,499,820
55,728 25,274 26,226 958 10 5,412,086
71,099 116,860 85,641 80,719 20 18,344,209
106,618 106,978 49,508 57,470 24 18,605,881
68,571 95,777 49,592 46,106 20 9,262.886
81,379 61,800 40,321 20,979 18 7,254,346
70,258 69,379 87,710 31,669 15 10,901,910
55,142 85,062 26,862 8,200 18 7,779,886
70,823 28,128 41,040 17,912 6 7,844,741
41,984 21,937 22,893 956 6 4,110,029
82,001 12,409 14,878 2,464 . 8,969,052
22,250 17,827 10,277 7,050 4 2,821,594
59,460 29,776 30,677 902 . 6,586,164
42,972 49,824 20,086 29,288 7 4,681.474
48,*i24 17,489 21,551 4,062 4 8,788,688
56,514 10,592 39,869 29,277 4 4,847,396
61,514 18,402 89,888 21,431 . 4,898.521
49,797 16,570 28,6o9 7,089 8 6,443,888
58,782 58,679 83,886 19,784 16 7.788,939
68.948 46,654 41,096 6,559 .... 6 6.217,195
45,468 24,798 80,229 5,481 6 8,982,820
FIRE, MARINE, AND UFE IIVSURA.NCfi COMPANIES IS NEW YORK.
The general summary which follows, of the returns of the several fire, marine, and
life inaorance companies, domestic and foreign, doing business in New York State in
the year 1854, was carefully compiled by Mr. Jones, the editor of the Americaa Li-
•oraoce Manual for 1855 : —
I. FIEB INSUEANOX.
Retoms have been made for 189 companies engaged in the business of fire imnrance
in the State of New York for the year ending 8 let December, 1854. One hundred
and ten of those companies belong to this State, 28 to other States of the Union, and
1 to England. Of the 110 domestic companies, 65 are *' stock capital," and 46
** matuaL"
SinUCAKT OF STOCK CAPITAL COMPANIES OF NEW TOEE.
The 65 stock, or specific capital companies, represent an aggregate
capital of •. $18,277,109 48
Their accamulated assets amount to 17,121,385 88
Cash premiums received for 1854 4,469,288 00
Notes taken for premiums 72,495 89
Grow income 6,607,066 62
Losses paid in 1854, including portions of losses incurred in 1858. . 2,638,772 76
Expenses for 1854, including commission to agents, taxes. saW
aries,<fec 1,122,516 87
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Journal of Insurance^
Gross amount of risks agaiiutt fire taken in 1864 |464,886,<I18 60
Proportion thereof taken in other States 64,186,687 80
Amount of inland navigation risks ». 46,494,266 80
•• marine 6,697,658 86
•* dividends paid for 1864 1,887.668 14
** cash deposits in banks 483,068 89
SUMMAaT OF MUTUAL COMPANIES.
The aggregate assets of the 46 matnal companies amount to. .... . 8,030,468 97
Cash premiums received for 1854 681,952 44
Notes received liable to assessment 2,287,322 76
Gross cash income for 1854 1,684.658 26
Losses paid in 1854, including portions incurred in 1853 1,202,386 04
Expenses for 1854, including commissions, taxes, salaries, <&c 382,750 09
Gross amount of fire risks held in 1854 192,665,289 78
Amount thereof taken in other States 47.813.933 14
" of inland navigation ridks 13,621 ,930 88
" marine 21 ,400,856 50
« dividends paid in 1 854 87,724 97
** cash deposited in banks 41,884 41
8UMMART OF FORBION COMPANIES.
The aggregate assets of the 28 American companies amount to. . . 12,162,279 48
Gross mcome in 1864 6,1 12.177 89
Gross losses paid in 1854, exclusive of English loss 8,647,017 61
Amount of fire rinks taken in New Tork Sute in 1854 72,686,886 72
*• premiums received on 910,807 70
•« losses incurred in New York State 691,808 28
<* marine risks in 1864 6,128,498 00
** inland navigation 61,280,324 00
The risks of the ** Monarch,'* of London, amounted to 24 1 ,600 00
Premiums to 1,648 27
U. MARINE IN8URAN0B.
Nine home and four foreign companies have transacted marine
busmess in New York State in 1854. Those companies are exempt
from making returns to the Controller in this State.
The aggregate assets of the 9 domestic companies amounted to. . . 9,940,406 60
Premiums received in last financial year 12,782,969 29
Premiums not marked off at close of previous year 8,984,024 97
Premiums marked off in last year 12,683,679 80
Losses paid and unadjusted 1 1,826,978 60
Expenses, commissions, return premiums, and reinsurance 2,074,442 77
Amount of advance and premium notes and bills receivable includ-
ed in assets 8,229,088 04
Two of those companies took fire risks — namely, the Sun Mu-
tual and the Union Mutual. The premiums received and losses
thereon are to be deducted from the above summary for marine
business, vix. : —
Fire premiums • « . . . . 402,884 68
Losses on fire 876,698 21
Also, the New York Fire and Marine Insurance Co., whose return
is printed among the fire companies, took for 1854 on marine risks. . 669,000 00
But the premium thereon or the amount of loss thereon is not
distinguished in the return.
FORBIGN MARINE OOMPANUES.
Their aggregate assets amount to 1,662,198 00
Premiums receiven in last financial year 1,076,704 79
** not marked off for previous year. 829,982 78
** marked off in last year 717.267 78
Losses paid and unadjusted 862,698 14
Expenses, commissions, return premiums, and reinsurance 188,666 64
Amount of advance and premium notes and bills receivable inelud-
edinassete «..•••• 608,774 64
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Ifautical Intelligence. Ill
Two of those ccmipanies took also fire risks, the premiums on
which amounted to $257|771 86, and are iocluded lo the above
summary ; but the amount of loss thereon is not distinguished in
the statements.
m. LIFX INSVBAIIOS.
The aggregate assets of the other 11 companies amount to $6,727,273 72
The aggregate income for 1864, from all sources 2,fi92,982 10
Oross amount at risk on whole-life and short-term policies 72,481,797 82
Kumber of policies issued in United States in 1864 6,683
Amount insured therebj 16,028,047 00
*• cash premiums received in 1864 1,796,878 87
** notes taken for premiums 806,810 62
•* expenses, as far as returned 800,441 18
* losses paid 886,982 84
" losses accrued and unpaid 267,100 00
** premium notes and loans on policies estimated as assets .. 1,696,284 82
RBCOVERT OF A STEAMEB AFTER ABAJVDOlfMElVT TO THE UllDERWRITERS.
The Cincinnati Commercial^ of May 81, 1866, notes a novel Insurance case. The
Oommereial says : —
The case of the Merchants and Manufacturers* Insurance Company, against Charles
Duffield and P. K. Barclay, was before the general term of tne Superior Court on
error. Duffield and Barclay were the plaintiffs at special term, where they recovered
judgment They were the owners of the steamboat Samuel Cloon, upon which four
insurance companies of Cincinnati issued policies of insurance — namely the Firemen's,
the Merchants and Manufacturers', the Ciocinnati and City Insurance Companies — for
18,760 each, making $16,000. The boat was valued in the policy at $20,000. In
February, 1 868, she sunk in the Mississippi, and an abandonment was made to the
insurance companies, who paid the amount of the insurance. The boat was recovered
afterwards by the companies, and sold to Eades <& Nelson, of St Louis. The owners
of the boat brought suit to recover one-fourth of the proceeds of the sale, in respect to
that portion of the boat which was not covered by insurance, and they recovered. The
proceeding is to reverse that judgment, on the ground that by the terms of the policy
abandonment operates as a relinquishment of all their right in the boat
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
UGHT-HOUSE AT BAMS RIVER NORTH SIDE VINEYARD SOUND.
The following notice to mariners is published by order of the Light-House Board,
(Boston, April 26th, 1866,) under the signature of A. A. Hokomb, Light-House In-
spector, Second District : —
A light-house has been erected at Bass River, on the north aide of Vbeyard Sound,
and the light will be exhibited for the first time on the evening of the l%t of May
next, and on each succeeding day from sunset to sunrise.
The apparatus is of the 6th order, fixed, of the system of Fresnel, illuminating ao
arc of 180^ of the horizon.
The tower is placed on the center of the keepei^s dwelling.
The tower and dwelling are painted white, and the top of the lantern red.
The light will be 40 feet above the mean level of tne sea, and should be seen in
ordinary states of the atmosphere, by an observer ten feet above the water, a distance
of 10^ nautical miles.
The light will be visible from east around by south to west. Vessels approaching
from the westward must bring the light to bear N. by £. to clear the east end of the
breakwater, and those approaching from the eastwara should bring the light to bear
K. W. before nmning in fSmr the anchorage.
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112 NcMtkal InteUiffeMe.
ffOTICfiS TO MIRIIERS AND NlYlOATOfiS.
The subjoined notices to nayigatore in regard to Lights on the North and East Coasts
of Ireland and the River Shannon, have been received at the Department of State aX
Washington from the United States Consol at London, and are published in the Mer-
chants* McLgazine for the information of mariners: —
DUNDALK FLASHING LIGHT IRELAND, EAST COAST.
The Port of Dublin Corporation have given notice that a light-houpo has been erected
within the entrance of Dundalk Harbor Channel, from which a light will be exhibited
on the evening of the 18th day of June next, 1855, and which thenceforth will be
lighted during every night from sunset to sunrise.
The light will be a flashing light; th; t Js, a fixed light varied by flashes, giving a
flash once in every fifteen seconds *, its focal point is 33 feet over the level of the sea
at high water— and in clear weather it will be visible at the distance of about 9 milea
To seaward the light will appear of the natural color, bright, between the bearings of
W. by N., and N. \ W^ and will be masked or screened in the direction of the Dunany
Rtefs, between the bearings of N. \ W., and N. bv E. i F..; it will be colored red
towards ihe west side of Dundalk Bieiy, and shown bright towards the Harbor Chan-
nel Northerly. f
The light-bouee is borne on screw piles of red color, braced into an open framing
below the dwelling, which is of octagonal form and colored white ; over tbis the light*
house has a dome formed top. It stands in lat 58® 68' 40" N., and long. 6® 18' W..
within the entrance of the channel, and bearing from Castle Rocks, (off Cooley Point,)
N. W. i W., distant 6^ nautic miles ; from Dundalk Patch, (rocky shoal,) N. by W. f
W., distant 6^^ nautic miles ; from Dunany Reefs, (eastward of Dunany Point,) N. J-
W., distant 6^ nautic miles.
1'he channel formerly northward of the light-house now runs southward of it, and
on passing it outward the course alters. Masters of vessels are cautioned to give the
piles a sufficient berth.
All bearings are magnetic.
JOHN WASHINGTON, Hydrograpber.
Htdrooraphic Opfick, Admiraltt, Lovdom, 16th April, 1855.
This notice affects the following Admiralty Charts :— Irish Channel, No. 1,824 ; Esivt
(3uast of Ireland, sheet 1, No. 1,408 ; also British and Irish Lighthouse List, No. 290.
BROADHAVEN FIXED LIGHT IRELAND, WEST COAST.
The Port of Dublin Corporation have given notice that a light house has been erected
on the west side of the entrance of Broadhaven Harbor Channel, from which a light
will be shown on the evening of Ist day of June next, 1856 ; and which from that
time will be lighted during every night from sunset to sunrise.
The light will be a fixed light, appearing of the natural color, bright, as seen from
between the bearings of S. by E. 4 £•* &nd N. N. £. ^ £.. (round by the eastward,)
and of a Ted color, as seen from the Harbor, between N. N. R ^ K., and N. E. by K
The focal point is 87 feet over the level of the high water of spring tides, and in (^ear
weather it will be visible seaward at the distance of about 12 miles.
The tower is circular, of stone color, and 60 feet in height from its base to top of
dome. It stands on Gubacashel Point, in lat 54° 16' N.. and long. 9** 68' W^ bearing
from Erris Head, (rocks north of,) S. S. E. ^ E, distant 4^ nautic miles; from.Kid Isl-
and, S. W. \ S., distant 8f nautic miles ; from Tidal Rock, (in channel, off Coast Guard
Station,) N. N. E. f E., distant f nautic mile.
In entering Broa*Jhaven Bay, keep the light open to clear the rocky islets off Erris
Head ; and in sailmg through the Harbor Channel, to clear the Tidal Rock off Coast
Guard Station, keep eastward or outside the limits of the red color of the light
All bearings are magnetic
JOHN WASHINGTON, Hydrographer.
HTDRooRAraic OrncB, Admiralty, Loimoit, 9th April, 18G5.
This notice affects the British and Irish Light- house List, Na 82S.
FIXED LIGHT ON THE BEEVBS ROCK IRELAND, RIVER SHANNON.
The port of Dublin Corporation has given notice thai on the 14th of May next,
1855, a fixed light will be established on the Beeves Book, in the River Shannon.
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Nautical InteUigenoe. 11 S
The lighlrtower ttands on the goathwest side of the rock, ia kt 6i^ 89' N^ and
long. »^ r 18" W. of Greenwich, and bears from Foynes Islaod, (north abore,) £. i a,
cbetant %\ milee; from Herring Roeks, (north point,) N. N. £^ distant | mile ; and from
Onrrig Keal, W. f N., distant 4 miles.
The light will be a fixed light, at an elevation of 40 feet aboye the leyel of hi^
water at spring tides, and should be visible from the deck of a vessel in clear weat^
mfc a distance of from 10 to 12 miles.
It will appear of the natural color, bright, as seen from the south or main chaiMid
of the river, between the bearings E. \ N., and K. W. by W., or over an arc of 140^
of the horiaon; and colored red towards the passage northward of ^e Beeves Boek.
All bearings are magnetic.
JOHN WASHINGTON, U} drographer.
Btdeookaphic OfpicB) Admiraltt, Lohdok, SSth March, 18S5.
This notice affects the following Admiralty Charts :~West Coast of Ireland, No. 3 ;
Biver Shannon, sheet 5, No. 1,549 ; North Atlantic, Nos. 2,069 and 2,060 ; also River
Shannon Sailing Directions, p. 14, and British aod Irish Lighthouse List, No. 8S6.
BUOTAOK OF THB QUEBN'S CHANNEL.
Triritt Uodsb, London, 15th May, 1855.
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the advertisement from this House,
dated let March last, the West Pan Sand Buoy, chequered black aod white, and car-
rying a staff and globe, has been removed a short distance S. S. £. from its former po-
sition, and now lies in 14 feet at low water spring tides, with the following marks and
compass bearings, viz. : —
The west end of Clevewood, in line with St Nicholas Easternmost Preventive Sta-
tion, S. S. £. ; Ash Church, nearly midway from Reculvers to Sarr Mill, S. ^ E. ; Gird-
ler Light Vessel, N. by W. | W.; North Pan Sand Buoy, N. by E.; Pan Sand Spit
Booy, R by 8. i S. ; South Knoll Buoy, S. E. by E ^ E. ; West Last Buoy, S. ^ W.
The following alterations have also taken place in accordance with the intentbn ex-
pressed in the said notice of the 1st March, viz.: — The Pan Saod Knoll Buoy has been
taken away, being no longer necessary.
OHANGX OF COLORS.
The West Pan Saod Buoy, the Pan Sand Spit Booy, the Pan Patdi Buoy, and the
West Tongue Buoy, have been changed from their former colors to black and white
chequered. The Wedge Buoy from red to black.
By the above alterations the buoys on the northern side of the Queen's Channel are
all black and white chequered, and thoee on its southern side, black.
The N. E. Margate Spit Bupy, previously chequered black and white, has been
changed to thoee colors m vertical stripes.
By order, j. Herbert, Secretaiy.
UGHT-HOUSS m fifORTflWEST PASSAGE, RET WEST.
OiOROS G. Meade, Lieutenant Topographical Engineers, nnder date. Key West,
Florida, February 19th, 1855, has, by order of the Light- House Board, issued the fol-
lowing notice in regard to the light-house recently erected in the Northwest passage:
Thie light-house, recently erected, is situated on the western bank, lorming the N.
W. channel in 6 feet ordinary low water.
The position may be approximately laid down by the following magnetic bearings
and distances : — '
Sand Key Light-House, S. 11^ 13' east, distance 10 nautical miles.
KcyWest Light-House, S. 67® east, distance 6.88 nautical miles.
N. W. bar buoy, N. 20*^ 46' east, distance 1.81 nautical miles.
The structure is founded on piles. The keeper's dwelling is 28 feet above the water,
and is surmounted by the lantern.
The foundation is painted of dark color — the dwelling and lantern white.
The illuminating apparatus is a Fresnel, 5th order, illuminating 270® of the horison,
and showing a fixed white light.
The focal plane is 40 feet above the sea level ; the light should therefore be seen in
dear weather from the deck of a vessel 10 feet above the water, at the distance of
1 1^ nauiical miles, or about 10 nautical miles beyond the bar.
▼OL. XZXIU« ^FO. I. 8
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114 Statktks of Agriculture^ etc.
The light will be exhibited for the 5th of March proxiiDo, aad wBl eontiBoe to be
exhibited from soneet to sonriee on each aucoeediog night till farther notiee.
To enter this channel bj day, bring the light-booee to bear S. bj W.f W. magnetic,
or in range with the buoy on the bar, and &e weet end of Mullet Key ; then run till
the bar ie croeeed and buoy No. 2 is made, when haul up S. £. f £. magnetic, for
hoi^ Na 1.
lx> enter by ojght, bring the light to bear 8. by W. \ W. magnetic, and run on thai
course till Key West light bears S. E. ^ S. magnetic, when haul up for it, and when in
three fathoms anchor for the night
This light is designed to notihr mariners of their approach to the bar, and to guide
them over it by day and night, but it is not intended nor can it be used as a guide in
the passaj^e from the bar to Key West Dependance for this purpose must be had m
the day time on the channel buoys and ranges on shore, and at night on the bearings
of Key West and Sand Key Liffbte ; to ascertain the relative position of which, mar-
iners are recommended to provide themselves with the chart of this harbor published
by the Coast Survey. ^.
LOUISIAMA QUIRAIVTIIIS REGULATIOHS.
By virtue of an act of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana, approved March
15, 1866, entitled ** An act to establish quarantine for the protection uf the State,*'
the Governor of that State has thought proper to issue a proclamation, upon the ad-
vice of the Board of Health, declaring all vessels coming from any port m the torrid
zone, or an^r ve'ssel which may have cleared from other ports, but hat last sailed from
a port within the tropics, subject to a quarantbe of not less than ten days The ports
of^ Savannah and Charleston are also included. This proclamation was published oo
the 4th day of June, 1866.
STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE. &c.
COM MBRCE IM A9IMALS AHD CONSUMPTIOH OF AHIHAL FOOD.
Heretofore we have known very nearly the number of animals raised in the United
States, but we have not known the number and weight of animals actually consumed
in the country. But this fact is very desirable, and will prove veiy useful It is well
known that the cattle, as well as the hog trade, furnish a very large portion of the ex-
changes of the country, and hence the question of how much, where, and when animal
food IS consumed, has a direct relation to the financial as well as commercial concerns
of the country. The progress of statistics, however, gradually furnishes the materials
to show this, and all similar problems. The great difficulty is to find a unit of meas-
urement for the consumption of cattle and hogs. In tlie cattle trade, we know that
the great cities of the country are the main purchasers of cattle, insomuch that what
enters into general Commerce is a very small amount of what is consumed in the large
towns. With hogs it is something different, for an immense amount of pork and lard
enter into general Commerce for exportation, especially to southern latitudes, and for
^e navies and armies of the world.
At present we shall confine ourselves to the supply and consumption of cattle and
sheep as food ; in other words, beef and mutton. For the consumption of beef, we
want a unit It might have been furnished by the staticftics of Smithfield market,
London ; but we are not aware that they have been kept and recorded. The New
York market, however, is a still better test, for the whole of our population are meal
eaters. Fortunately, all the cattle, sheep, and calves consumed in I^ew York are sold
from some half-dozen yards. Fortunately, also, the New York Tribune has kept a
reporter especially for those yards, and has given us the entire number of cattle, sheep^
and calves consumed in 1864 in New York city, including Brooklyn, dw. The aggre-
gate result is as follows: —
Cattle consumed 164,000
Sheep andlambe 470,000
We know very nearly the average weight of these animals, and the population by
. whom ibey are consumed. The ayerage weight of the cattle may be taken at 760
ponndi, and of the sheep and calves, 80 polonds. The population of New York,
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SttUiBtUi nf A^rictUture, etc. 115
BrookljD, lod Wflliftmsborg. in 1854, was about 750,000. ^H«re, then, we kave the
elemeou for the tolatioo of the general problem.
Before we go ikrtber, let us look at the fioanoial aspects of the qaestioa, as between
New York and the West, where cattle sold for an average of 970 each; the sheep
aad calves at an average of $5 60 each. We have then this result :—
Value of 150,000 cattle. $10,780,000
Value of 470,000 sheep and hunbs 2,585,000
Aggregate value of beef and mutton in New York. $18,855,000
Now, fiill three-fourths of this entire amount came from the West, begiaoiog with
the valley of the Alleghany, in New York and Pennsylvania. New York, then, has
to pay ien millions of dollars to the West for cattle and sheep, (independent of wool,)
and the West is thus furnished with ten millions in exchange for the pavmeot of its
dry goods. This financial operation is one of great importance, and makes no small
part of the business of the banks in the interior of Ohio and Kentucky. It is a safe
and a profitable business ; and in regard to their own operations, no banks are si^er
than those based on the cattle trade. ^ -v
But l«t us look at the general consumption of cattle in this country. The above |
fiicts show that each 1,0(K) persons in ctvic population consume 205 cattle and 588 ^
sheep per annum. What does this give us for the whole town population of the Uni-
t«d States f The following table will exhibit the account : —
8beepand
Population. CsUle. lamtM.
New York 760,000 164.000 470,000
PhUadelphia 600,000 101,000 818,600
Boston, including Roxbury and Charlestown. ... 1 80,000 86,900 109,990
Baltimore 210,646 48,050 125,980
NewOrleans. 150.000 80,800 94,000
OinciDaaa 160,000 82,860 99,880
StLouis 90,000 18,460 47,997
Charleston 60,000 10,276 81.838
Bofl&ilo. 50,000 10,276 8 1 ,888
develand 80.000 6,150 19,080
Chicago 60,000 10,276 81,888
Detroit 26,000 5,188 15.666
Albany 60,000 12,000 88,160
Troy 80,000 6,150 19,080
Rochester 40,000 8,200 26,440
Portland 26.000 5,188 16,666
Lowell 86,000 7,175 22,260
Salem 20,000 4,100 12,720
Xanchester 16,000 8,078 9,640
New Bedford 18,000 8,690 9,599
Pittoburg, including Alleghany. 100,000 20,600 68.600
Wheeling 20,000 4,100 12,720
Richmond 80,000 6,160 19,080
Norfolk 26000 5,188 16,666
Louisville 60;000 12,800 88,160
Memphis 16,000 8,078 9,540
Other towns over 6,000 200,000 246,000 763,200
Aggregate. 8,988,666 806,282 2,458,488
The towns over 5,000 inhabitants each in the United States contain at present four
million of inhabitants, or about one fourth the population of the country. The Urge
towns eonsume eight hundred thousand beeves and two- and-a half million of sheep
and lambs. At an average of $50 each for the beeves, and $8 each for the sheep,
which is not too much, we have the following result :—
Valueof 800,000 beeves $40,000,000
Value of 2,600,000 sheep and Iambi 7,600,000
Let us now add to this the hogs of Commerce—
8,000,000 at $8 24,000,000
Total $71,500,000
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lid StoHstici af Pcpulaiion, §te.
If, BOW, we add io this aggregate the pickled beef, the salt barrels, aod labor used
ID packing pork, and finally the valae of wool sold from sbeep^ we find the Commeroe
in animals amoonting in value to foil one hundred nailUons of dollars; an amonnt
greater than the entire cotton crop. Two-thirds of this entire prodoct comes from the
States in the valley of the Ohio ; and we ihall not be beyond the mark in saying, that
the States of Ohio and Kentucky create an exchange on the Atlantic States equal to
twenty millions of. dollars per annum, derived from the Comnoerce in animala.
In reference to the average weight consumed, if the above number of beeves, sheep,
and hogs, be reduced to their aggregate weight, and then divided by firar milUons, (the
aggregate of town or city population,) the result will be about 16 ounces to each indi-
vidual per diem. Now, the daily ration of solid meat allowed in the British navy is
12 ounces, which may be taken as the average for adults. The excess of quantity
found in the above calculation will be fully aocounted for by ez|)ortation to other
countries, and by the consumption of towns of less than 6,000 inhabitants. The gen-
eral accuracy of the above calculation is, therefore, sufficiently proved, and the mag-
nitude of the result furniebes another illustration of the value of mtemal Commerce. —
Cincinnati Price Current,
THE SORfiHO, A NEW SUGAB PLiVT.
The scarcity of com in France, as we learn from an English ootemporary, baa drawn
attention to a new plant, recently introduced from China, which promises to supersede
to a certain extent, the use of beet-root in the manufacture of sngar and the distilla*
tion of alcohol. The agricultural committee of Toulon has recently addressed a report
to the Minister of War, with respect to the use of the plant in question. It is cidled
the sorgho, or holeuB iaccharatus, and was first introduced into France in 1861» by M.
de Montigny, the French consul in China, who sent some grains of the seed to the
government Since then the culture of the plant has been commenced with snccesa
in Provence, and promises to be of great advantage to Algeria. The eorgho has been
called the *' sugar-cane of the north of China," and numerous experiments have raoent<
ly been tried witli a view to ascertaining if it possesses the properties necessary for
producing a crystallizable syrup, so as to become a rival to sugar-cane and beet-root
According to the report of the Toulon Agricultural Association, it would appear to
have those properties. The fiict has been ascertained by a series of experimantB
made in the department of the Yar. It also appears to be richer in the sacfaarine
principle than any known plant, except the vine. Beet-root contains from eight to
ten per cent of sugar; the sorgho produces from sixteen to twenty per cent, from
which eight or ten percent of pure alcohol, fit for all industrial and domestic purposes,
can be produced. The refuse is excellent food for cattle, who are very fond of it
The plant grows with great rapidity, and does not require irrigation. The soi^gfao is
not a new discovery, as it has been used from time immemorial by the inhabitants of
the North of China, by whom large quantities of sugar are extracted from it But
this is the first time it has been produced on any thing like an extensive scale m
Europe.
HEW YOR£ CATTLE TRADE FOR 1864.
raw TOSK TBB MOST KXTKNaiVB CATTLK MARXBT 1» THB UMITBD tTATKS— BUCBimOS OP OAI^
TLB BOLD WBBKLT IN 1854— AVBRAOB PBlCBf or BBBTBft» COWS) GALVKt, ■HBBPf AND LAXBS —
COMPABATIVB MONTBLT STaTBMBMT Ot CAITLB ON BALB IX XBW TOBK MABKBT, BTC
New York is the most extensive cattle mart in America. The cattle brought to
the New York market come from nearly all sections of the Union east of the Missis-
sippi. Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Virgiuia, and Pennsylvania, are
our most liberal contributors ; but Western and Northern New York, with Connecti-
cut, Massachusetts, and other of the New England States, likewise send os extensive
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SiatMci ef Agriculture, etc.
IIT
mpplicfl. All the lines of trarel redUting from this city to the iaterior— ^e Harlem
mod Hudson aod Erie railroads, the New York Oentral, the Lake Shore, the Great
Michigan Central, and the Baltimore and Ohio, and some of the Eastern railroads —
find in the carriage of the live stock coosumed here one of their most profitable items
of freight lirom Ohio, Kentucky, IllinoiB, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania,
Hew England, and Northern and Western New York.
A considerable proportion of the cattle driven to this market, h3wever, come firom
districts not so distant The counties on the North River raise some of the finest*
while Long Island and New Jersey are occasionally large contributors. In New York
dty there are principally four places for the sale of beef cattle — the welUknown
Washington Drove Yard in Forty-fourthstreet, between the Fourth and Fifth aven-
ues, of which A. M. Allerton, Esq., is the proprietor ; 2d, the Lower or Hudson River
BulFs Head, kept by Messrs. Chamberlain ; Sd, George Browning's Central Bull's
Head, in Sixth-street ; and 4th, the market kept by Mr. Morgan Q'Brien, also in Sixth-
street, near the Third Avenue.
Sheep and lambs are sold at all these places except the last mentioned ; the largest
nnmber at Browning's, and the next at Chamberlain's. The largest business in cows
and calves is done at Browning's and Chamberlain*s. The market day hereafter wlU
be Wednesday, but sales to a greater or less extent wul doubtless be made every
day. Independently of the regular transactions at those several city markets, there
are many cattle bought and sold on the boats at the wharves. Many cattle slaugh-
tered in the country are also brought to market here, ready dressed, but these do not
enter into the statistics below :—
•TATISTIOi or THX aXVXEAL I>l80aiPTIO58 OP OATTLK BOLD WIBKLY DUaXNO TBB TtAft
1864, AS OOMPILBD raOM THE PUBLI6BBO EXPORTS.
Janoary 4.
11.
18.
24.
81.
February 7.
18.
81.
87.
7.
14.
21.
27.
6.
11.
17.
24.
2.
8.
15.
22.
29.
6.
18.
19.
28.
Mareh
April
M»y
Jana
1,721
4,092
2,858
2,278
2,448
8,228
2,270
2,729
2,724
2,467
2,611
2,814
2,412
8,662
2,794
2,664
2,688
2,264
8,487
2,780
2,186
2,892
8,229
8,682
2.424
8,698
Gows
At ears.
269
878
248
297
888
125
444
521
441
880
877
872
978
982
1,264
1,127
1,409
1,969
728
1,489
1,584
1,418
1,780
1,426
1,180
1,100
Sbeep
&in>a.
9,264
7,887
7,404
4,611
7,488
9,461
6,681
8,828
7.848
6.981
6.284
8,144
4,992
4.496
4,128
2,603
8,708
7,182
8,429
4,484
5,062
5,648
8,240
8,167
7.980
9,706
Sept.
July 4.
10.
17.
24.
81.
August 7.
14.
21.
28.
4.
11.
18.
26.
October 2.
8.
16.
' 28.
80.
6.
18.
20.
27.
4.
14.
21.
Nov.
Dec
Beeres.
8,711
8,484
2,927
2.662
8.289
8,006
5,067
4,000
8.519
8.046
8,066
8,686
8,820
4,668
8,669
4.617
4,487
5,621
8,870
1,268
8,408
8.820
2,860
2,884
2,446
1,937
Cows
it Oil's.
1,100
1,698
1,441
911
800
770
800
560
670
680
514
870
740
576
870
716
667
560
480
600
679
587
620
666
628
288
Sheep
aitl*bs.
18.676
7,194
11,486
11,177
12,298
12,942
14,981
16.856
14,645
10,088
8,892
10,658
12.220
16.108
14,900
14,010
18.924
16,211
18,566
12.079
14,282
12.291
11,295
18,882
11,764
10,094
ToUl 164,796 41,086 470,817
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118 SUiHhki <f Agrieultur€y etc
AVSftAQB PmiOES OT OATTLB SOLD DUEIHG TBE TSAR 18M, AS OOHIIUD rSOM THB
▼KKKLT EKPOBTB.
Beeree. Cows It calvet. Sheep & iMobs.
January 4 |7 00 a 10 00 $30 a 60 $2 50 a 8 00
11 8 00 a 10 00 25 a 65 8 00 a 5 00
18 8 00 a 10 00 85 a 60 2 '75 a 7 00
24 8 00 a 10 00 80 a 60 8 00 a 10 00
81 8 00 a 10 00 80 a 60 2 60 a 6 00
February 7 8 00 a 10 00 80 a 66 2 60 a 9 00
14 8 00 a 11 00 2f a 60 8 00 a 8 00
21 8 50 a 10 50 25 a 60 8 00 a 7 00
28 8 50 a 10 60 80 a 55 4 00 a 10 00
March 7 8 50 a 10 60 80 a 66 4 00 a 10 00
14 8 50 a 10 50 80 a 55 8 50 a 10 00
21 8 00 a 10 50 80 a 65 4 00 a 5 50
28 900a 11 60 80a60 400a 700
April 5 8 00 a 11 00 80 a 60 4 00 a 10 00
12 7 00a900 80 a 60 400a700
17 8 00 a 10 00 80 a 40 4 00 a 8 00
24 8 00 a 10 00 80 a 70 5 00 a 9 00
May 2 ^. 9 00 a 11 00 80 a 40 5 00 a 10 00
8 • 9 50 a 11 50 88 a 55 5 00 a 12 00
15 9 00 a 11 00 20 a 70 4 CO a 10 00
22 11 00 a 18 00 80 a 50 8 00 a 10 00
29 11 00 a 18 00 85 a 50 4 00 a 8 00
JuDe 6 10 00 a 18 00 80 a 60 5 00 a 7 00
12 9 00 a 10 00 80 a 65 8 00 a 7 00
19 900a 10 00 80 a 70 400a 900
26 8 00 a 9 50 80 a 66 6 00 a 9 00
July 4 8 00 a 10 00 80 a 66 8 50 a 8 00
10 8 00a900 80 a 70 400a800
17 8 00 a 9 50 80 a 60 4 00 a 6 50
24 8 00 a 10 00 80 a 45 2 00 a 7 00
81 8 00 a 10 60 80 a 75 2 00 a 6 50
AugiMt 7 8 00 a 10 50 25 a 50 8 00 a 7 00
14 7 00 a 9 50 80 a 50 8 00 a 8 00
21 8 00 a 10 00 26 a 60 2 60 a 6 00
28 6 00 a 9 00 80 a 60 2 00 a 7 00
Sept. 4 7 00 a 9 75 25 a 50 1 25 a 6 00
11 6 00 a 9 60 20 a 50 2 50 a 6 00
18 8 00 a 10 50 80 a 70 2 00 a 6 50
26 8 00 a 11 00 80 a 65 8 00 a 7 00
October 2 8 50 a 9 25 20 a 50 2 50 a 6 00
8 8 25 a 9 00 22 a 50 2 00 a 5 76
16 7 50 a 9 50 80 a 46 1 50 a 6 50
28 6 00 a 9 00 60 a 65 2 50 a 9 00
80 600a9 50 80 a 60 200a600
Korember 6 7 50 a 10 00 80 a 60 2 00 a 6 50
18 6 26 a 9 00 80 a 65 2 00 a 6 50
20 % 9 00 a 10 00 80 a 75 1 25 a 7 00
27 8 50 a 10 00 85 a 65 2 00 a 8 00
December 4 9 00 a l"" oo 80 a 60 2 26 a 7 00
14 9 50 a 10 uu 25 a 75 2 00 a 7 00
21 9 50 a 10 00 80 a Y5 2 50 a 7 00
28 7 50 a 11 00 80 a 76 2 50 a 9 00
Ayerage $8 97 $48 48 $5 48
Itiefe reeults and tbe following comparisons enable us to see the general advaoce
there has been in the prices of all kinds of cattle during the year.
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8tati$tks af A^ritultiwn^ $tc.
11^
OOMPAmATTTS MOlfTBLT STATBMCHT OF OATTLE ON tALB IN TBV NNW TOBX MABKST
PUBING THN TSARS 1858 AND 1864.
. 18SJ. , . 18S<. ^
Onwsaod 8keep mod Cows and 8heepaiid
Beeres. ctdTea. lamta. Dmtm. oalvet. lamb*.
January 18,560^ 866 44,600 18,390 1,609 86^89
February 8,960 ) 815 22.000 10,946 1,681 82,208
March ^. 9,6007 477 16,860 9,904 8,067 20,401
April : 16,200 620 11,060 11,748 4,'722 14,910
May 12,108 706 12,900 18,649 7,128 26,808
Jooe 11,260\ 900 26.760 12,878 6,896 84,088
July 10.600 ) 660 84.220 1 6,098 6,466 66,826
August 18,260/ 710 48,88.6 16,592 2.700 58,274
September 15,022 1,247 45,582 18,557 2,786 41,868
October 21.812\ 1.917 60,209 22,861 8,868 79.168
Norember 15,461 i 1.569 45,267 12,856 2.246 52,269
December 15,622/ 1,806 46,776 9,567 2,047 46,976
167,420 10,720 412,989 162.426 42.895 507.698
Comparing the monthly average of 1854 with that of the previous year, the differ-
ences are as follows : — 9
1854 897 4.848 648
1868 889 8,690 520
Increase $0 68 $6 68 $0 2$
This rery material increase in values is referable to the now apparent fact of an ac-
tual scarcity of cattle during the year, owing mainly to the immense quantity of
stock sent to Califoroia from the Western States across the plaioB, which otherwise
would have found its way to the markets on the Atlantic seaboard. The financial
troubles which have embarrassed about every other branch of business during the
latter half of the year, have also had an undoubted mfluence on the grazing and agri-
cdtural interests.
It will be seen by the following comparison that there were but a few thousand
more beeves sold during 1864 than in the preceding year. The excess in finvor of '64
IS not at all in proportion to the increase of the city wants, superinduced by the rapid
increaM of our population. Cows and calves show a substantial increase : —
Beeves. Cows 6t oalves. 8heop 6t kunbs.
1864 162,426 40,848 507,698
1868 * 157,420 10,720 412,989
Increase 6,006 80,129 94,709
The total value of cattle sold at the several city markets above mentioned— accept-
ing the average prices as given above— -during the year, is seen below. (We have put
down $46 as the average of each head of beef cattle.) Some dealers consider this a
rather low figure, but as the more general opinion seems to be that this is about right,
we have concluded to adopt it : —
1854. 18fit.
Beeres $7,809,170 $6,769,060
Cows and calves 1 ,864,074 886,248
Sheep and lambs 2,218,790 1,161,662 '
$11,887,084 $9,255,966
9,265.966
iDcreaee $2,072,069
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120 StatMkM ^ PojmhU»iij «ie.
TheM figores show at a glaooe th« magnitade of (he oatile trade of tUt aifcT. If
we ioclade the oocaaional Bales at the docks, of which do authentic record can be kept.
It is probable that the aggregate Talue of cattle sold for the year does not h\l short
of eleyeo-and-a-half millions of dollars.
The bulk of the cattle brought to the city for sale are consumed here ; but a large
Incratiye business is done by the packers for shipment Frequent shipments of liye
cattle are made to Bermuda on British goyernment account
STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c.
RSSULTS OF THB CENSUS OF GREAT BRITAIll.
MUMBBR VI.
DKKSITT AND PROXIMITY OF POPULATION.
By comparing the numbers of the population with the area of the soil, we deterroioe
the density or proximity of the population. A Freuch writer has f>ropoeed the term
" specific population,** after the analogy of " specific gravity ," much in use in scientific
works, "nib terms in commen use, ** thinly populated," and ** populous,** express the
same idea, but in general terms.
The area of a litfge portion of the parishes and townships, and of the tidal rivers and
estuaries in Englanc^ was computed firom the maps in the Tithe Office, uoder the di-
rectioo of Major Dawson, R. £. ; and a report by that officer is included in the publi*
eatioa The areas of the remaining parishes were taken from the enumeration voiumee
of 1881, as estimated by Mr. Rickman.
Hie following table shows the area of Great Britain in statute aeres and square
miles, also the number of acres to a person, the number of persons to a square mile,
and the mean proximity of the population on the hypothesia of an equal distribution :
AREA OV GREAT BRITAIN AND DBNSITT OF POPULATION IN 1851.
England
Scotland ....
Wales
Islanda
Great Britain.. 57,«24,877 90,038 299 2.7 «83 124
The ratio, orproportioo in eise, of the squares in the third column is, England 61 ,
Scotland 81, w ales 7, and islands 2-5th3 ; and the ratio of the population is about
17. 8, 1, and l-7tli.
The 824 districts of England and Wales, classed in an order of density, range from
185,761 persons to the square mile, in the Kast London district^ to 18 only in North-
umberland. In all London, the number of persons to a square mile, in 1851, was
19,876. In 1801, the people of England were, on an average, 168 yards asunder; is
1861, only 108 yards asunder*. The mean distance between their houses in 1801 was
882 yards; in 1851, ouly 253 yards. In London, the average proximity in 1801 was
21 yards; in 1851, only 14 yards.
ISLANDS.
The British population is spread over a great multitude of islands whidi rise be-
tween the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, the large Island of Great Britain being
the chief of the group. This island is surrounded by the Isle of Man, Anglesey^ the
Scilly Islands, the Isle of Wight, the outlaying Channel Islands, the Shetland Islands,
the Orkneys, and the Hebrides. Five hundred islands have been numbered, but in-
habitants were only found on one hundred and MeverUyfive islands on the day of the
census of 1851.
In the earliest period of oar written history, these islands were peopled by OeHs ,
Britain was their holy island, and the seat of their schools and most sacred groyes.
Ihe isles of Anglesey and Man, both known under the name of Mona to the Romans
were the seats of the Druidio hierarchy and worship^ lona, or Icolmktll, a small isl-
Area in
Areatn
Sqaare
Acres
Peraons
Proximity
statute
»qaare
(in
toa
toa
orpersoBSi
acres.
miles.
miles.)
person.
iq. mile.
inyarda.
82,590,529
50,921
226
1.9
882
104
20,047.462
81,824
177
6.9
92
197
4,784,486
7,898
86
4.7
186
162
252,000
894
20
1.8
868
99
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SkUMee 0/ PopuUUkm, He 121
ftod 10 tbe H«brid«s, now cootaioing 604 inhabitatiU. is celebrated as an early seat of
ChrietiaDitj. It was the etatioo of St. Columba, who founded an order of miesioo-
aries there, and thos cootribated to tbe diffusion of Ohristianity oTer Britain. Tbe
celebrated ruins on the island consist of a cathedral, a nunnery, and St. Oran's chapel,
together with many ancient tombs and crosses ; this island is often visited by tourists
to the Western Highlands, and is only ten miles from the far-famed Staffa.
The population of the Island of Qreat Britain has been stated to be 20,636,857;
Irriaod, as enumerated by another department, contained 6,658,857 inhabitants ; An-
glesey, the next most populous island in the group, had 57,818 inhabitants ; Jersey
57,020; tbe Isle of Man, 52,844 ; the Isle of Wight. 60.324 ; Guernsey, 29.757 ; Lewis.
22,918; Skye, 21,528; Shetland, 20.936; Orkney, 16,668; Islay, 12,834; Bute.
9,261 ; Mull, 7,485 ; and Arran, 5,867 ; 17 islands contained a population ranging
from 4,006 to 1,064; 52 had a population ranging from 947 to 105 ; and the remain-
ing 92 inbaUted islands ranged from a population of 92 downwards, until at last we
eome to an island inhabited by one solitary man.
The British Isles extend over 11 degrees of latitude and 10 decrees of longitude;
cooseijtteotly, in the most northerly of the Shetlands, tbe night in the summer sol-
stiee IS three hours shorter than m Jersey ; and the sun rises and sets on the east
coast of England 47 minutes before it rises and sets on the west coast of Ireland.
IA98A8 CENSUS Iff 1866.
The KansoM Fret Slate, of April 80, 1866, furnishes in the subjoined table the com-
plete retaros of Kansas census, as follows: —
Dtatrtets.
1
Bfdles.
.... 628
Females.
839
208
91
71
688
818
86
27
26
54
8
80
116
512
881
475
59
Votorc
869
199
101
67
442
258
58
89
86
68
24
78
96
888
308
885
59
28
Natives.
887
506
216
169
1,886
791
117
76
66
108
80
206
278
801
846
1,040
148
75
19
12
2
22
12
1
6
12
23
6
87
9
46
16
104
6
SUves.
7
6
1
26
11
1
10
8
'7
14
86
16
88 .
28
Total.
962
2
3
816
.... 161
518
252
4.
. . . . 106
177
5
. . . . 824
1,407
810
6.
. . . . 472
7
.... 82
118
8
.... 56
88
9.
.... 61
86
10.
. . . . 97
161
11
. . . . 88
86
12.
.... 168
248
18
.... 168
284
14.
. . . . 666
1,167
878
1,188
160
15
16.
472
. . . . 708
17
. ... 91
18.
6,088 8,278 2,877 7,161 408 192 8,500
POPUUTION OF ST. iODIS IN 1864-55.
Tbe official returns of the census takers of St Louis, just completed, give the follow-
ing as the number of inhabitants in the six wards of the city proper : —
White PDpaUUoD. Oolored. Total.
First Ward 18,s>02 149 19,054
Second Ward 16,686 824 17,510
Third Ward 18,086 1.088 14,069
PonrthWard 11,612 468 11,965
KftbWard 15,728 292 16,020
SixthWard 18,819 205 19,024
Total 94,686 2,966 97,642
Showing an increase of about $12,000 since the ceososof lS62-'68. The entire popa-
httioo of tbe city and suburbs will reach neaiiy 120,000.
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122
SiatUtics of Population, etc
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£^ati$tks of PopuiaHcn, etc. 1^
POPULATIOH OF PAKI8.
The official publkatioo of the censoB statistics of Paris began with the eighteenth
eeiHury ; and the first documents issued were found to be in material disagreement
with the obeerrations of statntidans and economists. Previous to the eighteenth
century we have only the testimony of historians in regard to the Parisian population
and they are equally contradictory among themselves. Under the two first races of
kings, the population of Paris appears to hare been inconsiderable. The kings seldom
lesided there, and Charlemagne himsolf never went there. But after the fall of the
second dynasty, Hugh Capet, who bore the title of Count of Paris, fixed his residence
there. It soon became the chief city of the royal domain, and grew with the progress
of royalty.
The city received such accessions during the 12th century, that Philip Augustus was
compelled to enlarge the circuit of its walls; and at the commencement of the tliir-
teenth century the population was estimated at 120,000. Under Philip IV. (say in
1286) it was estimated at 200,000 ; but the tax lists of that period, do not justify the
estimate. A century of civil and foreign wars, and the prevalence of wasting epi-
demics, had so reduced the population, that in 1474, in the reign of Louis XI., it
amounted to but 160,000. At the epoch of the League, (which took place in 1690, to
exclude Henry IV. from the throne,) it l^Ml reached 200,000.
Under the administration of Cardinal Richelieu, the emigration of the provincial
oobleman to Paris, which had been commenced under Frands L, waM revived and
continued. The lords left their chateaux to fall to ruins, and built a great number of
hotels in the faubourgs of Psiis. The vast space known under the name of Pre-auz-
Ckrcs, was covered with dwellings. Besides this, the privileges successively accord-
ed to the inhabitants of Paris by the kings of France, such as exemption from taxes,
and from military service, and from other services of different natures, attracted to the
capi^ <^ crowd of people from the provinces, either to escape the misfortnnea of war
or local servitude, or to enjoy the privileges and immunities accorded to the bouigeois
of the city.
Thus, towards the end of the reign of Louis XIY., we find that Paris contained
within iU walls, 492,600 inbabitanU; in 1719, 609,080; and frtmi 1762 to 1762 aboat
676,6Mr. About twenty years subsequent to the last-mentiooed epoch, grave ques-
tkms arose among the political economists, as to the exact population which ought to
be assigned to the city. During this interim, the population had probably increased
100,000. According to Bnfibo it was 668,000 in 1776 ; and in 1778, according to
Moheao, 670,000; while in 1784, according to Neckar, it was 600,000 only. The
\ contributed much to the increase of the Parisian population, by obtaining per-
, one by one, to annex their individual estates or residences to the city, to avoid
octroi duties, and the boundaries, as well as the populatioo, were gradually enlarged.
At the end of the reign of Louis XVL, the population of Paris was set down at
610,620 ; in 1798 at 640,608 ; and in 1802, at 670,000. During the first years of the
empire, however, it was diminished, being 647,766 in 1806, and 680,609 in 1808. Ib
the following year the number was 600,000; and in 1807, notwithstanding the recent
wars and two invasions, it was 712,966; in 1827,800,481; in 1881, the commence-
ment of the quinquennial censuses, 714,828; in 1886, 909,126; in 1841, 912,088, not
indudiog soldiers under arms, absentees* and infants; in 1846, 1,068,897, and in the
eolire department of the Seine. 1,864,467. In 1861, the census gave Paris 1,068,268,
and the department of the Seine 1,881,782.
In 1862, the births in the city were 88,284, of which 22,426 were legitimate, and
10,868 illegitimattt. In the same year the dkiths were 27,880, and there were 10,424
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124 Jcwrmal qf Mimn§ aind Mam^tuiur€$,
marriages. It would be a coriooa itadstioal labor to Moertain the nrnnber of Pariaiaiis
bom in tbe city and residiDg there. It is believed that deducting the eoldiers and the
abseutees, there would only be found about 200,000 native born in the whole popula-
tion of the city.
JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
HAHUFACTURB OF PLATE GUS8 IV VBW YORK.
The Courier and Enquirer gives an interesting account of the success recently
adiieved by the American Plate Glass Company, in that part of the city of Brooklyn
known as Williamsburg. The process of manafacture is briefly described by a cor-
respondent of the Courier : —
The melting-pots, of a capacity to hold six hundred pounds of material, are made
of fire-day, prepared in a peculiar manner, and placed in the furnace, and when suffi-
ciently hot are nlled with the alkali and silex, and the doors closed upon them. In
teu or twelve hours the mass is ready for casting. Near the furnace is an iron table a
Hltle more than five feet bv ten, under which a slow fire is placed, so that it is moder-
ately heated. At the head of the Uble is an iron roller some two feet in diameter,
and near that a swinging crane. The surface of the table is flush, but upon its edges
are placed bars of iron, corresponding to the thickness it is desired to cast the pl«te.
These bars serve as bearers for the roller. The material being ready, the first step is
to remove the furnace door, which is accomplished by means of long levers and tongs.
By similar means a pot is extracted from the furnace and plao^ on a carriage or
truck. From the outside of the vessel all adhering substance from tbe coal is scraped
off, and the surfifuse of the matter is also skimmed by ladles of all impurities. A collar,
with two long handles, is then lowered by the crane, and incloses tne pot just under
the projections or shoulders upon it, and by a windlass it is raised some six feet, and
swung directly over the table. The projecting handles are then seiied by two men,
and in a moment the six hundred pounds of melted glass flows like a sea of lava over
the iron surface. Two other men instantly send the ponderous roller on its way firom
the head of tbe table, reducing the mass to the thickness of which tbe iron bearers are
the guage. In fifty seconds the mass Is sufiidently solidified to permit it to be pushed
rapidly upon a table having a wooden surface, resting upon rollers, which is at ooee
pushed biasing and smoking to the mouth of a kiln, into which the glara is pM8cd»
there to remain from three to five days, when it emerges annealed and ready to be
trimmed. The edges, even if the glass be an inch thick, are smoothly cut by a dia-
mond, and it is then read^ for market in a state known as ** rough plate glass.'* The
whole process of casting is not only interesting but exoittpg ; the men are drilled to
move promptly and silently, handling their implements with great adroitnesa Tbs
process described does not occupy more than four to five minutes, and everything ia
immediately ready for another casting.
Tbe company do not as yet polish their glasa to fit it for windows or mirrors; bat
are about to introduce the maeninery necessary for that purpose. At present there m
sufficient demand for the rough plate, to be used in floors, roofs, decks, <&&, to keep
thiiir works constantly employea. They can produce plates two inches in thickneas,
and one hundred and twenty by two hundrea and forty inches square, a new table,
weighing thirty-two tons, being In readiness for castings of the latter dimensions. It
is believed that pUte glasa of gr^t thickness, at a low price, will be introduced te
many purposes, for whidi iron and stone have hitherto been used.
The duty on imported gUss is 80 per cent, but so bulky and fngiie w the article
that the duty, expenses, uid breakage, amount to nearly 90 per cent The fact that
tbe company own a water front, and can ship dhreetly from then' works, is an import-
ant consideratioii in avoiding loss from breakage, affording at tha same time advaa-
tages for receiving fuel, sand, and other material direct.
The construction of the works commenced on the Ist of Febriuu^, 1866, and the
first casting was made about the 1st of May, giving proof of a welldigefted plan and
vigorous execntioii. The works are at present capable of producing seven hundred
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JomrmU irf Mim^ mtd MamufaeUtres, 125
feet of three-dghthe iodi glM« per day. Hie fomftce holds twelre pots, aod there are
twelve aanealiDg kilns, each forty by eighteen feet The fires, kept up by Cumberland
coal, are not allowed to go down until the furoaces are destroyed, which generally oc-
curs aAer a year's use. The pots, after a casting, are at once returned to the furnace,
aod refilled. They usually last a month. The temperature of the establishment is
decidedly high, above the top of ordinary thermometers. The furnace fires are watched,
ae is a solar eclipse, through dark-colored glass, the intensity of the light being unen-
durable b^ the naked eye. The appearance of the " sea of glass " when poured upon
the table is extremely beautiful. At first of bright whiteness, dazzling to the eye, it
rapidly changes to pmk, scarlet, crimson, and a dark, murky red, streaked with l)iack,
in which state it is thrust into Uie kiln.
THE ALCOHOL OF CHRMI8TRT AND COMMERCE.
Alcohol is that combustible fluid which rises by the distillatioo of the juices of sweet
fruits ; firom the infusion of malted barley or other grain ; the solutioDe of sugar,
honey, aod other substances that are capable of being converted jnto sugar after they
have undergone that spontaneous change which is commonly known as fermentation—
th« vinous fermentation. The word alcohol is of Arabic or Hebrew origin, and signi-
fies subtle or attenuated ; but although it has for many ages been used to designate
the material in question, it does not appear to have become popular ; ** spirits of wine,"
or ** spirits,** being the general interpretation of alcohol.
As alcohol is well known to be derived from sugar, malt, aod grapes, it is generally
though erroneously believed that these substances contain it By the hand of Power
a ** Greek Slave '^ can be produced from a solid mass of marble chained to a pedestal.
No one will believe that the beautiful form pre-existed in the nubble, and that Power
merely removed the stone veil that inclosed itl In like manner, when a chemist
manipulates sugar, barley, or grapes, for the purpose of making alcohol, he does sot
separate it as a material pre-existing in the substances operated on, but merely uses
the ingredients contained therein to create alcohol It is an ascertained fact that al-
cohol can only be made from sugar, although at first sight it appears to be made from
a variety of things, such as potatoes, treade, (fee. When it is known that any mate-
rials that contain starch can be converted into sugar, the mystery of making alcohol
from potatoes becomes solved. Moreover, when starch b manipulated in another
way, chemists can produce from it vbegar, sugar, alcohol, water, earbonic acid, oxalic
add, carbonic oxyd gas, lactic acid, and many other substances ; but it must not be
sapposed that these materials have any pre-existence m starch — no, they have been
created from the elements composing starch, but not from that substance itself. The
starch is broken up, and its elements are re-arranged into new forms. When alcohol
is made from barley, we merely complete a change which nature had begun. Barley
contains starch. When barley is malted, the starch becomes sugar ; this we extract
by the use of water, and call it wort Fermentation is now set up, and Uie sugar is
dhaoged into spirit How quickly this can be turned into acetic acid— that is, vinegar
— is well known to all beer drinkers.
GRAVEL COICRETE.
The plan of building houses with gravel concrete — a mixture of lime, stone, and
gravel — is exciting considerable attention, under the present high prices of lumber and
brk^ It is comparatively a new thing, although in Ohio and other Western States
it has been practiced for fifteen or twenty years. The only question about it is that
of cheapness, for of its durability there can be no doubt The building now in progress
of coBStmctioa on this plan in Wakham, Massachusetts, by the Boston Match Gobi*
pany, is said to hare thus fiyr saved the entire eost of bridr.
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B0AIJ8 FOR BUIiaiVtt SfllPS IB LeUIMAilA.
The Senate and Hoose of Representatiyes of the State of LonisUna in General Aa-
eemblj conyened baye pasaed the following act relatiye to ship building. This aci
was approyed by the Qoyernor March 1 6th, 1866, and is now in force : —
Sxa 1. Tliat a reward or bonus is offered, and shall be giyen, by this State to each
person or association of persons, whether resident of this State or otherwise, who shaU
Duild and complete, or cause to be built and completed, within this State, any ship or
yessel of a tonnage each of more than fifty tons burden ; which reward or bonus shall
be fiye dollafs per ton, custom-house measurement, fur each ship or yessel ; and for
each sea- going steamer so built and completed as aforesaid ; and four dollars per ton
for each and eyery riyer or lake steamer so built and completed as aforesaid.
Sec. 2. That any person demanding the reward or bonus shall file in the office of
the Secretary of State a certificate, signed by the collector of the port and the builder,
which shall state the name of the builder, the name and tonnage of the ship or other
vessel ; was wholly built and completed within this State ; and upon the production
of a copy of said certificate, countersigned by the Secretary of State, it shall be the
duty of the Auditor of Public Accounts to giye to the bolder of said certified copy a
warrant upon the Treasurer for the amount to which he may be entitled.
Saa S. That this act shall be in force during the term of fiye years from the 18th
day of March, 1866.
8Ea 4. That all laws contrary to the proyisions of this act, and all laws on the same
subject matter, except what is contained in the Ciyil Code and Code of Practice, be
repealed.
GOMBIBTATIOIV OF IROH A9D GLASS.
Mr. Oampbell, of Columbus, Ohio, has made application at Washington for a patent,
making a bond of union between cast-iron at a yery high temperature and glass in a
state of fusion, and designed for boxes in which the axles of wheels reyolye. The
glass is for the interior of the box, and, causing but little friction, it requires but little
lubrication, and is, therefore, economical, costing less than cast iron. The hUelligenetr
says: —
** The tests to which the specimen we haye seen has been subjected, at once coo-
yinced us that glass thus imbedded in iron could sustain extraorginaiy pressure and
the most powerful blows ; but a doubt arose in relation to the inequality in the coo-
traction and expansion of the two materials, by sudden changes in their temperature.
Iron, however, expands and contracts by heat far more than ^\fi»&^ and the cast-iron
box being expanded to its utmost when the glass congeals, all its after tendency by
this means must necessarily be to embrace the glass within it; and this glass, being
in the form of an arch, with its bases and apex b^ih embraced by the iron, it can yield
to no power that is not capable of literally cru^fhing it to powder.'*
MANUFACTURING BOOTS AND SHOES BT MACHINERY.
A number of Frenchman are about getting up an establishment at Utica, New
York, for the manufkcture of boots and shoes by machinery. It Is said that the mano*
fttctnre of a fine shoe wilt cost but ten cents, and that of a fine boot but fifteen or
twenty cents. The machines can be run by women and boys, and their proper man-
agement does not require any knowledge of the present way of making boots and
shoes. The Telegraph says that the owners are now in Washington securing a patent
for their machine, and it thus speaks of its performance : —
The machine is so perfect th^t it is only necessary to place in it two pieces of sole
and upper leather, and in an incredibly short space of time it turns out a complete
boot or shoe, as is desired. We learn that a number of capitalists of this city are ne>
gotiating for the purchase of the patent, and that it is their intention, should they suc-
ceed in securing it, to purchase the Qlobe Mills and to convert them into an extensive
boot and shoe mannfactory, employing some seven hundred hands. A gentleman in
this city now extensively interetsted in mannfinctnring, it in New York negotiating for
the purchase of the patent
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Jowmal of Mining and M<mufaetwr€9. 127
IMPROyiUBOT IH THE MAlKJFACTimE OF BREAD.
John S. Gould, of Columbia cooety, recontlj presented the State Agricultaral Soci.
ety with a loaf of improved bread — an article in the manufactare of which there haa
been no marked improvement since the days of Pericles. This bread, as we learn from
the Albany Journal^ is the invention of a Mr. CauM, (an appropriate name for the in-
veotor of a loafy) who was formerly baker in General Taylor's army, daring the Mexi>
ean war. The improvement consists in a new application of the old principles of fer-
mentatioD, and modification in the old method of baking. Its advantages are thus
sommed up by the Journal : — ^
1. It does not c^ow stale in eight or ten days. It is as fresh at the end of a week
as ordinary bakers bread at the end of twenty- four hours.
2. It can be manufactured by machinery, which is impossible with ordinary bread.
Three men can manu&cture eight thousand loaves per day in this manner.
8. Ordinary floor, of common brands, can, by this process, be converted into white
and sweet bread, as can by ordinary means l>e made from the best superfine flour.
Even sour flour can be made into good sweot bread.
4. The liability of bread to become sour is completely obviated.
6. No drugs whatever are used in making it, not even pearlash. No ingredients are
employed in the manufacture of it except flour, salt, yeast, and water.
If half what is claimed for this new method of manufacturing bread is true, the im-
provement is certainly very important
mix AS A MAJIUFACTURIN6 I56REDIE5T.
Milk now performs other offices besides the production of butter and cheese and the
flavoring of tea. It has made its way into the textile factories, and has become a val-
oeable adjunct in the hands of the calico printer and the woolen manufacturer. In
the daas of pigment printing work, which is indeed a species of painting, the colors
are laid on the face of the goods in an insoluble condition, so as to give a full, bril-
liant appearance. As a vehicle for effecting this process of decoration, the insoluble
albnroen obtained from eggs was always used, until Mr. Pattison, of Glasgow, Boot-
land, found a more'eoonomical substitute in milk. For this purpose buttermilk is now
bought op in large quantities from the farmers, and the desired indissoluble matter is
obtained from it at a price £ar below that of egg albumen. This matter the patentee
has called **hictarin.''
A second application of the same artide-^milk — ^has just been developed by eaves
arising out of the recent high price of olive oil, which having risen from £40 to £70 a
too, the woolen manufacturers are now using the high-priced article mixed with milk.
'Diis compound is said to answer much better than oil alone, the animal fat contained
in the globules of the milk apparently famishing an element of more powerful effect
apon the fibers than the pure vegetable oil per se.
MEN E1I6A0ED IN THE BUILDING TRADES IN GREAT BRITAIN.
From a statement by Mr. Godwin, the architect, published in the London Bmildir,
it seems that there are 182,000 carpenters and joiners, 101,000 masons and paviors,
68,000 bricklayers, 68,000 plumbers, painters, and glaziers, 86,000 sawyers, 81,000
brickmakers, besides plasterers, slaters, and others ; makmg a total of 586,000 per-
sona, exdodve of 2,970 architects. The largeness of their interests involved, he added,
was evident The positioo which builders and contractors had taken in England was
noexampled ; they commanded armies of men ; had their William Oubitt, Peto, Jack-
son, and others in Parliament; and were amongst the largest enoouragers of art and
Mteratore.
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126 Journal af Mhnimg^ tmd Mawu/miurm^
EXTEISIYB FLODBUfO MILL IS LOUISTIUB.
Mesara. Smith and Sm jser, of Louisville, Kentucky, hare reoeDtlj completed a mo«t
exteoiiTe flouring mill at the Falls near that city. It was erected at a cost of $86,000,
and embraces all the latest improvements. Its Ave run of stones will grind 1,600
bushels of wheat daily, and its arrangements are such that 600 barrels of flour can
be packed in a day without spilling a handful. We quote from ^e Courier of the
24th:—
The motire power of this tnill is the water of the falls of the Ohio, just where it
dsehes with irresistible force thi <Migh the Indiana chute. The mill-raoe was excavated
at an imcoense cost of time, labor, and money, from the solid limestone that forms the
bed of the rapids. The wheels are on an entire new principle, being similar to the
submerged propellers used in war steamers, working an 'immense upright shaft, the
base of which is sunk fifteen feet through solid rock. The entire machinery of the
mill is worked or revolved by this shaft, which extends its ()ower from the bed of the
river to the very roof of the building, the whole moving with the evenness and rago-
larity of clockwork, and with irresistible and untiring power. As long as the waters
of the Ohio roll onward to the Oulf, so long will the machinery of this great mill per-
petuate its action, and be an enduring monument of the energy, talent, and enterprise
of its builders.
Messrs. Smith and Smyser*8 flour store is on Market-street, above First, where they
have constant supply of their superior flour, as well as all the diflfereot kinds of offi&l
of the mill. They have been in operation since the first of January, and during the
past week wore making flour from wheat from Chicago that cost them $2 per bushel.
They will always be in market buying wheat, for which the farmers throughout Ken-
tucky, Indiana, and Ohio, are informed that they pay the highest cash price fur a good
article.
CHEAP COAL BY A CHEMICAL PREPARATION.
Br. Thomas Hooper, of New Orleans, has discovered a chemical preparatkm, which,
mixed with mud as a brickUiyer would mix lime with sand, makes an exoelleot coal
—coal that can be made and sold in the Kew Orleans market for thirty oents a barrel,
if made by hand, or fifteen cents if made by madiinery. It lights easily ; there is no
offensive smell emitted, but little smoke, and bat very little dast*or dndera. What
little cinders are left, is good for cleaning silver, brass, or other similar metals ; and
the ashes make a tolerable sand pftper, and are also good ibr scrubbing floors, d^ The
patentee also assuies us, says the American Fxpanent, " that it will not only bom
wall in grates, (where we saw it burning,) but in stoves, f omates for smelting, and f>r
making steam. In fact, it can be put to all the practical uses of wood or coal, exoept
for the purpose of generating gas."
1
DEMAND FOR WOOL IN EUROPE.
The London Journal of Commerce says : ** The demand for wool is increasing very
rapidly in all countries, especially on the continent France is, perhaps, the larffest
market of the world for wool, and employs every year wool of the value of more Uum
twelve millions of pounds sterling, and is, moreover, annually increasing her exports of
woolen stuffs. France, the Zollverein, and Belgium, require yearly about £22,000,000
worth of wool, while their own production is scarcely to the value of £16,000,000.
Wool stands next to cotton m importance of the various raw materials employed in
our home manufactures, engaging upwards of £30,000,000 of Britii<h capital, and the
woolen and worsted trades formiog more than a fourth part of our textile manufactures.
If, with all the obstacles to progression — deficiency of labor, colonial reverses, the rav-
ages of the scab, and the attractions of the gold-fields — the exports of AustraHan wool
have doubled in the last ten years, we see no reason why even a much greater increase
should not take place in the next decade ; and a more diifused and dense population,
with increased facilities of transport bv water and rail, afford a certain promise, that
the mighty island of New Holland, which in our sphere haa ah-eady edipsod all Its
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RaUroad, Oanal, and SUaimhomt SloMki. 12t
prcdeoMBon uid oootemporttieft, will, S8 ragsnb the fyrodttctifto of the equrily neeet-
tary staple wool, go on inrreasiog in an enormous ratio, aod fumiah such a supply of
tbe raw material for oar woolen Csbries as shall not only meet the enhanced British
demand, but also leave supplies for the increasing wants of our continental and trans-
Atlantic brethren. With every rach increase the shipping business must necewarily
prosper, and an enhanced demand for tonnage of consequence arise, aflbrding valuable
return freightu for the large fleet of fine ships engaged in the Australian tnuie.'*
LORD BERRIE9AL£*8 PATF5T FOR PAPER F^OM THE THISTLE.
Among the patents issued in England during the past year, is one, dated July 8,
1854, to Lord Berriedale, London, relative to the application and use of the com men
thisUe, or Oaiduus, as it is termed by botanists, in the production of pulpy material
from which paper may be made. All varieties of the plant, it is stated, are applica-
ble to the purposes of this invention, but more partiailarly the large Scottish thistle,
which grows luxuriantly in many parts of Great Britain, attaining a great height and
thickness of stem, and which furnish in each plant, fiber of great tenacity to a large
amount This, when duly prepared, is well suited for the preparation of a paper
pulp, which will cohere very powerfully, as well as prove useful in textile manufao
tares. It may be used whether green or dry, and for paper goes through a proceft
similar to that which rags are subject to, and if for manufactures, like flax.
&AILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
0CEA5 IAD IIVUHD STEAMERS OUT OF THE PORT OF KEW TORI.
nvMBia n.
-THE PLYMOUTH ROCK.''
In continuation o{ our series of descriptions of the newer and finer steamers out of
Hew York, we this month present a brief notice of the Plymouth Rock, another of
(be steamers recently completed for the navigation of Long Island Sound, forming
part of the ** regular mail line between New York and Boston via Stooington and
Plrovidence," in connection with the Stonington and Providence, and the Boatoo and
Providence railroads.
It may not be out of place, by way of introduction, to refer to the rofuU to which
the Plymouth Rock belongs, as tbe oldest of the three principal lines of travel be-
tween the cities of New York and Boston. In the earlier days of steamboats, the
passage was made between New York and Providence the whole distance by water,
aod many beside the ''oldest inhabitant" will remember the name and fame of the
steamers then engaged in this important service. A trip through the Sound, passing
Fisher's Island, and the race around Point Judith into Narragansett Bay, stopping
perhaps for wood and water, poultry and vegetables, or it may be only by stress of
weather, at Hart Island, Huntington, New Haven, New London, Stonington, Newport
and other places all along shore, was an undertaking little less arduous than a voyage
aerois the Atlantic Ocean in the Collins steamers of to-day.
On tbe opening of the iiJtonington Railroad in the year 1887, the outside steamers
were in part transferred from the route to Providence via Newport, to that via Ston-
ington, and after running thus- in combination for two or three years, the boats were
exclusively assigned to the Stonington route, which had become more and more a
VOL. xxxm^ — KO. I, 9
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180 BaUroady (kmal, (md Steamboat StaiUiki.
favorite wtth travelen, on aoooimt of its being iaUuid aod nmoh more ezpeditioiiB
tkao the old roate.
Not withstanding sereral new and popalar channels of conveyance have been opened
between New York and Boston subsequently, we understand the proprietors of the
route via StoningtoD claim that theirs still remains the shortest in miles, and the most
direct as traced on the map.
At all events, we know that the Stoningtoo line has always enjoyed its share of
public favor, and that its steamers rank among the first in these waters.
The Plymouth Bock made her first trip to Stoniogton .October 19, 1854. The hull
was built by J. Simonson, and is of unusual heavy timber, with a variety of extra
fastenings. The length of keel, S26 feet; length on deck, 886 feet ; breadth of hull,
40 feet; whole breadth, including guards, 72 £eet; depth of hold, 18 feet; register
I986O tons, custom-house measurement. The model has been much admired by ama-
teurs in marine architecture for its grace and symmetry. She is certainly a very fine-
looking steamer, and reflects great credit on her builder, whose succees has before
been remarked.
The machinery was furnished by the Allaire Works of this city. The engine is a
beam, with a cylinder 76 inches in diameter and 12 feet stroke of piston ; the shafts
and cranks are of wrought-iron, heavily fastened and braced. There are two low-
pressure boilers, of very great size and capacity, placed on the guards. The steamer
has also an extra engine and pumps to supply the boilers, and so arranged in case of
fire, that a hose may be attached at a moment's notice, and reach any part of the
boat The engine of the Plymouth Rock is of the first class— massive in strength and
oomplete in finish. It contains all desirable improvements, and is believed to be as
perfect a specimen of machinery as yet produced in this country.
In the construction of this mammoth steamer, it was deemed of paramount import-
aooe to provide a strong and substantial vessel of great power, with the highest
speed, and particularly equipped for the security and safety of life and property.
But the comfort and enjoyment of the passengers has not been by any means ne-
glected. •
The accommodations throughout are spacious, convenient, and elegant ; the furniture
and appointments of the costliest description, and in taste and beauty. The beds and
bedding, chandeliers, china, cut glass, and table furniture, are the best that could be
procured in this country or in Europe-
The Plymouth Rock has one hundred well- ventilated state rooms, including numer-
ous bridal, family, and single-bedded rooms, and berths (wide and roomy) for five
hundred passengers, and a dining cabin remarkably spacious. The ladies' cabin, with
its almost regal splendor, and the state room hall, with its immense proportions and
beautiful arched roof, must be seen to be fully appreciated.
Tlie Plymouth Rock is supplied with several metallic life-boats, with patent cans,
seats, and buoys fitted as life-preservers, with fire-engioe, force-pumps, hose, and
other apparatus and contrivances to protect and preserve from accident, danger, or
harm.
The Plymouth Rock is under the command of Captain Joel Stone, who has been
from early boyhood on the Sound, and is most favorably known as a competent and
courteous master.
The other steamers of the Stonington line — the " 0. Vanderbilt " and the ** Commo-
dore," are among the established institutions of Long Island Sound. Their qualities
as staunch, safe, and fast steamers, have always rendered them popular with travelers
to and from the East
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Rcnlroad, Oanal, and Steamboat Statistics,
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Mercantile Miseellanies, 183
A IfGW RAILaOAD BRIDGE.
The model of a bridge inventod by Mr. G. S. Avery, C. E^ vrta recently tested at
tbe Utnoo Depot, io Troy, before several scientific men and a number of spectators.
The model is four feet and six inches in lenj^th, with the average height of five inches,
and constructed of white pine- wood and brass bolts; its weight being five-aod a-hall
pounds. It sustained a weight of eleven hundred pouodj, being two hundred times
its owQ weight, with a deflection of one-quarter of an inch. On a recent visit to Troy
we bad an opportunity of examining the model, and in our judgment, Mr. Avery has
focceeded in attaining to the fullest extent possible, and to a greater degree than has
been heretof jre attained, the great dedideratuiu of bridges— simplicity of construotioa
with the combbation of lightness and strength.
MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
MEMOIRS OF AMBRICAUr MBRGHAHTSi
xicnrxNT Foa integkitt, industrt, xnebot, xirrBaPEisK, and suocxss in lifb.
We eopy the foUowtng well-written editorial from the New York Eoening Mirror.
As the editor of that journal remarks in the last paragraph quoted, we propose td
publish a volume of " Mercantile Biography," in the course of the coming autumn,
wluch will include many but not " all " the sketches that have appeared io the Jfer-
thtntt^ Mofftuine, It is our intention to select such only as comport with the design
of the series indicated by its title of giving the ** Memoirs of American Merchants,
eminent for Integrity, Industry, Energy, Enterprise, and Success in Life " — the repre-
sentative men, who ** may serve as a key to universal mercaatile history." The series,
lor we shall probably extend it co tw(» or more volumes, will include many merchants
tnd business men of the present and the past, whose memoirs have not been pub-
lished in this magazine, or in any other form. The first volume will cover some five
hundred octavo pages, printed on a large, handsome type, and fine paper, and neatly
sod sobetantially boond. The volume will be illustrated with a number of portraits
eograTed oo steel, and form altogether a volume artistically equal, in every respect
to Irving's Life of Washington, published by G. P. Putnam, or Bancrofc's History of
the United SUUs, by Little, Brown <b Go.
The first volume will contain biographies of Samnel Appleton, Thomas P. Gope,
Peter G. Brooks, Samuel Shaw, Joseph Peabody, Hon. Thomas H. Perkins, Jonathan
Ooodhne, Hoa James G. King, Patrick Tracy Jackson, Stephen Girard, Walter R.
Jones, Ac^ &c^ nearly all of whom belonged to the first era of the commercial history
of the United States, and died at an advanced age. Subsequent volumes will proba-
bly contain the lives of some of the most eminent living American merchants, and
will thus bring down this biographical history of the G«>mmerce of America to the
present time: —
** MXaOANTIUI BIOOEAFBT— BUNT*B MAOAZINB.*
<* When the hiptorian, yet to come, shall attempt to picture the mercantile phase of
oar national annals, he will torn with thankfalneas to the pages of *' Hunt's Merchantt*
Magazine," as the largest authentic source from whence to derive the facts, philoso-
phy, and biography, which go to explain the marvelous rapidity with which the Com-
merce of our young republic has risen in competition and successful rivalry with that
of the eldest and proudest of maritime nations. Among the many admirable features
of the aforesaid magazine — the leading and best of its kind the world over— none af-
fords greater interest and instruction, or deserves more praise, than the department
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154 MertanHle MUuUam».
deroted to mercaDtile biograf^. As tba biftorj of one nMD, of eosmopoliUo ezpe-
rieoce, may be eaki to typify in a measure tbe history of the humaD race« so the bio-
graphical record of one emiDeot mercfaaDt may serre as a key to uoiyersal mercantile
history. Tbe Astors, Oirards, Ora^s, Brookses, and Lawrences of oar coantrr, col-
lectively or singly, illustrate the spirit and ffeuius of the class to which they belong.
" Fbkeman Hunt, in his invaluable roagizme, whom we are proud, as Americana^ to
know is €quall^ popular and authoritative, in commercial circles, on both sides of the
Atlantic, has given several sketches of eminent mercantile Americans — all exceeding-
ly interesting, but nooe more so than the sketch of the celebrated Peter Ghardon
Brooks, (with fine steel portrait,) contributed by the Hon. Edward Everett to tbe June
number of the magazine. Mr. Everett could hardly have selected a more marked
character, if his object was to best illustrate the integrity, the intelligence, tbe enter-
prise, or the sagacity and energy of the pioneers and moiders of American Commare
— and his classic and graceful pen has done as ample justice to the great Boston aier^
chant, banker, marine insurer, and millionaire, as the limits of a magazine article
would admit
** We have not space for eyen a synopsis of this interesting biography — which everr
young man, intent on entering the ranks of trade and Commerce, snould read for ad-
vice as well as stimulus — but we have, from its perusal, had our life-long conviction
strengfthened, that tbe best goals of fortune, and honor, and personal happiness, are
only open to those who begm their career aright, and live it aright — swayed by fixed
principles from tbe start, and never sacrificing honesty or honor, howerer present cir-
cumstances may tempt Peter C. Brooks achieved a vast fortune, and a solid and
commanding reputation, not by bap-haxard venturep, but by pursuing, evenly and
steadily, a well-calculated line of action, reauiriuff a sagacity and enterprise, but much
more requiring a stubborn integrity and an indomitable will to resist speculation. His
business was well defined, orderly to perfection, and constantly supervised (during his
active business career) by himself.
** If he was iar-seeing and far-reaching in his enterprise, he was equally pmdent
and moderate in the use of means to accomplish his ends. The most active part of
bis life was passed between the years 1789 and 1808, and perhaps no man in this
country ever accumulated fortune more rapidly than he, during that period. But, in
the pursuit of fortune, Mr. Brooks cultivated the Christian and the roan, and his right
hand was not more dilligent and successful in gathering than his left hand was in
beneficently dispensing. Ample fortune is a glorious thing in the hands of a true m&n,
enabling him to scatter blessing on every side, and at the same time to make &«grant
and bright his own pathway. But we must leave the reader to Mr. Everett's sketch
for a broader and more complete view of Mr. Brooks, who was, decidedly, a repre-
sentative man.
** Mr. Hunt's forthcoming volume of ** Mercantile Biography," which will include all
the sketches that have appeared ii. his magazine to the present time, will be warmly
welcomed as an interesting and long-needed addition to our national history and liter-
ture. Mr. H. may well pride himself on such contributors as Edward Everett"
THE BOSTON BOABD OF TRADE AKD THE MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE.
In this Magazine for May, 1 856, (vol. zxxii., page 647,) we published a letter, ooviched
in terms of high commendation, of Samukl Lawexkcx, Esq., an enterprising, public-
spirited merchant of Boston, ordering a complete set of the Merckanti Magatin*^
which it will be eeen by the annexed correspondence and resolutions, were presented
to the Boston Board of Trade by that gentlemaa The resolutions were original^
published in tbe Boston Evening Transcript, and have been transmitted to the editor
and proprietor of this work by order of the Board. Our Eastern merchants know
bow to ** kill two birds with one stone," and accordingly we find that in acceptiqg the
gift, end returning their thanks to tbe donor, they did not forget to express thear
''high opinion " of the character of the donation :^
OrnuB OP TBB BorroM Board op Trabb, t
Boston, Jane 5, 1855. )
Fbexmam Bunt, Ef q.. Proprietor of the Merchant^ Magastne, New York : —
SiB : — It gives me great pleasure to comply with an order of the Oovemment of tbe
Board of Trade of this city, passed yesterday afternoon, and to transmit to yoo bera-
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MwaantiU JUimManUs. ^ lU
wHk tn eitraci from tbehr Records, cootamiiig ResolutioiM which refor to joar llagA-
dne. I am. Sir, rery respectfullj, yoar obedient eerrant,
ISAAC C. BATES, Secretary of the Board.
[Exiraet from the Becordi of the Government of the Boeton Board of Trade^l
The Secretarj then read a communication from Samvbl Lawbkncb, Esq., asking the
Board to accept of a complete eet of Hunt*8 Merehante* Magcudne ; upon which the
foUowiog resolatioos were proposed bj James M. ^nx^ Esq^ and nnantmooBly
adopted: —
Reeoivedf That we will accept the copy of thirty-one Tolumes of Hunt's 3ferehant$*
liagaxine^ so kindly oflfered by Samubl Lawrencb, Esq., our President, as new proof
of the interest be has always manifested in our Association, and that the thanks of
the Board shall be presented to him for it, and for his liberality in giving so complete
and so perfect a copy.
Retolvedy That we will take this occasion to express our hi(;h opinion of the work
itself, as one well conducted, deyoted to the diffusion of useful information on com-
mercial and industrial a£^rs, and adapted by its freedom from party prejudices ami
sectional views, as well as by its collections of valuable statistics, to the use of com-
mercial men in all parts of our country.
Bstolved, That the Secretary of the Board shall be instructed to communicate our
thanks to Mr. Lawebnob, by sending him a copy of these resolutions, and that a copy
of them shall also be sent to Mr. Hunt, the conductor of the Magasine.
Ordered, That the Secretary of the Board see that these resolution are carried into
effect. A true copy. Attest
ISAAC C. BATES, Seeretarj.
BorroM, June 4, 18M.
The editor of the Evening IVaneeript introduces the resolutions with the following,
among other remarks : —
^ We have been gratified to hear that one of our most enterprising and publio-
npirited merchants has presented a complete set of Hunts Merchant^ Magasine to
the Boston Board of Trade, and in accepting the donation, the government took occa-
sion to pass a series of resolutions, which, as wci believe, express the unanimous opin-
ioo of our merchants in regard to the value of the work to which they relate. Aitar
tneh ao indorsement, can we add more t**
IJITfiORITY OF PHILADELPHIA M£RGHA19TS.
The Rev. Dr. Boabdman, in his address delivered at the Anniversary of the Mer-
chants' Fund Association of Philadelphia, passes a well-merited eulogium upon the
integrity of the merchants of that city, which we take great pleasure in tnasferriog
to the pages of the Mercha/nti Magazine : —
** The hieb mercantile reputation of Philadelphia has long been established on an
impregnable basis. If there be a witness among ourselves, who is competent to speak
on this sutject, it is that great lawyer whose forensic abilities and private virtues nave
for half a century shed so much luster on the Philadelphia bar, and whose fame be-
longs, not to our city or Commonwealth, but to the Union. This is his testimony : —
' In the course of an active professional life, I had constant opportunities to observe
how vastly the cases of gooa faith among merchants and men or business in this city,
outnumbered the cases of an opposite description, where at the same time there was
neither formal security, nor competent proof to insure fidelity. I should say the pro-
portion was greater than a thousand to one.'* If it has fallen to the lot of any body
of merchants, m any age or country, to hare a loflier eulogy than this pronounced
upon them, the case has earned my observation. Nor is it by any means a mere local
and unsupported opinion. The sentiment here expressed finds a cordial response
among foreign manufacturers, and throughout those portions of our own country which
have their trading relations with this city. The feeling all over the Sooth and the
West is, that the merchants of Philadelphia, as a body, are upright and straightforward
men — men who use words in their common signification, and whose goods answer to
the labels. And this conviction it is, even more than your costly canals and railroads.
' Tbe Hon. fioraoe Binney.
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186 Mmr<tuaiU MUoOoMifU.
which brinffn Umid here to make their purchases, nod which eeearee yonr acknowledged
control of the south-western business. Let Philadelphia lose her hereditary character
for oldfa&hiMoed honesty, and the bales and boxes which every spring and autumn
make it ^o difficult for a pedestrian to thread his way along Market-street, will grad-
ually dwindle into very trivial obstructions.
** The commercial integrity of our metropolis, I have said, is not a thing of yester-
day. A philosophic annalist will seek its origin in the character of the men who es-
tablished this Commonwealth. And he must be wilfully blind, who does not detect
the germ of it, in that iounortal transaction which took place under the great Elm
Tree in Kensington. * We meet,' said William Penn to the Indian sachems, * on the
broad pathway of good faith and wood will ; no advantage shall be taken on either
side, but all phatl be openness and love. I will not call you children, for parents
sometimes chide their children too severely ; nor brothers only, for brothers differ. The
friendship between me and you I will not compare to a chain, for that the rain might
rust, or a falling tree might break. We are the same as if one man*8 body were to
be divided into two parts ; we are all one flesh and blood.' Thus was that famous
treaty made, of which Voltaire justly said, * It was never sworn to, and never broken.*
In his intercourse both with the natives and the colonists, Penn adhered to the apothegm
he uttered, when that iniquitous trial was in progress, which ended in his being sent
to Newgate : * I prefer tlie honestly simple to the ingeniously wicked.' And well did
the red men requite his confidence ; for not a drop of Quaker blood was erer shed by
an Indian. Our city, then, was born in righteousness. Thanks, under a benign Pror-
idence, to the primitive Quaker colonists, they laid its foundations in truth, and peace,
and honesty. It must in candor be added, that their descendants have proved them-
selves worthy of such an ancestry. It has been their aim to make and keep Phila-
delphia what William Peon designed it should be. Like all other modem cities, U
has experienced seasons of great financial perplexity and distress. And it would be
going too far to say, that nothing has ever occurred at these crises to awaken solicitude
as to its commercial integrity. But I may say, that no class of men amongst us have
been more jealous for the honor of ihe city ihan our Quaker merchants ; and that
whenever the maxims engraved upon our ancient wall have begun to rust, these de-
•oendants of the early builders have been among the first to brush away the mold,
and with pious care retouch the sacred inscriptions. One of them, a patriarch of more
than fourscore, has lately gone down to an honored grave, amidst the regrets of thta
whole community. It is a great blessing, gentlemen, to have had before you for per-
haps the entire period of your business lives, such an exemplar of the mercantile and
social virtues as Thomas P. Cope. It is no disparagement to the living to say, that
his name was one which came spontaneously to every lip, when requbition was made
for a genuine Philadelphia merchant Will you indulge me in a little anecdote, which
may illustrate a single trait of his character. A person highly recommended ap-
proached him one day, and invited him to embark in a certain jointstock enterprise.
In a careful exposition of the matter he made it appear that the scheme was likely to
succeed, and that the stock would instantly run up to a liberal premium, on being put
into the market. * Well,' said Mr. Oope, * I am satisfied on that point ; 1 believe it
would be as thou savest. But what will be the real value of the stock V * Why, as
t<» thaC answered the speculator, ' I cannot say, (implying by his manner what he
thought ;) but that is of no moment, for all vfe have to do is to sell out, and make our
80 or 40 per cent profit.' * I'll have nothing to do with it : 1*11 have nothing to do with
it :' was the prompt and indignant reply of this incorruptible merchant. * And from
that day,' he used to say, in relating the occurrence, ' I marked \htit man, and shunned
all transactions with him.' This was the integrity of Thomas P. Cope. And to men
of kindred principles with himself, both among the dead and the living, is Philadelphia
mainly indebted, under God, for her enviable commercial reputation.
THE ITEW EKQUND MERCHANT.
A correspondent of the Boston Tranteript gives the following ** short sketch " of the
eareer of the New England merchant The character so graphically drawn will be
recognized by some of the readers of the Merchantn* MoffOMins : —
There is the New England merchant, who may have been bom in poverty and
reared in orphanage — ** the child of misery and baptised in tears." All tlie added
Ibrce that etiucational discipline could impart to his stout heart and determined will,
WM derived from the parish school His progenitors had left no alluring and guiding
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MnrcaiUiU MUeOiaadm. 18T
tight to briglrtaa aod ADOoaniB^ hit early steps m his onward path ; but be tmew that
there was a Metx^ to be reached by every assiduously fMthful and persevering soul.
To his youthfal promise, a ship-owner of discriminating mind extends thuhand of
patronage, and ia twenty- four hours he U afloat and finds himself master of the Tes-
ters cargo and its destiny.
The ^bin becomes his lycenm by day« and the deck his observatory by night
Responsibility having been unexpectedly thr jst upon him, the eye of his mind be-
comes more active and penetrating, and gains enlargement as the sphere of doty
widens. He is furnished with a copv of l£>wditch*s Navigator, and probably fiicOul-
loch's DicUonary of Oommeree, which, uniteii, may be regarded as a bible to the dili{
gent inquirer after nautical and commercial lore. The captain never ceases to wonder
how it IS that a mere youth should be placed as a sentinel over a matured Cape God
Salt ** It must be," says the captain, ** some infernal wild business that the old man
must needs send you as special agent**
The characterittie traits that distinguished (he Oape Ood captains more or lest,
thirty years ago, appear to have been the love of money and laziness ; they prayed
for an accumulation of just so much money as would enable them to buy salt works,
and He on their backs and see the windmill pump up the water and the sun evap-
orate it
The energy and discretion of our young merchant toon find an ample field for their
exercise, among competitors of maturer years, on a foreign soil By the force of what
we may call •• mother- wit" or som*ethin^ better, he manages to dispose of his assorted
cargo, and returns with another, realizing to his employer a handsome profit, whilst
older heads come home from the same port grayer and poorer than they went
His next abidmg impressions were probably received among the spice islands of the
East and they caught here and there a hue which deepened as life advanced. The
bb)om and odor of that charming region becomes so inwrought with all that is capti-
vating to his senses and profitable to his purse, that the^ have never ceased to sweeten
his existence ; and blow high or low, the aroma remains. He can never speak of
Penang and its surroundings but as a physical heaven.
Success thus far has been challenged and won, and though it expands his desires, it
is made to wait on judgment Wherever he goes, within or without the tropics, he is
come to be regarded as a sort of Korth Star, and as earnestly consulted. He imparts
more useful knowledge to the denizens of remote and half- civilized islands in a day,
than the learned pedant could in a month, backed by all the appliances of classics,
eodez, and philosophy. Mental food, opportunely prepared, is often more acceptable
than the savory compounds of professed cooks. He makes a capture of prejudices,
where the less skillful would incur and increase them.
The government of himself has fitted him for the governing of others. His general
ability and forecast elevate him to the rank of commercial ambassador at the age of
forty, but he is invested with no commission but that which he carries in bis own bead.
He projects himself into commnnities that have long lain in the ore, and sinks there a
shaft that strikes and develops a new mine of material wealth ; he seeks the car of
public authority, and makes it ring to the tune of prospective millions ; and possibly
the enthroned monarch has been nis pupil in political economy, suggesting to him
a new development ot his means, and a brighter destiny for his people. His outgo-
ings and his ingoings, which have been as regular and salutary as the tides, now cease,
and he can be seen any day in our neighborhood, seated at his breakfast table in .his
" robe de chan>bre,'' with the morning paper in his hand, wearing a ruddy complexion
and an untroubled aspect qnite signincant of the happy condition of his mind and
body.
TTiis race of hero-merchants is rapidly disappearing. Modern enterprise has now
posted its allies on every inlet and by-way of commercial traffic; and the votary of
mercantile renovn, however endned with courage and skill, finds few places on the
world's map where those Qualities can now be signalised or tasked to advantage.
We have followed our iMew England merchant over seas and through varied climes,
and now to his home. If his satisfied and independent spirit did not find sufficient
eoosolatton in the reflection that he has enlarged the circumference of civilization and
ameliorated the condition of his fellow-man, he might retrim his sails, and safely navi-
gate to the gates of the capitol ;. but he prefers to " hear at a distance the noise of
the Oametia," and pass the residue of his days among the groves of his owu E^cria —
(* There Id bright drops the crytUl ruuutaioB play
By laurels stiadMl from lbs piercing day ;
Where eummerhi l>eauiy, mld«i of winter strays.
And winter^ eoolii«»B| spite m suminer's rays.**
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198 Mercantile IReeelkmiee.
THB MERCASTILK UBRABT ASSOOfATIOff «F affmMATI.
We have noticed in former volumes of tbe Merchant^ Magazine this succesaful as-
sociation. The twentieth annual report (1855) of the Board of Directors shows the
progressive character of the institution. It was first organised in April, 1836, witi^
forty-five members. In 1886 it had one hundred and sixty-nine members, and seven
hundred and sixty-seven volumes in its library. The roll of members now shows two
thousand ^'ve hundred and fifty members and fourteen thousand eight hundred and
forty -one volumes in its library. The organization subscribes for four daily, two tri-
weekly, and nine weekly foreign journals ; and fifty daily, nine tri- weekly, and sixty-
seven weekly domestic journals — making one hundred and twenty-eight, besides about
sixty monthlies and quarterlies.
The aggregate revenue of the past year was $9,601 98, and the expenses about the
same — including subscriptions to magazines and newspapers, 1781 46 ; books, 11,863 ;
winter course of lectures, 11,200 ; salaries, $2,882, ibc, <1m:. Tbe association owns and
occupies a suit of rooms in the Cincinnati College building, for which it paid $10,000,
and has organized an auxiliary department denominated tbe ** Department of Classics,"
with competent professors, in which instructions are given in the languages.
WHERE THE CORK OF COMMERCE COMES FROM.
Cork is nothing more or less than the bark of evergreen oak, growing principally in
Spain and other ooontries bordering the Mediterranean ; in English gardens it is only
a curiosity. When the cork-tree is about fifteen years old, the bark has attained a
thickness and quality suitable for manufacturing purposes ; and, after stripping, a fur
ther growth of eight years produces a second crop ; and so on at intervals for even
ten or twelve crops. The bark is stripped from the tree in pieces two inches in thick-
ness, of considerable length, and of such width as to retain the curved form of the
trunk when it has been stripped. The bark peeler or cutter makes a slit in the bark
with a knife, perpendicularly from the top of the trunk to the bottom ; lie makes an -
other incinon parallel to it, and at some distance from the former; and two short hori-
zontal cuts at the top and bottom. For stripping off the piece thus isolated, he uses
a kind of knife with two handles and a curved blade. Sometimes after the cuts have
been made, he leaves the tree to throw off the bark by the spontaneous action of the
vegetation within the trunk. The detached pieces are soaked in water, and are plju^ed
over a fire when nearly dry ; they are, in fact, scorched a little on both sides, and ac-
quire a somewhat more compact texture by this scorching. In order to get rid of the
curvature, and bring them flat, they are pressed down with weights while yet hot
DIRECT LAKE TRADE WITH HOUABTD.
The Chicago pTe9% states " that an agent of the ' Netherlands Trading Company,
more familiarly known as the Dutch East India Company, has visited Chicago oo a
tour of observation, with a view to opening a direct trade, through the St Lawrence
and also through New York, with the north-west, for its productions of beef, pork,
flour, Ac, and with the south-west also, for its cotton, sugar, and tobacco. The head-
quarters of this rich association are at Amsterdam, and the company charters annually
some 800 large ships in the trade wiUi the Indies, whose supplies and part of whose
out-cargoes may as well be composed of beef; pork, floor, etc, received at Amsterdam
from Chicago, where they are primarily collected, direct, as through intermediate
hands, and at ao increased expense."
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Th« Book Tradt. 189
THE BOOK TRADE.
l.-^LiUrary and Hiitorieal Miicellaniet, By GtoaoB Banoeoit. Svo. pp., 677.
New York : Harper A Brothers.
In this cdlectioo of mucellabeous writiogs, Mr. Bancroft is presented as an es^jist,
a literary critic and translator, an historical inquirer, and a popular orator. To those
who are acquainted only with his great work on the History of the United States,
this Tolume will fiiniish an interesting proof of the Tersatility of his talents, and the
wide range of bis studies. For clearness and depth of thought, freedom of specula-
tkm, catholicity of taste, Tariety of knowledge, and splendor of dictioo, it would be
difficult to find its match in tbe whole compass of modem literature. Mr. Bancroft
combines many intellectual qualities, which are usually considered incompatible with
each other. He is at once a philosopher and a poet, a man of letters and a man of
aflairs, with an equal aptitude for the subtleties of dialectics, the details of historical
research, and the select visions of fancy. Hence, this volume contains matter for every
class of nnnde. The essays will particularly attract the lovers of refined discipline
and acute discriminations — the scholar will recognize the graceful vigor and delicate
taste of tbe studies in Oerman literature — the historical papers will be highly appre*
eiated by tbe student of politics and history — and the general reader will find an am-
ple store of instruction and delight in the occasional orations and addresses. We
gratefblly welcome the collection as an honor to oar native literature, persuaded that
writings of such noble purpose and admirable execution, are no less friendly to tbe rep-
utation of oar country than to tbe fame of their author.
2.^TAe Chemiftry of Common Lif*, By Jamis F. JoHNaoir, M. A., F. R. S., F. O. a,
etc, author of ** Lectures on Agncultural Chemistry and Qeology," dc, ^ Illus*
trated with numerous wood engravings. 2 vols., 12mo., pp. S81 and 2}>2. New
York : D. Appleton &, Co.
Tbe learned author in this work treats in their natural order of the air we breathe
and the water we drink, in their relaUoos to health — the soil we cultivate and the
plant we rear, as the source from which tbe chief substances of all life is obtained-*
tbe bread we eat and the beef we cook— tbe beverage we infuse— the sweets we ex-
tract—the liquor we ferment — (he narcotics we indulge in— the odors we enjoy and
the smells we dislike — what we breathe for and why we digest— the body we cherish
— and finally, the circulation of matter, as exhibiting in one view the end, purpose,
and method of all changes in the natural body. The author exhibits the present con-
dition of chemical knowledge, and of matured scientific opinion, upon subjects to
which his work is devoted, and mingles with his familiar scientific investigations im-
portant statistical data. It is a most valuable, interesting, and instructive work, and
should be introduced into all our schools and academies as a text-book.
%,—Th€ Praetieal American Cook Booh ; or Practical and Scientific Cookery. By a
HocfiKKKEPXR. 12ma, pp. 267. New York: D. Appleton ^ Ca
This work furnishes a collection of receipts for cooking and preparing all Tarieties
of food. The authoress in her preface prepossesses us in favor of her book by her
sensible and well-timed remarks on speaking of the importance of good cookery to
» nousekeei
our comfort, happmeee, and health, and the duties of the housekeeper to her family in
relation to cooking. Besides the receipts, which are graduated to the requirements
both of ** simple fare " and the " elaborate luxuries of the table,** the reader is furnished
with some general sanitary rules on diet and the time of eating, from high authorities,
which must be valuable.
A. ^ Bell Smith Abroad, Illustrated by Hxalt, Waloutt, OvsaABCHS. 12moi,
pp. 826. New York : J. 0. Derby.
This book of travel gives an account of the author's journey to Europe, and ber ex-
perience of a sojourn in Paris ; also some of the manners and customs of that people,
It contains a series of sketches, written in a ver^ spirited style, and abounds in amus-
ing adventures, interesting stories, gossip, portraits, Ac The pleasii^ variety of the
contents, with the lively, off-hand, humorous way in which the subjects are treated,
renders the work highly entertaining.
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6. — The American Statesmen : a Political History, ezhibitinff the Origio, Nature, and
Practical Operatioo of Constitutiuoal Government in the IT nited States ; the Rise
and Prog;re48 of Parties; and tlie Views of Distiogoiahed Statesmen on Questions
of Foreign and Domestic Policy. With an Appendix, containing Explanatory Notes,
Political hssaye, Statistical Information, and other useful matter. By ANDasv W.
TouNO, author of ** Science of Oovemment," ** First Lessons in Ciyii Ooveromeot,"
**Citisen'8 Manual of Qovemment and Law." 8ro., pp. 1,016. New York: J. C.
Derby.
This work, the copious title of which, above quoted, explains the general character
of its contents, is one whose design and the very respectable manner in which that de^
sign is executed should recommend it to the notice of the political student, and all
who wish to become familiar with the political history of their country. It is useful,
too, as a book of reference to the advanced politician. The diffusion of political knowU
edge through the length and breadth of our land contributes to the public prosperity,
and the safety of our democratic republican institutions; and such a volume as thtt«
cont^ning, as it does, in a compendious form, information which is to be obtained else-
where only from a multitude of sources, or in more voluminous works, should ounculate
generally. In controverted questions of natural policy, or those involving coostitu-
tiooal principles, the substance of arguments on t>oth sides is given, with apparent
faithfulness and impartiality. The history of political parties is not an uninteresting
feature. The appendix contains the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Ooo-
federation, United States Constitution, statement of the electoral votes from 1789 to
1858, the members of the Cabinet, chief and associate justices of the Supreme Court,
speakers of the House, and presidents pro tern, of the Senate, during the same period. .
6. — The Empress Josephine^ first Wife of Napoleon. By P. C. Hbadlbt, author of
** Women of the Bible." 12mo., pp. 383. New York : "Miller, Orton, <& Mulligan.
The design of the author and publishers, it appears, was to furnish in a more popu-
lar form than any previous publication, an impartial delineation of Josephine's char-
acter, and at the same time give a general view of the events upon the field of his-
tory, across which that extraordinary woman made a sad and brilliant transit The
author lays no claim to originality, as he had no access to manuscripts or archives ;
hia fact-i were derived from Boumenne, Hazlitt, Von Rotteck, Scott, Alisoto, and others.
The author truly says, that the empress was a greater person than the emperor in
the elements of moral grandeur, and retained her sovereignty in the hearts of the French
nation, while he ruled by the unrivaled splendor of his genius. It b written in an
agreeable style, and will doubtless extend the admiration of the pure and beautiful,
in contrast with all the forms of corruption humanity could present in a period of
bloody revolution. The work has alr^y reached a sale of more than thirty thousand
copies.
7. — A Long Look Ahead; or the First Stroke and the Last Ry A. S. Rob, author
of "James Montjoy ; or IVe been Thinkbg," "To Love and to be Loved." 12mo.,
pp. 441. New York : J. C. Derby.
This volume is written in an uncommonly easy and natural style, presenting pictures
of daily life, and inculcating lessons which can bie made practically useful. The writer,
a true lover of nature, is happy in his descriptions of natural scenery, and the story
very successfully contrasts an mdependent country life with the uncertainties which
often attend a metropolitan career. Rural life is made very attractive. The events
of the book are related with simplicity and earnestness — the characters finely drawn.
Its perusal will have a tendency to correct an erroneous idea so prevalent, that a city
life has so much greater advantages and opportunities for real happiness, than can be
obtained in quiet villages and rural retreats.
8.— F«rrfi Leaves from Fanny's Port-folio, Seoood Series. 12mo., pp. 400. New
York : MUler, Orton <b Mulligan.
More than sixty thousand copies of the first series of Fanny's leaves *' found a mar-
ket" before the expiration of tne first twelve months, and of this second series some
thirty or more thousand have been published. That one who can write so well on
topics connected with domestic every-day life should disregard the ties of consanguin-
ity and the natural affections of the human heart, is an anomaly in the history of the
human race that w« are unable to solve. The enterprising publishers have already
paid ** Fanny " some eleven thousand dollars copyright on her ** leavea.**
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t. — Memoim of the lAfe, JBziU^ and Cotwertatumt of the Empercr Napohon, By
the Count di Las Oasas. With Portraits and other lUiutrationa. A new editioa
in four Tolumea. New York : J. S. Redfield.
The admiratioD of Laa Oaaas for Napoleoo was tmboDoded. It made him follow
him, without knowiog him, aod when he did know him, love alone, he declares, fixed
him forever near bb person. While the world was full of Napoleon's military glory
and renown, and his deeds and his moDuments spread all over it, but comparatively
little was known of his private qualities or the natural disposition of his soal. This
void Las Casas undertook to fill up, and it must be confeseed that his advantages for
sach a task, or rather, we should say, labor of love, were unexampled in history, with
perhaps the single exception of Boswell, the hero- worshiper of Johnson. He followed
him in his exile, (an exile that reflects no honor upon England's glor^ and fame.) aud
recorded day by day all that he heard him say, or saw him do, during the period of
aighteeo months, in which he was constantly by his person. ** In these conversation 4."
•ays Las Oasas, ** which were full of confidence, ana which seemed to pass, as it were ,
in another world, he could not fail (unless we suppose him guilty of acticg a part) to
be portrayed by himself as if in a mirror, in every point of view, and under every
aspect." Allowing somewhat for the author's devotion to Napoleon's fame, and hn
natural enthusiasm, and the generally volatile character of the French people, the
world, we say, may freely study these memoire, as there can be no great error in th<»
materials, which the dear-visioned and philoeophio writer has grouped with so much
apparent fidelity. The volumes contain a great number of appropriate illustratioiH.
We commend the work to all who have not already studied the life and character of
the greatest general, and in eome respects the most remarkable statesman of any age.
10. — A Journey Through the Chinese Empire. 'Bj M. Hue, author of ** Recollections
of a Journey through Tartary and ThitAft** In two volumes. 12ma, pp. 421 and
422. New York : Harper A Brothers.
The author of these interesting volumes on Ohina enjoyed unusual fiuiilities for
seeing the people, and of obeervation generally. He was a missionary, and traveled
with pomp under the protection of the emperor. Previous to this journey he resided
fourteen years in different parts of the empire. His knowledge of the Chinese seems
to have been gained by a large experience rather than by hearsay. The narrative is
written in a felicitous st>le, and aifords instruction and matter for stud 7, while many
scenes depicted are unique as well as amusing in their character.
1 1 — Harper' » Story Booke. A Series of Narratives, Dialogue^ Biographies, and Tales,
for the Xn»tructi«in ami Entertainment of the Young. By Jacob Asbott. Small
quarto. New York : Harper A Brothers.
Two volumes of this delightful series have already been published. Each tale,
narrative, ^c, is issued separately, and several of them form a handsomely bound
Tolume of three hundred pages^ Hr. Abbott, the aothor of a great number of books
for children, is beyond all question the most popular writer in this imporUnt depart-
ment of literature, and deservedly so, for hie books blend innocent amusement with
the most wholesome lessons of moral and social wisdom and virtue.
\t.—The Whimncal Woman, By Emilik F. Cablbn, author of ** One Month in Wed-
lock," " 1'he Bride of Omberg," ** Guetavus Lindorn," etc From the original Swed-
ish, by Elbebt Pebck. 1 2mo. New York : Charles Scribner.
The tales of Miss Carlen have obtained a wide and deserved popularity, and al-
though modestly disclaiming the aspiration for that brilliancy of expression, that
beauty of 8t> le, that richness of sentiment, and that majestic grandeur, which Chirac-
terixe tie works of some of her sistera in literature, she nevertheless depicts with
power life as *t actually exists in nature. Those who have read the works of Miss
Bremer, will take an iuteiest in the perusal of her Swedish cotemporary.
18. — Le Cure Manque ; or Social and Religious Customs in France. By Eugbxb db
CouaciLLON. 12mo^ pp. 265. New York: Harper & Brothers.
This work, fictitious only in ii»rm, is the autobiography of a peasant. The charac-
ters, it s«ems, sre drawn from actual life, and the fcenes portrayed are a faithful re-
production of what the author has known and observed. The picture of the social
hfe of the pn»vinces, and the peculiarities of the great body of the French people, are
graphically sketched, and afford reading of an enteruining character. The st>le is
often times sl>ly humorous, as well as some of the incidents.
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14. — A Common pHaee Book of ThovghU^ Memories, and Fanciet, Fart 1. Ethic8 and
Character. Part 2. Literature and Art By Mrs. Jaicbson. 12ino., pfx 829. Ifew
York : D. Appleton <b Oa
The oontents of this volume are for the most part fragmentary — original and se-
lected— and are the result of a custom of this distinguished writer ** to make a memo-
randum of any thought which might come across her, and to mark any passage in any
hook whidi excited either a sympathetic or an antagonistic feeling.** This collecUoa
accumulated to such an amount, that she has embodied them in this form and sent
them to the worid. It is a book which is replete with pure and lofty ideas. We would
recommend it asim excellent volume to keep near at hand for moments of leisure, for
in these fragments there are contained truths and sentiments which are suggestive of
much thought and reflection.
] ^.^Kenneth ; or the Rear Guard of the Grand Army. By the Author of ** BedcUffe,**
^Heartsease," "Oaatle BuUders,** ''The Two Guardians.** ISmo., pp. 82a New
York: D. Appleton <b Co.
This novel, though it has not some of the attractions which the others possess, still
will be read with eagerness and pleasure. The style is easy and graceful The
scenes are laid in Russia and France, and the author gives some account of the wars
of 1812, and the disastrous effects consequent upon the evils which war inevitablv
brings upon countries. The dangers and sufferings to individuals growing out of sudi
an unsettled state of affiirs are well delineated. The book leaves a moral sentiment
in the mind of the reader, when it is seen how £Mne and power can be rejected when
they do not come iothe way of principle and duty.
16.— TAtf Standard Third Reader/or Public and Private Schools. By Epeb Sakqbnt,
Author of the** Standard Speaker,** the '* Standard Fifth Reader,^* the ** Standard
Fourth Reader.** 12mo., pp. 216. Boston : Phillips, Sampson <b Co.
This manual contains exercises in the elementary sounds ; rules for elocution, ^ ;
numerous choice reading lessons ; a new system of references ; and an explanatory in-
dex This number of the series seems to possess the merits of its predecessors. The
subjects are various, well chosen, elevating, and in every way adapted to the youth-
ful mind. A correct enunciation and articulation can be gained by following the di-
rections and explanations laid down with such simplicity and completeness by the
editor.
17. — Hittory for JBoift ; or Annals of the Nations of Modem Europe. By Johw G-.
Edoax, author of ''The Boyhood of Great Men,** and "The Footprints of Famous
Men.** ISmo., pp. 461. New York: Harper A Brothers.
The history of each of the States of Europe is briefly sketched, and the work is emi-
nently well adapted for the use of youth. It is also a convenient book of reference
for all, from •the compactness with which it is constructed. It is written in excellent
language, and aims '* to assist in rendering historical knowledge iuteresting without
the smallest sacrifice of aocuracy.**
18. — HermiCs Dell, From the Diary of a Penciler. l2mo., pp. 285. New York: J.
C. Derby. Boston : Phillips Sampson <b Ca CinciDoati : H. W D«'rby.
These pencilings are verv pleasantly written. The author describes his beautiful
rural retreat, Hermit's Dell, and gives a picture of life, its joys and sorrows, in this
sequestered spot The descriptions of natural scenery are very fine. The characters
and incidents recorded in this diary, with the pictures of country lil'e, render the book
interesting and attractive.
l^j-^Katurt and Human Nature, By the author of " Sam Slick, the Clocknutker,"
** Wise Saws,** " Old Judge.** l2mo., pp. 336. New York : Stringer <& Towosend.
A humorous Yankee story in the v«*.in of Sam Slick, the Clockmaker. The author,
an Englishman, is a keen observer, and sees and depicts the unique and grotesque in
our full-blooded, genuine Yankee character to the life.
20.— C7nc/* Sam's Farm Fence, By A. D. MiLifx. With Illustrations by N. Orr.
12mo., pp. 282. New York : C. Shepard <& Ca
A tale depicting scenes of misery brought about by intemperance. The author it
in fiivor of a prohibitor law against intoixicating drinks. The story was originally
publitJteU iu lUe New York People's Organ, and its pubiicatioo in book Ibrm is owaog
lu ** earuvfit request ** from ditfer«iit parts of the couutry.
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tl.-^JSllen Kcfhwry; ot the Adveotores of an Orphao. Bj EiisasoN Benvbtt, au-
thor of - Clara Morelaod." « Viola," " Forged Will," ** Pioneer's Daughter,*' Ac^ Ac
12mo^ pp. 309. Philadelphia: T. B. Petersoo.
This novel is written with a high object, the purpose of which is to arrest public
attention in behalf of the misery, vice, and crime so common and alarming in large
citiesL The scenes are laid in Philadelphia, the characters and incidents are drawn '
from the author's own experience and obeerration, the counterparts of which may be
found in every large dty. He writes with much naturalness, aud depicts the miseries
and horrors of such low life with great fidelity. Many of the incidents seem very
starUing^et we feel they are not fictions, but what may be transpiring around us
daily. We are impressed with the moral truth of the book, that crime will sooner or
later meet with retribution, while virtue as surely meets its reward.
22. — Woman of the Nineteenth Century ; and kindred papers, relative to the Sphere,
Condition, and Duties of Womaa By MAEOAaBT FuLLsa Ossoli. Edited by her
brother, Rev. A. B. Fuller. Boston : John P. Jewett A Co. 12mo., pp. 428.
No one can question the rare taleut, origiual thought, and imagibative power of
Margaret Fuller: and no work can be more interesting than that which exhibits her
views of her sex, especially as she was a reformer on her own hook. This volume is
the best embodiment of her most valuable views. We accept with peculiar gratitude
her brother's testimonial to her religious character. Her sad fate was no cruelty to
herself^ but a vast loss to her country and her sex, to art and literature and humanity.
The account by Mr. Cass, at page 892, of her nuble services to Italian liberty, should
make her menaory dear to every friend of freedom throughout the world.
28. — HiUory of the lAfe and Inetitution of 8t. Ignatiiu Loyola, Founder of the Society
of Jeeu*. By Father Danikl Baetoli, of the Society of Jesus. Translated by the
author of ** Life in Mexico." 2 vols^ 12mo., pp. Mi and 489. New York : Edward
Dunigan A Brother.
Daniel Bartoli, a Jesuit eloquent in the pulpit, and a popular writer in Italy in the
seventeenth century, published the work of which the one before us is an elegant and
apparently faithful translation, in tbs year 1650. It was translated into Latin, and at
a later period into French. The book contains a biography of Loyola, and an account
of his order — its rise, spirit, and progress; and as such will be interesting to Catholic
readers, and all who desire to study the spirit and genius of the order.
24. — ComelVs Intermediate Geography, 4ta, pp. 84. New York: Daniel Apple-
ton A Ca
This work, the second book of a series of school geographies by S. S. Cornell, is de*
ti^ed for pupils who have become familiar with but a few elements of geogpraphical
science. The maps contain only such of the physical and political divisions of the
earth as a student at such a stage of advancement is reasonably expected to know
and remember. The illustrations of the work are of excellent subjects and are well
executed, much superior to the wretched cuts of the geographies of the past. The
maps are clear and distinct
25. — A School of Life. By Anna Mart Howitt, author of ** An Art Student in
Munich." 12moL, pp. 266. Boston : Ticknor A Fields.
This volume is well written, the characters skillfully delineated. The reader will
follow with much interest the fortunes of the two poor artists in their struggles with
an uneympathizing world, and the sorrows and trials which they experience in the
working out and perfecting the gift of genius which they possessed. The story shows
that victory almost invariably crowns the earnest seeker of right — that the first great
lesson in ** the school of life " is to learn to discern duty, then to perseveringly adhere
to its performance. We predict success to this youthful writer.
26. — Th^ CloHt Companion; or Manual of Prayer: consisting of topics and brief
form of Prayer, designed to assbt Christians in their devotions. With an introduc-
tion. ^ By Ajlbbbt BAams. 12mo., pp. 806. New York: M. W. Dodd.
Thia volume contains a great number of well- worded prayers, on a great variety of
topic^. The author is of the opinion that the efficacy of prayer depends very much
on our knowing, definitely and thoroughly, what we want and how to exprese our de-
Hres, In omr judgment a hungry man knows what he wants without consulting ati-
thoritiea.
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27.— 7^« Papal Conniracy Botpotedy end ProieUantitm D&fendtd, in. the lAght tf
Reamn, Hittory^ andSoripture, By Rev. Edward Bekchee, D. D., 12ma, pp. 482.
New York: M. W.DodcL
Dr. Beecber arraigns the " Romleh corporation " on a eerious diar^e, addorea evi-
denoe and argues his case with system, force, and earnestness. Besides an introdoc-
tioD, the work is dkided into four parts : 1. Romanism, a fraudulent and persecuting
conspiracy ; 2. Romanism the enemy of mankind ; 8. Romanism an imposition and a
ibrgery ; 4. The judgment of God and the burning of Babylon. The Appendix con-
tains a letter to the Hon. Joseph R Obaodler, called forth bj^ the speecn of that ac-
complished statesman in the House of Representatives, in which he gave his Tiews on
the rekUon of the PajMd power to our national and State governments.
28. — Modem Agitators ; or Pen Portraits of Living American Reformers. By Datid
W. BARTLrrr., author of " LiliB of Lady Jane Grey," ** Joan of Arc," etc, etc. 12mo.,
|>p. 806. New York : Miller, Orton <fc Mulligan.
Some of the distinguished anti-slavery, temperance, and religious reformers of the
day are portrayed by one who sympathises with and admires them. Beecher, Seward^
Ohapin, Gough, Giddings, Greeley, and Bushnell,are among the twenty who are writ-
ten about. In meet instances extracts are made from Uie writings of the persons
sketched. The author's delineations will be interesting to a large class of the com-
munily. His style is vigorous.
29.--A/y Brother's Keeper, By A. B. WARiritE, author of ** Dollars and Oents," « Mr.
Rutherford's Children," 4&c 12mo., pp. 866. New York: D. Appleton <b Oa
The scenes of this interesting novel are mostly American, occurring in and about
New York, and some of the incidents are connected with the late war of Great Britain.
The style is simple and natural, and the story, of which the title is suggestive, truly
exemplifies the moral power and silent influence which one can have over the way-
wardness of another, whose life is consistently pure and good. The author has shown
it in the character of Rosalie, and its eflect on that of her brother. The story cannot
but morally impress the reader.
80. — Brookiiana; or the Controversy between Senator Brooks and Archbishop Hughea,
growing out of the recently enacted " Church Property Bill." With an Introduc-
tion by the Most Rev. Archbishop of New York. I2mo., pp. 108. New York:
Edward Dunigan <& Brother.
The letters containing this controversy excited considerable attention when first
published. They have been collected by Biehop Hughes, who has added an explana-
tory iutroductioo, displaying hi« usual ability.
81. — The Conscript: a Tale of the Empire, From the French of Alexakdxr Duma^
author of •' Monte Cristo," **The Three Guardsmen," etc. 12ma, pp. 40a N«w
York : Stringer <& Townsend.
For a French translation, we scarcely ever have read a more interesting Dartative.
It is a simple recital of the history of two obscure families, whose woes grew out of
the Conscription, during the wars of Napoleon the Great. The character of Oonscieoce,
the conscript, is one of deep interest ; tliere is much beauty and sublimity portrayed
in the lives ot these French peasants; their history is simply yet thrillingly narrated.
We find this story free from the moral tamt frequently found in French fiction.
82. — Peg Woffington, By Cuarlks Rradx, author of ** Christie Johnstone." I2ma,
Boston : Tickuor &. Fields.
An episode in the life of a celebrated actress of the times of Quin and Gibber, ro-
markabls fur her social qualities and dramatic talents. Interwoven with her history
is that of many others connected with her in her theatrical career. The style of the
novel is ppirited, aud its power to interest lies in the moral experience of the charao-
ters who hgure in it.
88. — Foster^s First Principles of Chemistry. Illastrated by a series of the moat re-
cently discovered aud brilliant experiments known to the science. Adapttd eape-
daily for Classca 12mo., pp. 130. New York : Harper <k Brothers.
An excellent elementary work on the science of which it treats. £arh natural dl*
vii^ioQ it) presented in a strictly prsctical foim, illustrated by diagrams and exptrijoeote
within the comprehension of youth. It is a work of rare merits
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JACOB CHIGKERIN6,
300 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON,
Has recentlj iDvented new machines for maDnfactariog PIANO-FORTES, by which
he 18 able to make tboee ioBtrmnents in the most perfect manner, and with far greater
rapidity than they have been made heretofore. He has spared neither labor nor ex-
pense m establishing one of the first STEA.MMILLS in the country for th«ir manu-
facture, the steam wed affording increased fiicitities for the seasoning of stock, which
is done in a most thorough manner. He is now able to supply orders at wholesale or
retail Persons wishing for Piano-fortes of the firti dou^ warranted to give entire
sathffiftction, are inyited to call and examine his instruments, or send their orders,
which will be punctually attended ta
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LONDON AND AMERIOA.
OFFICE No. 65 WALL STREET, NEW YORK.
£STABJLISHED 1820.
Capital $3,000,000, with a Large Aocumulatkd Surplus.
NtvB York i?«/«-c«8.— His Excellengr Hamilton Fiah, late Governor of the State ot
New York ; Anthony Barclay, Esou H- B. M. Consul ; Stephen Whitney, Esq., James
Oallathi, Eeq., Samuel Wetmore, Keq.,^ Henry Grinnell, Esq., Hon. Judge Campbell,
John Cryder, Esq, J. Phillips Phenix, Esq, John H. Hicks. Esq.
Medical JEwcmintfr*.-— John C. Oheesman, M. D., 478 Broadway ; F. U, Johnston
M. D, 28 East Fourteenth Street Geo. B1. Knkvitt,
General Agent for the United States.
Monarch Fire Insurance Co., of London,
ESTABUSHED IN 1835.
OFFICE No. 4 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK.
Bnhstfxbtb Capital ani Surplus Junir, $2,000,000,
SPECIU FUND, $150,000,
Held by Sew Vork Trustees to meet Losses.
liOSSES ADJUSTED IN IHE'W YORK. AND PROHIPTIiY PAID.
GEORGE ADLARD,
Resident Secretary and General Agent, No. 4 Broad St., N. Y.
FIRE INSURANCE.
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HOME INSURANCE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.
CASH CAPITAL $500,000.
Buildings, Merchandise, and other Property, Insured against
Loss OR Damage bt Fire, on Favorable Terms.
OFFICE NO. 4 WALL-8T.,
A, F. WILLMARTH, CHARLES J. MARTIN,
Secretary. Vice-PreMenU
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HUNT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE.
EsiablUlied JTuly, 18909
BY FREEMAN HUxNT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
VOLUME XXXIIL AUaUST, 1855. NUMBER IL
CONTENTS OF NO. II., VOL. XXXIII. .
IKTICLBS.
FAfll.
ES OP MODERN COMMERCE: WITH SPECIAL
BR AND INPLCJBNCB OP THE TRAPPIO BB-
A AND THE ORIENTAL WORLD. By the Hon.
145
109
180
!*F. By Chaklbs R. CAKROL^ Eiq^ Merohaot, of
RESOURCES. By Charlbs Seymour, Eiq., of
SOO
MERCANTIIS LAW.
th Interest S07
reofProfltSiaPRilner... 206
208
Jrt SM
COIIERCIIL GHRONICIB AND RBTIKW:
BBnUOnO A niXASClAL AND OOmfX&OIAL KVnKW OP THE mflTKD STATES, XTa, ILLTOTKA-
TBD WITH TABLES, ETC., AS FOLLOWS :
CondJUoB of the Money Markets at Home and Abroad— Carrency for moving the Incoming
Ciop—AntieipatkNM of Proeperity— The Railroad IntereH— Foreign Ptlloree— Baake ef New
York and Boaton— Clearing Hoqm for New York State Banks-Deportta of Gekl and Sllrer
ai Ito Hew York Aeaay OiSoe and Philadelphia Mtnt-lmporte at New York ftar Jnne, for
Six Months llrom Janaary ]st« and for the Pinoal Year ending Jane 90— Imports at New
'^ ■ " 'xma Cu
Oriaaaa— Revenue from Costoma at Philadelphia and Boston— dUpmeala of Prodooe, and
the Shipping Uteres^eto. 900-910
V«wTorkOottoB Market •^.^^ 910
TO&. ZZZHLr-NO. II. 10
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146 CONTBNTS OF NO. II., VOL. XZXIII.
PA«B.
GOIHERCIAl STATISTICS.
BM^ptDg bnllt In «be United Statet ISl
Bbl|M and cMiipptnff uf the United BuUei. <8S
Lumber rrade uf Unebec fur five yean.~CoQ8aiBpUon of Spirits in Engtand, flcotiind, InJaad tt4
Tbe P«»rk Trade or J854-5 «S
Tbe freali and s)ait Meat Trade of France 996
Oumnercial Proaperltjr uf the Greeks 99?
Wme VaiUiB of Ui» London DMkSw—HaTigation al the Port of Qoebee 9i7
JODRNAL OF INSURANCB.
Tke Oavsea of FkMi with SoggeaUons for PrerenUon 998
Tbe Cbarter of an Insurance Uumpaojr a Cunimet. 99f
NAUTICAL INTfilllfiBXCB.
Wottoea to Marfnert : Ftashing Ligbl at Trepan!, Sicily.- laoht dl Valcanow—Berotring liigM o«
the Morro de &taa PaolOr Brazil.— i;oaBt«>rc»pain un the AUaoilo— AlteraUouof Light at Cadis S3l
Light un Cape 8an Antoiik>, Province of Alicante 939
Change or Light at Cove Point, North of PaittXtA River 939
STATISTICS OP POPDLATIOH, ke.
Resells or the Census or Great Britain-No.vtt. Territorial Subdivisions 939
Bsaigration to the United ;«i«ies 934
Population of Arkansas in ltf5U and 1854.— Ifattre and Foreign Population of Southern States. 935
STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, fce.
Brief History of Keotuoky Cattle. By BauTUS J.Clat 93t
Bait Indian and American Cutturt.-^Tbe (s^ea Island CoitoDof Florida. 937
The Wine Dliteaw at Opurtis Purtugal.— The Fruit Trade 938
Fhlladelptila Cattle Markek— Cuiuvation ot Hops in England. 939
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
Cost of Passenger and Freight TraasportatloB by Railwsy 210
Ocean and lulaiMl tSleamers out or the Port oi New Voik-^So. iii. ^ The Metropolis.** 943
AgrtcuKure sud Railrosds 944
The Su Chiir Mau aud Lake NavlgMtlun 945
Operation* of the Massachuselts Kailruads MS
Trauspuriatiun of the Uuitvd Htattss Mail by Ocean Steamers 946
fUilruttd and Dteambuai Accidents in the iJuited siltttes 947
COMMERCIAL RKGULATIONS.
An Act relilhig to the Carriage of Passengers in Steamships and Other Vessels 248
Or tbeSaleoi Froductooi the United Elates in New Urieiois 9S8
Purohste of Belilgerent Ships by Neutrals. 9S3
JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE.
Operations of the San Francisco Branch Mint 9S3
Of Bills of Excbaitgeand Promissory Notes in Louisiana 954
lsGoldi>epref3li*ttugY 9S5
Where Silver oumes rrem 956
UowaCaabierCompromiiiMl with the Directors of a Bank 9S7
JOURNAL OP MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
The Paris Falaee of Industry for the Great Exhibition 957
The Manulaciure or iron In the United Hutes 958
Ameitcan nardwafeand Meohanlcal dkill 959
Booihern Manufkctures.— How to l!:xtrttct Glass Stopples. 988
American Sewing M»9tiifHS In Krance. , 961
The Coal Lauda of Gieat Britain and Ohio.>-Mining at Georgetown, California. 981
MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
The ''Philadelphia Merchant.''-^ Bers Commercial Oollego'' at Chicago 963
The Lung UeUU of No. thtru Cities 981
<« He Is a Country Merchant — tick HlmP 984
Short BoslneM Visits—iUlers in mores 965
Tbe Philadelphia Merchant on Mercantile Blofrapby 986
THE BOOK TRADE.
ir«Cioct0f88MW Books or aewSdHlow ^ , «»«.• 967-9n
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HUNT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE
AHD
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
AUGUST, 1856.
Art. I.— THE PBL1C1PLE8 AND TENDENCIES OF lODERN COIIERCE:
WITH SPECIAL REFERSNCS TO THE CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE OF THE
TRAFFIC BETWEEN THE CHRISTIAN STATES AND THE ORLENTAL WORLD.*
The life-tirae of every people, every race. Las its successive eras or pe-
riods, each marked by the predominance of some principle or motive of
action, which gives them their distinctive features and informs them with
those characteristic tendencies and propensities, that constitute what is
called the Spirit of the Age. When the actuating principle is an idea —
a ereat abstract truth, which appeals directly to the reason or the con-
science, with a force and an authority that overawe the will, drown for
the time even the voice of interest, elevates mortals above selfish nature,
and impels them with uncalculating self-devotion, to sacrifice in its defense,
wealth, fame, ease, home, life itself — the age is heroic, and man seems
not a thing of time and space, but a superhuman being, invested with at-
tributes which savor not of earth, but vindicate his claim to companionship
with the higher intelligences who dwell in the immaterial heavens.
Thus, the heroic age of Israel was the exodus from Egypt, when the
elect people chose rather the worship of the one true God in the hungry
deser^ than the idolatrous polytheism and the sensual abundance of the
valley of Nilus; of Rome, the dark hour, when, after the discomfiture
of her legions, though the Punic coi^queror was knocking hard at her
* We mrt lodnbted to the Hod. GtoRaB P. Makih, late American Minister al Oonstantioople, for
the manoacript copy or his diteourse dellTcred before the Mercanlile Library AssoelaUon at Boston,
NoTember Ulh, 1854. It waa ktndlj famiahed us for pablioatton in Ibe MerckanU'' Magtin$^ al
ov raqoaat^JBiL Mmr, JUg,
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148 Principles and Tendencies of Modem Commerce*
gates, yet such was the confidence of her sons in the destiny of the eter-
nal city, that the very ground on which the Carthaginian lay encamped,
commanded in open market, as high a price as in the day of her proudest
security ; of England, the rebellion, when the people discarded that old
political superstition of the sacred inviolability of the Crown, and good
men died for the principle that the liberties of the subject are rights, not
graces ; of our own Country, as has been eloquently shown by one of
yourselves, the Pilgrim emigration, whose spirit revived again, though
with a larger admixture of selfish purposes in the period of the Revolution.
The heroic age, though commonly marked by enthusiastic and energetio
action, is yet more truly characterized as an era of contemplataon, of lofty
imamnation, of high intellectual power, of the unequivocal predominance
of the spiritual over the sensuous. It is usually followed oy a period of
great physical activity, guided by a portion of the elevated intelligence
which that nobler preceding age has developed, and it is in general true,
that for every generation remarkable for its material energy, the way has
been prepared by an epoch of great and general mental enort and excite-
ment. War, therefore, which demands, though too often in the worst of
causes, the exercise of high and rare moral qualities, rapid and widely di-
versified intellectual combination, the mental vision which commands the
great and the distant, while it scrutinizes the trivial and the near, is often
le precursor of an age conspicuous for peaceful eflfort, which displays it-
self in civil or commercial undertakings of a gigantic magnitude, a com-
prehensiveness of purpose, a boldness, a forecast, a dignity, that seem to
lend even to pecuniary enterprise, something of the grandeur of heroism.
Shining, however, as are the qualities which war brings out and cherishes,
and to which a criminal prejudice imparts a yet more dazzling luster, there
is no greater error than to suppose that the most exalted arts are the arts
of destruction, and that the profession of arms furnishes exclusive occa-
sion for the exercise of the noblest attributes of heart or head, or even of
that cheapest of virtues, physical courage. The unobtrusive pursuits of
Commerce, which the bloody and barbarous Christianity of the middle
ages, thought worthy only of the despised burgher and the unbelieving
Jew, have had their heroes and their conquerors. The early maritime dis-
coverers encountered greater perils than the com*batants of Trafalgar, and
our own commercial marine, braves every winter, horrors not less appall-
ing than those of the retreat from Moscow. History, in fact, records no
more striking examples of hardihood, perseverance, endurance, courage,
all the attributes, in short, of exalted heroism, except the inspiration of a
lofty and generous motive, than are presented in the narratives of those
old, half-freebooter, half-merchant adventurers, who went forth with their
life in their hand, in search of new paths to the rich Commerce of the
Eastern World, plundering where they were strong enough and trafficking
where they were not, like the rovers of the Homeric age or the Vikings of
the North, nor have the proudest structures of imperii munificence or en-
lightened national liberality in ancient or modem times, demanded a
greater amount of intelligent physical activity than many monuments of
associate commercial enterprise in the present day.
I suppose, therefore, I may safely presume, that to an audience descend-
ed from our own demi-gods, separated by but a few generations from oiir
heroic age, inheriting in an eminent degree the material energy, which, as
I s&id, has its roots in the more exalted virtues of that era, and at the
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Prineipics and Tendencies of Modem Commerce. 149
tame time composed of persons, whose prosperity is mainly dependent upon
a wide and successful trade, founded, built up, and sustained, by extraordi-
nary individual and associate effort, some general speculations on the
fundamental principles and actual tendencies of modem Commerce, with
special reference to the character and influence of the traffic between the
Christian States and the Oriental world, may prove not wholly without in-
terest
The ooatempt with which the felse pride of feudal Europe regarded
commercial pursuits, seems to have made an exception in favor of foreign
Commerce, partly, no doubt, because it was a necessary means of furnish-
ing forth the splendor and luxury of the nobility and the Church, but chiefly
because it was ennobled by the romance of danger and the uncertainty of
wild adventure, and a prejudice, derived probably from the same source,
still exalts the foreign merchant above the domestic trader. But, indepen-
dently of this ancient prepossession, the traffic between distant countries
possesses a greater historical and philosophical interest than mere internal
Commerce, because its influences upon national character and national
proeperity are more stimulating, wider, and more diversified. It is true,
no doubt, that internal improvements tend to develop and multiply the
material resources of every country where they are undertaken and pros-
ecuted as a system, and thereby to give domestic Comnlerce an increased
relative extent and importance ; and in an empire embracing such vast
^mces and so great a variety of climates, soils, and indigenous products
as our own, the intercourse between its remotest regions acquires many of
the features and incidents of proper foreign trade. Still, it is only be-
tween communities of diflferent languages, laws and religions, that Com-
meroe is most important as a moral agent, and I shall therefore speak of
it chiefly in its character of an external influence.
Commerce, in its earliest form of barter, or simple exchange of com-
modities in kind, is a mere matter of mutual convenience, excluding
the notion of mercantile profit or accumulation 6n either side ; and it is
not until handicrafts, confining individuals to particular productive labors,
are established, and permanent husbandry attains such a progress as to
yield a regular disposable surplus, that the desire of gain becomes an ele-
ment in trade. As soon as men make traffic an occupation, and seek not
to acquire by a mutually beneficial exchange articles designed for immedi-
ate consumption or use, but to amass a stock of means, convertible at plea-
sure by a second exchange, into objects of utility, convenience or oma-
meiii, the advantage is no longer strictly reciprocal, the parties become,
technically, buyer and seller, and the relations between them are rather
'those of conflicting interest than of mutual benefit Regular traffic hav-
ing DOW commenced, circulating mediums, at first usually possessing in-
trinsio value, as being applicable to purposes of actual use or personal dec-
oration, and afterwards becoming purely representative and conventional,
are invented, and their introduction effects an immediate revolution in the
processes of trade, and enlarges the sphere to an extent commensurate
with the demand wad supply of all the natural and artificial wants of men.
Money, of whatever form or material, gold, iron, shells, wampum, leather
or paper, becomes the common measure of all values, the universal means
of acquiring whatever in its nature is purchasable, and its accumulation
is henceforth the aim of the seller in all properly commercial transactions.
Trade is no longer limited by the personal wants of one party, or the dis-
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160 Principles and Tendencies cf Modem Commerce.
posable surplus products of the other, and money, first invented as a
means, has now become the object of exchange.
From the invention of circulating mediums to the age of discovery ia
the fifteenth century, European Commerce does not appear to have under-
gone any very considerable revolutions, except in the alternate rise and
all of its principal centers of action, and the fluctuating value of the ar-
ticles of exchange with which it was conversant. The sphere over which
it extended, the routes it pursued, the range of objects it embraced, were
all slowly varied and gradually enlarged, and its influence upon the civili-
zjition of Europe was not other in kind, or appreciably greater in degree,
in the fourteenth century, than at the commencement of the Christian
Era.
Constantinople is the only great center of ancient trade, whose commer-
cial importance continued undiminished, until the enterprise and nautical
skill of Genoa, Pisa, Amalfi, Ancona and Venice, stimulated and fostered
by the returns of the transport and carrying trade, in the service of the
Crusaders, succeeded in rendering those cities, for two or three centuries,
the great depots and marts of exchange between the commodities of Eu-
rope and the East In the meantime, the trading capitals of Trebizond,
Seleucia, Tyre and Sidon, Joppa, Palmyra, Petra and Alexandria, had ut-
terly perished or greatly declined in commercial importance; and the
trade of them all had centered upon Constantinople, the only great city
of the Levant, which had successfully resisted the invasions of the Nor-
thern hordes, the campaigns of the Persians, and the destroying progress
*of the Mussulman conquerors. The crusades opened the eyes of the mer-
chants of Italy to the practicability of a personal participation in Oriental
trade, factories were established at all favorable points upon the Eastern
coasts of the Mediterranean, and in the latter part of the thirteenth cen-
tury, the Genoese obtained possession of Galata,* a suburb of Constanti-
nople, on the Northern side of the Golden Horn, and thence extended
regular routes of traflSc, sustained and defended by fortified posts, by way
of Eafia in the Crimea, the Don, the Wolga, the Caspian, the steppes of
Tartary and the river Oxus, to Persia and Central India ; and by Sinope,
Trebizond, Erzerum and the Euphrates, to Bagdad and Basrah. The Ve-
netians, meanwhile, engrossed the trade with maritime India, carrying on
their Commerce by way of Alexandria and Damietta, the Nile, and the
Red Sea. The intermediate route by Aleppo and the Euphrates, appears
to have remained not indeed altogether unexplored, but unoccupied by
European enterprise, until the sixteenth century, when England, and some-
what later, France, sought to compensate their want of facilities for mari-
time Commerce with those tropical regions of the Old and New World,
which Spain and Portugal had monopolized, by establishing factories on
the coast and interior of Syria, in Mesopotamia, and on the Persian Grulf.
Queen Elizabeth even kept a regularly organized fleet of boats at Bir, on
the Euphrates, to facilitate the trade of her subjects on that river ; and
at a period not much more recent, the French had not less than twenty
commercial houses in Aleppo alone. The competition with Spain and
Portugal wafr a difficult one to sustain, and the merchants of those coun-
* Tbe name of Gulata is now otuAlly reetiioted to the spaee ioelnded within the old OenoMe wall,
i^id the adjiceut eaburb without the walls Is called Pera. This distinction was formerly not ob-
•erred, thns Protssart 1. 193, (reprint Lord Bemer*8 translation) says, "^and they (the Geouoys) hmT«
the tovne aad castid of Pere atodynge on the see before Gonstantyne-le-noble.'*
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Prindptei and Tendencies qf Modem Commerce, 161
tries liad always the advantage in the continental marts, though the Brit-
isli trade to the Levant, has never ceased to be a hifi^hiy important branch
of Commerce* .
By a series of the most remarkable revolutions in the history of trade,
the rival channels of the Oriental traffic of the Genoese and the Venetians
have recently been revived, after an abandonnaent for a period of three
centuries, and the project of re-opening the old route by the Euphrates,
lately meditated, is not yet abandoned. It is not less remarkable that the
trade by all three, as well as by the Cape of Good Hope, should now be
almost exclusively in the hands of an Atlantic nation, whose maritime im-
portance dates from a period subsequent to the decay of all the gredt
Mediterranean capitals.
Although the propagation of the Mohammedan religion by the sword
interrupt^ for a time the regular course of Commerce in the countries of
the East, yet its wide diffusion in the end undoubtedly facilitated trade.
Its spread brought under the rule of two or three sovereignties numerous
countries before governed by different petty dynasties, ruled by conflict-
ing laws, and often at war with each other. Wherever Islamism pre-
vailed, the Arabic language and literature were introduced, and thus a
common medium of intercourse was provided between merchants whose
vernacular tongues were unintelligible to each other. The commentators
upon the Koran interpret several passages of the text as not only author-
izinff, but commending the profession of trade, and as enjoining the pro-
tection of merchants and their wares, under whatever circumstances of
national hostility.
The caravans to Mecca and other sacred shrines brought together in-
habitants of the remotest countries, and were always accompanied by large
numbers of dealers, who thus contrived to combine the advantages of
Commerce with the performance of the most indispensable of ceremonial
religious duties, and a great fair was annually holden on the arrival of
Ae pilgrims at the holy city of Mecca. But similar securities were ex-
tended also to the infidel Frank trader. The merchants of Genoa and
Venice visited freely all parts of the Levant during the whole of the long
struggle between the Turkish conquerors and Eastern Europe ;f and at
this day all foreigners enjoy in Turkey important privileges and immuni-
ties derived from those originally accorded to merchants by Mussulman
liberality, and which no Christian nation grants to strangers.
The fifteenth century is specially memorable in the history of trade as
the era of events which completely changed the relations of Christendom
to the rest of the world, and gave to Commerce an importance and a social
influence it had never before possessed. The events to which I refer are,
first, the series of maritime discoveries, beginning with the coasting voy-
* And wfia«M In times pMttbeirebeef* trade was into Spalne, Portlnffalli France, Flanders,
Daaskae, Morwale, Seotland and Ireland onelie : now in iheso dales as men not contented with these
loumics, they hare sonflrht out the east and west Indies, and made now and then susplcioos Toiages
not only mto the Cuiaries and new Spalne bat likewise Into Catbala, MoscoTia,Tartarta, and the re-
gioBS theteabont—Hollnshead I., 374, (reprint of 18U7).
t For he vayd mnrehanntes myorht go whider they lyst, and by (hem mycht well be knoweo the
dbealynge of the turkes and taitartes wyth ye portes and passsges of the kynges sondans and mto-
ereantes. and specially they resorted to Quaire, to Alexandre, to Damas, to Antyocbe, snd into the
great puissant eyties of the flarsxins ; dayly they passe and reiMsse, and daytye marchanntes ehrls-
iened bath entreooan with the Sarazlns, and exchaange one with another their marchaundyse.—
Frolssart II., C. 9S3.
Syr, the marchanntes of Oennes and of other idea are knowen over alt and oocnpysth the trade of
mafchaendyse in Quayre, in Alexoiicrc, In Damas, and out in farre eonnlreys nethan, for as ye
Xjumt well marehcondjse flyeth orer sU the world.-'Prolsiart IL, c. 391,
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152 Prmcig^ <md Tentkncwi cf Modem Oommtne.
ages of the Portuguese nayigatore^andtenniiiatiiig with thegeoerftl ox]>lo-
ration of the coasts of the East and West Indies ; and, secondly, certsdn
gradual changes in the framework of European society.
Universal tradition makes the temperate regions of central Asia the
cradle and primal nursery and school of the human family. From Asiadc
shrines were first delivered the oracles of God. The southern and eastern
portions of that vast continent have from the earliest ages heen regarded
as the field of the greatest vegetable luxuriance, abundance and variety
— the soil whose plants distilled the choicest juices and the most aromatic
odors. Here grew the spices with which, before alcoholic beverages
oame into use, the luxury of the middle ages added pungency to wine and
hippocras. From Asia came sacred spikenard and myrrh and frankin-
cense for the service of the temple and the' church, the perfumes of the
toilet, the balms and simples of the physician, the dyes that tinged the
" color of Ind," the scarlet and the purple, the finest webs of cotton, of
wool, of Damask silk, of Cashmere, and of gold. Here, too, the mineral
treasures of the earth were first elaborated and appreciated. The skill of
the old Chalybes, the inventors of steel, remained the exclusive heritage
of the Oriental armorers. Asiatic Ophir and Golconda oondnued the
most renowned mines of gold and diamonds and rubies, and it is only at
a comparatively late period that the mountains of northern Europe have
been found to embosom veins of metallic ores superior in utility and value
to the gold and the diamonds of tropical regions ; later still, that we have
learned how generous nature has compensated the eternal frosts of Siberia,
the great prison-house of Russia, by the richest abundance of the precious
metals and of gems.
To civilized Europe, therefore, the East was the locality of the most
venerated traditions, the source of her rarest and most refined sensual en-
joyments, the store whence nature dispensed her most brilliant gifU, her
most healing balsams ; and Asiatic Commerce supplied alike the gorgeous
luxury of Greece and Rome, the most precious materials employed in the
ceremonial observances of religion, and the barbaric splendor of the era of
chivalry and the crusades.
The inaccessibility of the Oriental countries, from their distance ; the
desert and inhospitable character of intervening regions ; the rude condi-
tion of ancient navigation ; and the want of artifici^ roads, rendered them
comparatively unknown to the European world. The character and value
of their productions, therefore, could only be estimated by the specimens
supplied by a slow, tedious, and uncertain process of successive exchangeS|
and which served only to stimulate, not to satisfy the cupidity and the
curiosity of the West
Popular opinion, therefore, judging of the unseen by the seen, exagge-
rated the abundance and fertility of remoter Asia, and all India was sup-
posed to be one great storehouse of nature's choicest treasures. The gen-
eral impreBsion on this subject was by no means weakened by the scanty
and rare opportunities which Europeans had of actual contact with Ori-
entals. The few travelers who returned from the East brought back the
most extravagant accounts of the wealth, power, and goi^eous magnifi-
cence of the Indian princes. The successM invasion of Spain by the
Ambe soon after the promulgation of Islamism, the sturdy resistance en-
countered by the crusaders in Palestine and E^ypt, and the final conquest
of Byzantium by the followers of Mohammed, gave the Europeans oi the
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Pfmriflu tmi IMUnctM o/Moderm CbmiMret. 153
midcUe Bg» exalted notions of Mussulman nrowess ; while the polish, re-
finement, and gallantly of the courtiers <» Granada and Gordoya and
Seville, who, bj the confession of their natural enemies, the Spanish
Goths, were '* gentlemen, albeit Moors,"* and the learning of the Arabian
sages, who had translated Aristotle and the old geometers into their own
toofoe, introduced the Arabic numerals into Europe, and were the fathers
of luchemj, as^logy, and magic — all these were well caloulated to inspire
elevated conceptions of the central glories of that fairy realm, whose very
borders were tne seat of such power and splendor and wisdom. Hence,
at the commencement of the era of geographical discovery, the great ob-
ject aimed at by all explorers was to find a practicable route to that East-
em world, which the heated imaginations of our ancestors had invested
with a fictitious luster by no means yet dispelled fi*om the common mind
of western Christendom.
At this period, geographical science was at a very low ebb. The
Asiatic continent h^ indeed been penetrated to a great extent in almost
every direction, both by ancient European explorers and by more recent
adventurers. But as land travelers and coasting navigators do not require
for the prosecution of their travel the precise ascertainment of their geo-
graphical position, they were usually unprovided with the compass or in-
stniments for celestial observation, or even the ability to use them. They
oould not, therefore, describe with certainty the courses they had pur-
sued or the distances they had accomplished. Their narratives contributed
little to the knowledge of the actual configuration of the earth^s surface,
and the vaguest ideas prevailed in regard to the form, extent, and relative
ntuation of the various empires composing the continent of Asia.^ But
the necessities of that more extended navigation which the invention of the
mariner's compass had made practicable, compelled voyagers to resort to
precise methods of determining course and distance, latitude and longi-
tude, and the astronomico-geographical position of all the more important
maritime markets of the East was soon known with reasonable exactness.
These served as points of departure and reference, and Europe now began
to acquire a true knowledge of the configuration, magnitude, and relative
position of all the States of interior Asia. Up to this period, and even for
more than a century later, all Mohammedan countries were in Europe
comprehended under the general name of Turkey, and the qualification
"Turkish" was very commonly applied to all merchandise imported
through the Levant By a similar but opposite error the maritime prov-
inces of the Turkish dominions were known in the farther East by the
name of the great Latin empire, which had once extended its sway over
* Aiaqiie MoTM, hHos d*lalgo.
t The iDdiM tpieen brought to Enrope fWnn ports In the Delta of the Nile came, In part at leail,
by the old roote between Caploa and Berenice, Inateed of acrosa the Isthmus of Sut>z, and were
therefore auppoeed to be prudu'Sts of the banks of that great river. At the same lime it was known
that th^ were of AslaUo growth, and It was concluded that the Nile originated in Asia, was idtntUr
cal with the (ilhon of the second chapter of Genesis, and Issued out of the Terrestrial Paradise^
which all tradition placed In the Interior of that continent.
** ATant que le Sum entre en Egvpte,** ta>s Joinville, ** lea gens qui ont accoutnme a ce faira,
getent leurs roys deellees parrol le Sum au soir ; et quant ce vient an matin si treuvent en leur roys
eel aTolr de poiz que Ten aporle en ceste terre. c^est a savoir glngirobre, ruhnrbe, lignaloecy et ca-
nele, et dit Pen que a* choees vienneot de paradia terrestre, que la vent abet des arhres qui sont en
paradia, anssl oomme le vent abat en la furvsi en cest pals le bula sec ; et ce qui chlet da bois sec on
flaoi, Doua vendent Ira marchaiis en ce paiz.** — JolnvUle, Hlsioire de Hi, Louis, c 109.
De Barroa finely says that the reason why Europeans knew so Utile of the Interior of that Ethio-
pian ** garden whence flow so many rivers of gold, which And their way to the sea through our con-
qaests/* was that ^ God bad posted an angel with a flaming aword of pestilence ** to gnard ita en*
tnnoe.-De Uanroa, de Asia, Deo. I., L. IlL, cap. XII.
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IBi PrtrndpUi mut 5Pgndeneie9 of Mbd$m Oomtneree,
them ; and the Greek and Turkish artillensts and engineers in the service
of the Indian princes at the period of the Portuguese conqnests, were styled
Rumes or Romans.*
The name India was even of wider territorial application. It embraced
all the empires lying eastward of the conquests of the Moslem Caliphs and
the Sultans, including also the coasts of America, because that continent
was originally supposed to be an extension of the eastern hemisphere.
These distinctions were indeed not always observed, and Turkey, India,
and America were often confounded, iamiliar examples of which may be
observed in the European names of an American fowl and an American
cereal grain. Our indigenous maize is popularly called Indian wheat by
the French, Turkish wheat by the Germans and Italians ; and while the
pride of our domestic fowls is known in France as the Indian cock, we,
in common with the English, style him the Turkey.
The first great result of the efforts at maritime discovery was a total
revolution in the means by which Commerce was carried on, and conse-
quently a corresponding change in its processes and objects. The hope
of reaching by sea countries formerly accessible to Europeans only by
tedious, costly, and perilous overland routes, led to improvements in ship-
bnilding and the theory and practice of navigation, which rendered that
mode of transport the speediest, as well as the safest and most economical
means of conveyance.! Maritime Commerce cheapens foreign commodi-
ties to the consumer, by bringing him and the producer more nearly in
contact, and thereby avoiding that great commercial evil, the increase of
cost arising from a multitude of successive transfers. Between the tea-
grower of China and the tea-drinker of America, there are few interme-
diate profits, and a single shipment transports merchandise from the coun-
try where it is produced, around half the circumference of the globe, to
that where it is consumed.
The sea freight of almost any article of traffic is but an inconsiderable
addition to its original cost, and the natural or artificial products of every
country may be supplied to the foreigner at a price not necessarily much
exceeding that fairly d^argeable to the domestic consumer ; whereas by
land carriage, bulky or ponderous objects can be transported to only mod-
erate distances, except at a cost beyond their possible value at the place of
delivery.
With regard, therefore, to many articles of daily use, every country
without navigation must dispense with them altogether, or, however un-
* 08 Mourns da India oomo oao eabiam fazer df vfsao destas ProTtnefaa de Europa, a toda Tivda,
Grecia, Baclavuola, • lllias olrcumvizlahas du mar tiediterraoao ehamam Rnm, e aoa boment del-
laa Rumij.— De Barros, Dec IV^ Liv. I V^ cap. XVI.
Gente Arabia, Persa, e Turqaesca, e de nacao Grega e LeTanUaca. a que eflea chamam Romea.—
Ibidem LW. V., eap. XVI.
t Neitfaer abould wa alone loae half ofNatiire^a dowrle withont the benefit of this Art. but erea
tbe Karth Hselfe would be unknowne to the Earthe, heie immured by bigh impaviiable mountains,
tbere Inaeceealble by barren way-less Deserts; here divided and rent in sunder with Tiolent Rivera,
tbere liigirt wftb a strait riege ol Sea; beere possessed with wild devouring beasta* there Inhabited
with wilder man-devouring men ; here covered with huge Worlds ot Wof>d« there bnricd in huger
gpaelons Lalcfs; here losing itselfe in tbe mids ol itselfe by showers of Sand, there removed aa
other Worlds oat of the World in remot<*r blsnds ; here biding her rlohpftt Mynet and Treaaurea in
aterill Wildernesses which cannot he fed but from those fertiiu soils which tbere are planted, and aa
H were removed hither by heipe of {Navigation. Yea whereas otherwise wee reape but the ft-ulta of
one Lend, hereby wee are inriebed with the commodities of all Lnnds, the whole Olobe is epito-
mised and yeclds an Abridgement and Snmmarle of its«lfe In each euuntrie to each Man. Nor
■bould wee alone lose tbe full Moytle of our Demesnes, the Sea, and a great part of thnt otbar
Movtie, tbe Lnnd, but the Heavens alfo wonid shew ns fewer Ftam-s ; nor should we grow IkmUlar
with the Sunnes pernmbnlaCion, to overtake hlm« to disappoint him nf shadow, to rttnoe beyond
blm, to imitate bus dally jourAey, and make aU the World an lalaud.— Porcbas L, 17.
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JPrime^pkt mnd I^denciei <^Mbdem Commerte. 155
fitted for their growth or manufiicture, produce them for itself, at whatever
Bfierifice of capital and labor. It is in general only by this means that
raw material admits of transportation to the points where, from abundance
of fael or water power, cheapness of manual labor, or superior mechanical
skill, it can be most advantageously elaborated ; and it is in recent times
that URwrought material has first entered largely into Commerce as itself
a merchandise. Anciently, all natural products were converted into forms
suited to human use at or near the locality of their growth, and the dis»
tant consumer could only employ them in such shapes or combinations as
the taste or skill of the native artisan dictated ; but at present every civil-
ized people can supply itself with every crude material, to be wrought by
its own mechanics into such shapes as best suit its own convenience.*
The aggregate merchantable value, and the profits of the transport of un-
manura^tured products, are second only to those of the results of mechan-
ical labor, and a large proportion of the industry of every manufacturing
country is employed in the conversion of material originally produced at
the distance of thousands of leagues, and destined perhaps, in its elabo*
rated form, to afford a second pr^t to the carrier by re-shipment to the
soil of' its growth, or to other remote countries. Navigation, therefore,
has not only facilitated Commerce, but it has enlarged its sphere, increased
its gross amount by extending it to objects to which ease of transport
alone gives mercantile value, and it has promoted internal industry by
providing new and diversified means of occupation for many countries to
whose dense population mere agriculture and handicraft could no longer
furnish adequate ^nployment
It has, moreover, given birth and occupation to a new and numerous in-
dustrial class, marked by moral traits as distinct and peculiar as their
habits and their vocation, men tied to no soil, denizens of no clime, cos-
mopolite by profession, the messengers and carriers between nations, by a
noble triumph of human art compelling the unstable element to yield a
home and a livelihood to those who have found no room on the bosom of
the solid earth.f
* flo kmg and fn snch proportion m the raw material was elaborated only on the soil of 1f«
growth, tbe variety of manufactured warea waa narrow, the arta of oonvervlon were nn litUediveral-
fied aa those of production, and the artisan continued from father to aon to repeat the same pro-
en0e8 and reproduce the aame forms. But when, by improved means of travel and transport oa
the cme baud, the producer was brought into more familiar communication with the consumer, and
on the other, the material itself waa Airnished In its crude 8t«te tu the fi>rei«in manufacturer, a
greatly increased variety of product resulted, partly from a better knowledge of the original artisan
eoncenHng the wants and tastes of his distant customer, and partly from the employment of differ-'
ent means of converting the material or its application to different pnr|>nses by the new manufko-
turer. foreign trade is thus the parent of vairlety in industrial art, and goods made for home oon-
aumntion are usually comparatively simple and uni^furm. Compare ihe multiform pmducts turned
out for exportation by the looms of England, Prance, and Switzerland, with the perpetusl repetition
and plainer styles of the domestic goods worn by the people of ihoee o^mntries. Many Biiropean
wares are manufactured exclusively ft»r Oriental consumption and never met with in the home mar-
ket, and oo the other hand. Eastern workshops are employed In the production of articlea which
Europe alone demands. But this is in part, no duubt, an effect of that prejudice which leada va to
prefer fkr-feicht'd gooda to those of domestic origin. Thua the Cashmere looms of France adopt
Oriental patti-ma for domestic sale, and French d^^igns fbr exportation to the East.
t Tki- moral infloenoeof a mere carrying trade Is, to aay the least, very questionable. The freighter
baa not s sufficient Interest in the articles he uanaports, to induce him to exercise due fidelity in re«
sard to them. Forwardera and transportation agents are everywhere, deservedly it is to be fisaredf
in evil repnie, and all commercial nations have foun'* it necrSMry to apply very strict rules of law
to oommun carriers. Where the law providea no adequate meana of enforcing the 11 abilities of
carriers, or where, as is the chsa for example in the State of * * , corrupt raiiroud and canal cor-
porations have become powerfal enough to control not only public opinion, but the law-making
Kwer Itself, the mortd and commercial abuses in the transportation of persona and property soon
come eniirmons. t
Modem Greece exhibits one of the roost striking examplea of the dangerous tendency of this trade
when uncontrolled by law. The wreclcing of ships, for the sake or defrauding at once shippers and
nnderwritera, became a part of regular Qreek ComnMite, and in 1851, the French government, a^
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16$ Principiei and Ttndende* af Modam Commifei.
Bat, important as are the economical results of maritime traffic^ its in-
fluences as a humanizing and civilizing agent are of yet higher intereet.
To say nothing of the power of Commerce in breaking down the iuFete^
rate prejudices of birth and education, in so^ning national enmities, m
diffusing the comforts, the elegancies and the refinements of life, in promot-
ing the progress of astronomical, geographical, ethnologicid and lingiustio
knowledge, as well as of other liberal arts, it has other lees obvious,
but not less important influences upon the well-being of social man.
Without navigation, direct conmiercial intercourse is in general confined
to conterminous states, and the products of remoter regions are attainable
only by a series of successive exchanges, each of which augments the
ultimate cost by the addition of a profit beyond the cost of transport.
Inasmuch then as every country would traffic only with its neighbora,
there could be no general interchange of merchandise, no universslly rec-
ognized principles of trade ; and commercial transactions in each state
would be conducted by diflferent rules on every frontier. The excessive
inconveniences of such a system, or rather want of system, led at a very
early day to the establishment of open markets, at raurticular seasons, in
many of the great towns of Northern and Central Europe, and speciid
privileges were secured to merchants attending them ; but, as each of these
was subject to the authority of its own municipal government, there was
no uniform law of trade, and the fairs at Novogorod, at Frankfort, at Beau«
caire and at Sinigaglia, were conducted by ouite diflferent codes of ex-
change, involving entirely different rights and liabilities. But the exten-
sion of Commerce, consequent upon 3ie invention of the mariner's com-
pass and other improvements in navigation, soon introduced a revolution
in all commercial legislation. It was obvious, that a merchant visiting
half a dozen maritime towns in a single voyage could hardly be prepared
to encounter the difficulties of mastering as many different systenos of
mercantile jurisprudence, and that ports which sent forth traders to every
known market, and invited traffic from every haven, would be benefited
by the general recognition of uniform rules of trade, founded on mutual
convenience and the common experience of commercial men. The neces-
sity of the case soon gave the rules adopted by certain markets an uni-
versal currency and authority. It is however remarkable, that these laws
do not appear to have originated, or at least to have been reduced to form
and system in the greatest commercial cities, or those enjoying the largest
and most comprehensive traffic. The laws of Visby and of Barcelona,
which, however, are not to be understood as originally the mere local reg-
ulations of those comparatively inconsiderable towns, were authorities
widely recognized in the middle ages, but we do not learn that Venice or
Genoa exercised any very decisive influence in molding the commercial
law of that period. But, whatever may be the origin of the modem Eu-
ropean commercial code, the necessity of the case invested its precepts, as
soon as they assumed a technical form, with a conventional authority, as
sacred as that of imperial rescript or parliamentary legislation. Men
bowed not to the decrees of King or Caesar, but to the common reason of
civilized Europe, the common experience of international society. Com-
mercial law is, in fact, the only body of human enactments whose sanc-
tar Uialof. Graees bftd ooafeMed its losbnity to preT«iit or pantsh Uie evil, (an IntbUttT ffrowiof
onl of Um geiMml depnivUy of Uio people, wbo wefe mottty latereeled ia UUi trade,) offldiiilly ad-
TlMdUawUitieeUBot to tTMtihoir property to Creek bottooM.
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Primmjfles mmd Tendencies of Modsm Commerce, 15T
tions chnm univSTsal respect, the coimnoii bond whicb links all Obmten*
dora together. The triampfaB of commereial jmrispnidence are wider and
more permaaent than those of the sword. The ocean is no longer an im-
passaUe barrier, confining every man to his natal soil, but is the general
nigh¥ray of nations, serving them all as a common market-place. The ports
of iJie sea are the different booths of a world-wide fdr, where all things
vendible toe bought, sold and exchanged, and where buyer and seller meet
upon equal terras, feel and acknowledge their common humanity, and
yield obedience to one kw.*
Great as is, under ordinary circumstances, the moral and political influ-
ence of foreign Oonunerce, it is by no means, always reciprocal, and the
mercantile intercourse between Europe and the East is a remarkable in-
stance in point The East has from the remotest ages, possessed an indi-
genous and independent cirilization of its own, and a historical antiquity
to which the earnest European society laid no claim. The orientals trace
their parentage and their traditional wisdom to no foreign source, they
wore abofriginal, not immigrants ; the metropolis of the world, not a group
of colonies widely severed from the parent hive ; they owed neither their
religion nor their civil institutions to strangers, and they were regarded,
by both the Europeans and the Africans, with the reverence due to pa-
rents, or at least me elder brothers, of the human family. These circum-
stances were well calculated to foster in them a pride and self-e^ieem^
whidi rendered them entirely proof against external influences, and the
effect of European example upon the cnaracter, the habits and the relig-
ion of Asia, has at all times been very trifling. Asia has conformed to
European modes of thought and belielf^ only so far as it has been conquered
and denationalized, and it has never recognized the superior wisdom of
Western intellect or the superior purity of Christian virtue.
The Commerce between Europe and Asia, has always partaken much
leas of the nature of an exchange of commodities than that between other
countries. The oriental wares, silks, spices, pearls, gems, perfumes, drugs,
are in general of very moderate weight and bulk in proportion to their
value in remote markets, and they would therefore bear transportation,
either by land or by water, to almost any distance.f With the important
exoeption of the tin of England and the amber of the Baltic, which last
article of traffic is, remarkably enough, not among those numerated in the
catalogue of the merchandise of Tyre, in the XXVII chapter of Ezekiel,
the products of Europe were too bulky to admit of profitable exportation
* And becaoM no one National Law conld preteribe in that wherein all are interested, God htm-
•elf is the law^giTer, and hath written by the ttile uf Nature, this Law in the hearu of men, called
in regard of the efficient, the Law t^f JiTatur^, in reapect of the object, the Imw •f JV*cci»ii«, whereto
all Men, Natlona, Commonwealiba, K} ngdumea and King* are subject. And, aa he haih written
thta Equity In man^s heart by Nature, so hath he therefore encompassed the Earth with the Sea^
adding •<* many inlets, bays, haTens and other natural Indaoomenta and opportonlties to Inrlte
mm to this mutuall Commerce. Therefore hath he also diversified the wiudes. which in their
acting quarrels conspire to hurnalne trafflcke. Therefore hath he divided the Earth with so many
Rivere, and made the 8hoares eonfipicuuus by Capes and Promontories; yea, hath admitted the
Suone and Siarr^s in their direction and asustanoe vnlo this Kenerall conncell, whereia Nature
wiihia Ts ;*nd without vs by OTerlastlng canons bath decreed Cominuuitto of Trade the World thorow.
— Forohaal^S.
t The lahmaelltee carried ^ splcefy and balm and myrrh,** on camels from Gilead down to Egypt,
tblrty-flre hundred years since. Chineseperlumebuttlesof nearly as remote a period, and even
models of the pineapple have been found iu the tombs of thai country. 80 in the barrows In the
valley of the Ohio, pearls Irom the <iulf of Mexico, and obsidian from the volcanic regions of Cen*
Iral America, are not nnfrequendy dtoeovered. The OuOe coin which occur fn the funeral mounds
of Scandinavia, do not establish the existence of commereial relations between ibe NortMhen and
Um Arabs, but ibey were probably aoaetlmea brought home by the VasHag Jar, who aenred In the
Imperial guard at Oonatanmiopis, and more frequenily formed a pari of the booty obtained by tbo
TUunga la Ukeir ondaea agaloit tba BlamaBB of ttarklandac Afrieaa MAon.
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158 Prineqiiet ixnd Ttndenmei qf Modern €omm9n$.
to very remote re^ons, espeeiallj by land transport Hie EnglUi and
Flemish broadcloths and kerseys, (which latter term designated a very
different tissue from the cloth at present known by that name,) and other
stuffs woven from the wool of those fine sheep, whoee transportation into
Spain, so much improved the breed in that country, appear to have been
the most important articles of European manufacture shipped to the Le-
vant, and as the difference was paid in the precious metals, th^re were, in
the sixteenth centurv, the same complaints of the disadvantages of an un-
favorable balance ot trade, and the same arguments against laws ibr the
protection of the interests of navigation, were drawn from the increaeed
price of foreign wares, that we so often hear at the present day.*
Doubtless the most remarkable and important event in the history of
Commerce, perhaps even in the civil history of the world, is the discovery
of the American continent The discovery of America, whether estimatr
ed by the grandeur of the conception, the boldness of the undertaking,
the heroic constancy and courage of its execution, or the magnitude and
splendor of its results, is doubtless the highest of human atmiev^nenta,
and the name of Columbus stands at the head of the list of those whose
life and actions have exerted a wide and lasting influence in the affairs of
men. Though, as is affirmed by some, of the discovery of the planet
Neptune, this great event is in a sense a lucky accident, inasmuch as its
autnor sought not what he found and found not what he sought; yet, it
has not been the fate of Columbus resemble to Leverrier in suffering a dim-
inution of his fame by the attempt to demonstrate, that the theory whidi
led to his illustrious discovery was erroneous, and his success but the ao-
, cidental realization of an incongruous and unsubstantial dream« The er-
ror of Columbus was but in a name. The terrestrial counterpoise of Eu-
rope and Africa did really exist where his calculations placed it, and
hie only mistake was in exaggerating the extent of Asia eastward, and in
expecting to find Cathay and Taprobane where nature had spread a con-
tinent unknown to the geography of the ancient world. But, though Co-
lumbus found not the shores of Eastern Asia, and though he brought back
neither pearls, nor diamonds, nor spices, nor silken stufis, nor cloth of
gold, the great supposed objects of oriental commerce ; yet, he had dis-
covered and bestowed upon the Caucasian race, what to civilized Europe,
was a far greater treasure than the rich merchandises of the East, or even
the veins of gold and diamonds, which yet lay hidden in the bosom of the
continent his genius and courage had unveiled. He had revealed an asy-
lum wide enough to shelter and abundant enough to feed, the surplus mil-
lions that overpopulated Europe should continue for a thousand years to
send forth from her crowded cities and her exhausted soil ; he had opened
a market, the supply of which would, for centuries, tast the energies of her
industry, and stimulate the product of her workshops ; he had provided a
field for the growth of raw material, whose transport should employ un-
numbered navies, and whose elaboration should give birth to a degree of
productive activity, a development of mechaniwil power, a value to the
practical applications of science, of which the world had seen no previous
example.
*^ Id timet patt when tbealrmiKre boUomt were suftered to ooroe In,** tayt Hollnsbed, *^« had
sugar tor luar pruco the p«>aiid, ibnt now at the writinff of Ibis treatlae, ta wril wortti halTa orowne :
raiaUM or eortnia hfr n penle, ttantnow arebuldeD at six pence, ami aometlro«a at eight pence ana
ten pence the p<miid: nuimii(B at two-pence half |ienle lb« ounce, cinger at a penle an ounce, dn^
■ton at four p«nce and elurea at two pence,* * Itc, 4tc^— Uolinahead (reprint) !«, 874.
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Pritte^plet mtd Tmieiwie$ (f Modern C(mmirt9. 1§9
Although the mineral wealth of America was of immenae vahie to the
growing Commerce of the world, as furnishing the circulating medium, a
great increase of which was now demanded, yet the agricultural capacities
of its soil have proved of infinitely greater importance to navigation than
the eold of Peru or the diamonds of Brazil. It is a circumstance well
worthy of note in this connection, that many of the agricultural products
of America which furnish the most abundant employment for shipping,
are not of indigenous growth, and ^at, in consequence of the greater
&cility of producing some of these articles in the American States and
colonies, or of the greater proximity of those territories to the workshops
of Europe, the introduction of these plants into American husbandry has
oonmletely revolutionized the course of trade in them, and the £i»t, so
hr m>m monopolizing those branches of Commerce, has almost ceased to
diare in their profits. The cotton of America has no rival in the Medi-
terranean markets but the slender supply which Egypt can export ; since
the time of Mehemet Ali, Turkey no longer receives her coflee from the
Moslem states upon the Red Sea, but from the islands of the New World,
and the sugar consumed in the Levant is principally of Amerii^an produc-
tion. In fact, the only indigenous exclusively American vegetable, which
furnishes r^^ular and constant employment for navigation, is tobacco, and
as this plant is capable of a much extended cultivation in the old world,
its future importance as an article of export is likely rather to diminish
than to increase.
It is remarkable too that the great staples of modem traffic, silk, rice,
cotton, tobacco, sugar, tea, and coffee, are ali recently introduced into
European Commerce, and, with the exception of tobacco, which is exclu-
sively American, and cotton, which is common to both Asia and America,
are all of oriental origin. Although some of these articles were known to
the Ancients, not one of them, except perhaps fine cotton stuffs, was an
object of regular Commerce between the Romans and Asiatics, and the
important commodities of tea and coffee were both unknown even in
Western Asia and the Levant, until long afler the discovery of America.
But the economical influences of the discovery of America are of greatly
inferior importance to its moral and political results. Here civilized man
was for the first time brought into contact with unsubdued nature upon a
lai^ scale. Society was instituted under new conditions. Government
has everywhere upon this continent been to a great extent, in fact, what
European speculators have made it in theory everywhere, a matter of vol-
untary and formal compact Men have lived, under whatever strictness of
colonial legislation, substantially in a condition of greater freedom, sympa-
thized more largely in the influences of external nature, felt themselves
less bound by arbitrary and prescriptive custom, and regarded all civil
institutions as essentially more conventional and experimental.
Human life has with us, therefore, if not a nobler and more generous,
yet a larger, more luxuriant, and less artificial form, is free to yield to
more diversified impulses, embraces a wider range of objects, aims, and
purposes, than in the rigid and unbending communities of Europe. The
^ect of ali this has been, that, in spite of that innate propensity of all
men, all nations, to conform to the opinions and adopt tne institutions of
their ancestors, the characteristic features of our North Americ4in society
are of original and spontaneously developed form, and we are what we
are, not tlm>ugh a spirit of imitation, but by natural and organic growth.
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160 Prindpim 0mA Tenimoiei qfModmn OommertB.
Awape of thia, European etatesmea and philoaopfaen kave waidied onr
development and progress, not indeed without doubt and apprehenaon,
but with ever increasing interest and sympathj, and it may he safely
afiirmed, that notwithstanding the fixed and unyielding nature of the in-
stitutions of Europe, the example of America, has, for half a centuiy at
least, exercised a more powerful infiuence on the public policy and tlie
legislation, if not on the social life, of that continent, than the genius of
European society has exerted over us.
The action of Europe upon America is, at present, a social, I might
almost say a purely civic, rather than a moral or political influence. It is
oonfined to the niodes and outward forms of social life, to the laws id
artistic and literary criticism, to the esthetical and passive, rather than to
the active faculties of man, and scarcely extends at all to our legislation,
to the relations between our government and people, or to our views of
the true principles of international law. Its operation is restricted to Uiat
Eortion of our population whose tastes, habits, sympathies, and modes of
fe, are most analogous to those of the aristocratic clacees of European
society, and its influence is almost null upon the masses which constitute
three-fourths of the American people.
It is only when the European France, alternately republican and imjpe-
rial, revolutionary and conservative, a disturbing and a sedative force, haa
at all times had admirers among us, and the continental and domestic
policy of England has never wanted American eulogists. Our popular
participation in European politics is not remarkable for consistency, and
our sympathies are not unfrequently enlisted in &vor of governments
whose principles, whose aims, and whose policy, are most irreconcilably
hostile to our own. Thus in 1848 and 1849 the policy of the Russian
Czar was reffarded as the barbarian element in the European system, and
Englttid and France were applauded for fonning an alliance to support
Turkey against the demand of Russia and Austria for the surrender of
political refugees; at present, the autocrat is thought to be not only t^e
great reformer of Europe, but even a fond admirer of our republican insti-
tutions, and England and France are conspiring to check the progress of
political liberty, in resisting his philanthropic eflbrts to extend the bless-
ings of Muscovite civilization and Greek Christianity not only over the
Turkish empire, but the whole continent of Europe.
But all these are partial and transitory influences, neither leading nor
diverting, retarding nor accelerating, that onward march, which is bearing
us with startling rapidity to an unknown goal of unprecedented great-
ness, or of unparalleled calamity. On the other hand, the influence oi
America on every European interest, already great, is rapidly widening
and strengthening. However opposed we may be to political propagan-
dism, however strongly committed to governmental non-intervention, we
cannot control, nor can united Europe resist, the spontaneous influence of
institutions, whose principles, when left to work out their legitimate re-
sults, are not diflusible merely, but, so to speak, essentially conta^ous.
The action of America upon Europe is not a superficial influence limited
to a particular stratum of society, but it is a power which agitates the
foundations, a leaven which throws the entire mass into fermentation, attd
we are accordingly regarded vnth apprehension and ill-will by all that
clinffs to the principles of civil and religious despotism, with reverence
and nope by all that longs for anandpation from the diacklea of spiritnal
and poiiticiu tyranny.
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Principles and Tendeneiei of Modem Commerce. 161
Nor is this American influence by any means confined to Europe.
Through Liberia, we are acting on Africa. Through the wide ramifica-
tions of our Bible and Missionary and other charitable associations, we
are, in all the oriental realms, protesting, in behalf of God and humanity,
against idolatry and superstition and tyranny and oppression, and when
the full light of Christian liberty, which has already so auspiciously dawn-
ed upon ^e Ottoman empire, shall shine upon all the Moslem world, it
will be found that American piety and philanthropy have been the fore-
most agents in the diffusion of this greatest of blessings.
But we are now brought into contact with extremest Asia by a different
route, and are entering upon a new class of oriental relations. San Fran-
cisco is nearer to Yeddo than it is, by any route at present practicable for
Commerce, to Boston, and Honff Kong is but a few days oeyond. The
fame of the mineral wealth of California has excited the cupidity of China,
and the Celestials who are flocking *to our Western coast, offering us at
our own doors the opportunity of liberalizing thfeir minds and Christian-
iDJig their spirits, cannot fail to carry back with them "some leaven of
political and religious truth, more precious than the gold which is the
primary object of their search.
Divided as the Western coasts of America are from the Eastern, by
broad ranges of uninhabitable mountain and desert, which, though pre-
senting many practicable passes, must ever oppose an insuperable obstacle
to continuity of settlement, our transmontane possessions belong rather
to the Pacific or Oriental than to the Atlantic or Occidental system.
Our Western coast and Pacific Asia are not the counterparts but the
complements of each other, and there exists a similar interdependence be-
tween Eastern America and Atlantic Europe.
America, as a whole, being thus shared by both, is destined to be prac-
tically, what it is by nature geographically, the connecting link between
the great oceanic basins— »a middle term between the East and the West
The American routes from Europe to China threaten a formidable compe-
tition with those by the Cape of Good Hope and the Red Sea, and the
tide of our own intercourse with Eastern Asia will be swoln by great ao-
cessions from Transatlantic sourfees. Our sphere of influentee for good or
evil will thus be commensurate with the terraqueous globe, and Commerce
will have conferred upon us a moral power in intellectual sway, mightier,
wider, more durable, more beneficent, than fleets or armies have ever
achieved.
Nor will the extent or the character of this influence be affected by a
contingency which seems neither improbable, undesirable, nor remote —
the secession, namely, of our Pacific territory from our confederacy, and
its erection into an independent State. The mstitutions of the new politi-
cal society will be based on the principles of religious liberty and political
equality ; its forms will be democratic, and its external action, it may be
hoped, forever harmonious with our own.
Were a regular steam communication opened between San Francisco
and Jeddo, Japan would be already, in time, scarcely further from England
than London and Liverpool were from New York thirty years since, before
the establishment of the monthly packet line of fast-sailing ships between
those ports, and it is now scarcely twenty days from Boston to Constanti-
nople.
Revolutions — apolitical, social, religious, commercial — are already every-
VOL. xxzin. — ^HO, u, 11
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162 PrincipUi and Tmdmcies qf Modern C(mun^
where m progress throughout the mighty East, and rapidly acquiring a
momentum which must infallibly sweep away many of those primeval
institutions to which the Orientals have clung with such unyielding
tenacity I
The prejudices, a mightier barrier than the Chinese wall, which so long
closed the Eastern world afi^ainst European action, have been in some
measure dispelled. The ancient vU inertice of Asia, the passive resistance
she has forever opposed to all external influences, has at length been over-
come, and all the vast continent, from ^e Thracian Bosphorus to the
Straits of Bebring, is sharing in the movement of that swift current, which
is bearing humanity onward with ever-accelerating velocity. Asia is now
an open Held, wide enough to tax the utmost energies of the philanthrop-
ist, the profoundest sagacity of the statesman, the most active enterprise
of the merchant When, therefore, we consider the wide territorial sphere
of the changes to which I have alluded, the countless millions of human
beings that are the actore in the shifting scenes of this great drama, we
cannot doubt that Asia is to be the theater of events as far transcending
in importance the occurrences which make up the history of Eiu*ope, as
the population of the East is more numerous, its territory more vast, than
the nations and the empires of the West
I have alluded to the fact that eras of great intellectual excitement are
usually followed by periods of corresponding physical activity. The his-
tory of Commerce furnishes numberless illustrations of the truth of this
remark, and it will be found that almost every great enlargement of trade
has been immediately preceded by war, revolution, or some other great
event of absorbing interest, which has created an unusual movement in
the minds of men. What, then, will be the effect of the general agitation
which is now shaking the Mohammedan and the pagan world ?
The empires of China and Japan, countries as antipodal to Europe in
their institutions as in geography, are the sole examples of nations which
have grown great in numbers, power, and civilization, without a consider-
able foreign Commerce, and they have always reluctantly permitted a trade
from which they were unwilling to admit that they derived any advan-
tage. But the final argument of kings has at length proved persuasive
enough to induce them to change a system which appears to have existed
almost before European Commerce can be properly said to have had its
beginning. Their ports are partially opened, and the period is probably
not for distant when they will be compelled to adopt, without restriction,
the general conunercial system of Christendom. It is impossible to esti-
mate or foresee the influence of such an event upon the proNiuctive activity
and trade of America and Europe. It will open to us a new market as
extensive as the present entire commercial world ; and though neither
China nor Japan are supposed to be rich in the precious metals, yet there
can be little doubt that they will supply abundant and advantageous means
of exchange. The most important uenefits will accrue to our own country
from this great extension of trade, because, as I have already said, our
position wiU enable us to supply the demand it will create with greater
facility than any other nation, even though the great scheme of connect-
ing our own Atlantic. and Pacific ports by a railway, be not realized.
An important efiect of commercial revolutions which I have not hitherto
noticed, is their tendency to change the centers of wealth and population,
according to the fluctuating convenience of access and transport ; and this
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Principles and Tendencies of Modem Commerce. 1 03
tendency is IHcelj to become more active as internal and mechanical im-
provements provide new routes and new modes of conveyance. It has
seldom occurred that any great trading town has retained its commercial
importance for any very considerable length of time. The revival of the
ancient routes by the Euxine, now the principal channel of the British
trade with Persia, and by the Red Sea, so indispensable as a means of com-
munication with British India, has given renewed consequence to several
of the decayed marts of the Levant, and if the projected railroad from
Belgrade, on the Austrian frontier, to Constantinople, shall be constructed,
the modem Stamboul may surpass the ancient Byzantium in commercial
importance.
Still, few or none of the great trading towns of the Roman empire, few
even of those of the middle ages, at present enjoy an extensive traffic*
With respect to the ancient marts, we hardly know enough of the course
of their trade to determine upon what prmciple they were selected as
commercial centers, or what change of circumstances has reduced them
from wealth and populousness to desolation. At the present day, when
navigation plays an almost exclusive part in international transport, the
fact that few of the ancient commercial capitals were maritime, never fails
to dtirike us with some surprise ; but when transportation was mainly by
land, an interior and central position was better suited for a comprehen-
sive trade, and was at the same time more secure against piratical incursion
and foreign invasion.
We are able to trace both the rise and the decay of most modern trad-
ing towns, and we find that with few exceptions, the degree of facility of
access by sea, and the capaciousness and security of harbor, are circum-
stances hardly less important to their prosperity, than the convenience of
communication with the interior. The decay of Venice is perhaps the
most remarkable instance of utter commercial ruin which has befallen any
European city since the discovery of the continent of America and the
passage around the Cape of Good Hope. The position of that city at the
nead of the Adriatic, though at some distance from the junction of the
Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and therefore more remote from the Indies
by sea than Portugal or Spain, was yet a much more advantageous one
for the distribution and conveyance of merchandise into the interior of
Europe than any of the Peninsular ports. Genoa, too, possessed the same
facilities in even a higher degree. There is, then, no obvious local reason
why these republics might not have competed successfully with Lisbon and
Cadiz in the maritime traffic with the Bast ; but they seem neither to have
rivaled, nor energetically to have resisted the process of Spanish and
Portuguese Transatlantic Commerce, and to have resigned, almost without
a struggle, the rich prize of Oriental trade which they had so long monop-
olized. Venice, indeed, at this period was compelled to exert her utmost
power in resisting the encroachments of the Mohammedans on )ier posses-
sions in the Levant, and a jealousy of her commercial greatness and mari-
time strength was perhaps the most influential circumstance in deterring
the powers of Western Europe from coming to her aid in her struggles
against the Turks, the common and formidable enemy of them all.
The true cause of the decay of Venice, and the diminished importance
of Genoa, is to be found not in the opening of the passage around the
Cape of Good Hope, but in the change in the geographical center of the
known world, by the discovery of a new continent on the western side of
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164 Principles and Tendencies (^Modern Commerce.
the Atlantic, fumisbing abundant material for Commerce, and supplying
most of the productions of the torrid zone. So long as but one sea, the
Mediterranean, was navigated, Genoa and Venice might well be styled
mercantile centers ; but when the Atlantic basin was opened, the Com-
merce of the world was transferred to its shores, and mariners familiar
with those coasts and already trained to ocean navigation, soon appropri-
ated to themselves its exclusive advantages.
The restoration of the ancient route to India by the Red Sea, the re-
vival of the trade with Persia by way of the Euxme, and the immense
Commerce in breadstuflfs carried on between the Danubian provinces and
Western Europe, have conferred upon Trieste, the favored rival and suc-
cessor of Venice, a considerable share of the importance which once be-
longed to that great emporium. But the position of London and Liverpool,
as the central havens of what may be called the terrestrial hemispnere,
have secured to the British commercial capitals a pre-eminence which they
are likely to enjoy, until it shall be wrested from them by the superior ad-
vantages of our own great maritime towns, as points of transit and exchange
in the extended intercourse which, as I have attempted to show, must at
no distant day exist between the coasts of Atlantic Europe and those of
China and Japan.
, The use of steam in expediting transport and communication by land and
water, is effecting revolutions in Commerce, inferior only to those which
resulted from the first substitution of water for land carriage. The en-
larged facilities of internal transport created by the employment of this
agent, not only promote domestic traffic, but they increase foreign trade,
bv establishing more or less direct relations between the interior and for-
eign countries. Whatever makes the sea-coast more readily accessible to
an inland population, influences foreign intercouse somewhat in the same
way as an actual extension of the sea-coast itself, or an increase of the
population and exportable material upon it. Such increased facilities also
enlarge the sphere of foreign trade, by bringing within its reach objects
of merchandise otherwise beyond it, both because they cheapen the cost
of transport from the interior, and, by shortening the time of carriage,
enable the producer, both to avail himself advantageously of the fluctua-
tions of the market, and to dispose of perishable commodities, which
^uld not be preserved long enough to reach, by other means of convey-
ance, their destined place of consumption.
In all modem commercial transactions, time is an element which has
assumed an entirely new importance. The whole civilized world is in a
flux state. Nothing is stationary, and all things are required to keep pac«
with the general rate of progress. Unless, therefore, articles can be de-
livered within a very short period from the date of the order, the occasion
for them is past, and they have no longer mercantile value. Steam ena-
bles the producer and the merchant to satisfy the urgent but fleeting de-
mand which this state of thin^ produces, and at the same time to ob-
serve those other great and indispensable conditions of c6mmercial success,
punctuality, exactness and order of business. The introduction of steam
into ocean navigation is so recent, that we are not yet able to appreciate
its ultimate results, but the final triumph of this or some other mechani-
cal mode of propulsion over the slowness and irregularity of navigation
by sails, is as certain as it is demonstrable, that water and steam are bet-
ter mechanical agents than wind.
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Principles and Tendencies of Modem Commerce, 165
International Commerce is also likely to be very greatly affected by
changes in the commercial and financial legislation of Christendom. In
spite of local circumstances, which make it the interest of this or that coun-
try to impose general or special burdens upon foreign trade, there can be
no doubt, that the tendency of public opinion upon the whole, both in
this country and in Europe, is favorable to the removal of commercial re-
strictions, and the only difference among political economists on this ques-
tion is, whether the legal regulations affecting Commerce should be strict-
ly confined to considerations of revenue, or whether duties mav be prop-
erly imposed with reference to other objects. There is no subject in the
whole range of political economy, which presents problems more difficult
of solution than this, and there is perhaps no one, where the calculations
of theory have been so often disappointed in practice. In fact, experience
has as yet taught but one rule on this subject, which is, that all great and
sudden changes, however specious the arguments by which they may be
supported, are hazardous, and, that in affairs involving such vast and com-
plex interests, any lawful course of existing policy is sufficiently defended,
whenever its actual working is proved to be m the main beneficial.
It is remarkable that Turkey was one of the earliest States to set an
example of liberality in commercial and international jurisprudence. The
right of wreckage, and the droit d^aubaine, which so long continued to
disgrace the law of Western Europe were relinquished by Turkey in her
first compacts with Christian Powers, and, as has been already remarked,
she has tor three centuries accorded to all foreigners visiting her territo-
ries, privileges and immunities denied them at mh day by ev^ry nation of
the Christian World.
The concessions thus made by the Porte, have indeed proved highly
detrimental to the industrial interests, as well as to the peace and secur^y
of the Ottoman Empire, but no Christian government has ever shown the
slightest inclination to listen to the claims of justice, and surrender privi-
leges comparatively insignificant when granted, but which have now ffrown
into enormous abuses. Without dwelling on the exemption of foreigners
from the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the native tribunals, which is
in itself an abandonment of one of the most important of governmental pre-
rogatives, and which has been the source of innumerable evils, not only to
Turkey, but to the very interests it was originally intended to subserve, I
may refer to those treaty stipulations, by which Turkey has bound herself
to levy but a nominal duty on the value of goods imported from Frank
ports. The import duty being thus reduced to an amount hardly suffici-
ent to pav the expenses of collection, the necessities of the revenue have
compelled the Porte, not only to resort to burdensome and annoying in-
ternal taxes, but to impose export duties amounting together to twelve
per cent ad valorem on the exportation of Turkish products. The effect
of this, as might have been easily foreseen, has been to flood the countr}'
with European goods, and to discourage and depress every branch of
industry, by exposing it to a competition it could not sustain, and loading
it with a burden, under which it could not fail to succumb.
An odious feature of many commercial systems from which we are hap-
pily exempt, is the existence of monopolies, or exclusive rights of selling
particular wares, vested in the crown or in private individuals by royal
^rant The number and importance of these monopolies is one of the
best tests of the extent to which a country is misgoverned ; and when we
find rulers, not only appropriating to themselves the profits of the trade
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166 PrincipleM and Tendencies </ Madem Commerce.
in that prime necessity salt, but keeping the only shops for the sale of to-
bacco, playing cards and lottery tickets, we may be sure that government-
al abuses nave nearly reached their acme.
The same spirit which resists restrictions upon international Commerce,
is gradually compelling the relinquishment or revocation of those exclu-
sive prerogatives and privileges, and the policy which induced the Dutch
to burn the surplus spices of every fertile year in their East Indian pos-
sessions, lest a more abundant supply should occasion a permanent reduc-
tion of price, would now find few advocates in the most illiberal of Chris-
tian governments.*
Next to the establishment of a wholesome and generally recognized
system of mercantile law, and the abolition of unnecessary restrictions and
exclusive privileges, the most beneficial and important revolution in Com-
merce, has been the adoption of the principle, as a law of trade, that the
best and surest profits are to be derived, not from high selling prices, but
from extensive sales at a moderate advance. The recognition of this prin-
ciple tends to bring Commerce back again, so far as its results are con-
cerned, to its original and only legitimate aim, the mutual advantage of
both buyer and seller, and it gives to trade a moral elevation, which could
hardly be said to belong to it, so long as it sought the largest returns from
the fewest sales. It is, moreover, a principle of high value in another as-
pect, whi(;h has been too often overlooked. It stimulates and encourages
productive industry, and thereby provides employment for a larger class,
and at the same time furnishes, at the same aggregate cost to each indi-
vidual, a much greater proportion of the necessaries, the comforts and the
elegances of life.
I referred in the outset, to certain changes in the organization of Eu-
ropean society, which have been scarcely less effective in awakening and
encouraging a commercial spirit, than the other causes to which I have al-
luded. Of these, perhaps, the most important are, the diminished power
and resources of the Church, and the overthow of the feudal system, the
influence of both which was hostile to the prosperity of Conmierce, by
furnishing what was once thought more reputable employment for the in-
telligence and enterprise, and holding out more brilliant prizes to the am-
bition, of younger branches of the higher classes. Since these changes,
rank, whether civil or ecclesiastical, has become of less value ; and wealth
is the indispensable and only means of commanding the advantages and
enjoying the social position, which mere titular nobility no longer confers.
Moreover, the era of discovery was contemporaneous with these social
revolutions, and as all the old expeditions to new-found lands partook
more or less of a military character, and were armed for conquest as well
as for trade, their martial organization ennobled them in the eyes of an
adventurous age, and a voyage to the Indies became an object of as hon-
orable ambition as a crusade to the Holy Land.
Commerce thus acquired somewhat of the dignity of chivalry, and the
crowns of Europe, wnose coffers were suddenly filled by the increased
revenue arising from larger importations, favored and encouraged mercan-
tile pursuits at the cost of almost every other branch of industry. The
* H ti atid tbaft some of tbe f«r oompanles are guilty of Uie fbUy md wlckcdiMsa of •noiMirav-
inff Uie Indians to briDir in great nnnioerB of tbe American ermine, and then of de»lroyUM{ tbe
fkine, teat the aale of a Ukt not fn Aublonable demand, at aaeb prices at tt would now bring, ahoold
operate imliaTorably on tlh» market for oosUier peltries.
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Principles and Tendencies of Modem Commerce, 16?
immensely multiplied points of contact between governments and people
in modem times, requiring the employment of a much larger official
corps in the public pay, the maintenance of standing armies and perma-
nent navies, the prosecution of works of internal improvement — all these
swell the expenditures of governments, and compel them to foster com-
mercial enterprise and promote the interests of trade, as the readiest and
mogt economical means of supplying the national exchequer with the vast
revenues which the public exigencies of the age demand.
The effect of these concurrent causes has been to give to Commerce an
overshadowing importance in every scheme of public economy ; produc-
tive industry itself is but the handmaid, not the parent of tracle, and the
present century may well be characterized as the commercial age.
The moral effect of this wide extension and pervading influence of Com-
merce has been much questioned, and it is contended that its tendency is
to make men estimate all things by their marketable value, and consider
every act and every object alike as a subject of bargain and sale. Doubt-
less, there is some danger that in the multitude of new occasions and new
nses for pecuniary wealth, its necessity and its value may lead men to
overlook the end m their zeal to acquire the control of the means. Accu-
mulation begun for lawful and laudable purposes sometimes terminates in
the love of money for its own sake, irrespective of its uses. But these
tendencies find compensations and correctives in circumstances insepara-
bly connected with the extension of Commerce, one of which is perhaps
worth a more special notice. The amount of mercantile exchanges is so
great that the metallic currency of the world is utterly inadequate to their
transaction, and both barter in kind, and even extensive transfer of actual
coin, are wholly unsuited to the purposes of general traffic. Human in-
genuity has contrived to supply the defect of a substantial circulating me-
dium, by an artificial and representative currency without intrinsic value.
It is upon the faith of this conventional currency that most of the pecu-
niary affairs of the commercial world are transacted, and such is its con-
venience that coin is often an incumbrance, as compared with its more
portable and manageable substitute.
Although it might seem beforehand, that one form of money was as
well calciuated to excite and gratiiy inordinate cupidity as another, yet it
is a law of our nature to cling with the strongest attachment to those
things to which we ascribe the greatest inherent worth. Every American
and English traveler will remember how difficult it was for him to attach
any value to the base alloy in which the smaller coins of the German
States are struck, or to the rudely executed government notes which com-
pose the general circulating medium of Constantinople ; and absurd as it
may seem to be that men should love gold, and regard its equivalent substi-
tute with comparative indifference, yet experience has abundantly shown that
even if the desire of gain is not lessened, sordid hoarding avarice, nevertheless,
is much more rare since the general introduction of paper currency, than
when gold and silver coin constituted almost the sole circulating medium.
No man hides bank bills, as misers used to bury their gold, and the
possessor of this conventional, unsubstantial currency, finding in it no in-
trinsic worth, is forced to exchange it for something of positive utility — ^to
invest it, in short, and thus to value it according to its uses, and not for
itselt
There are, indeed, certain branches c^ trade which are unquestionably
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168 Principles and Tendencies of Modem Commerce.
of highly demoralizing tendency. It may be laid down as a general rale,
that trading in objects of fluctuating or very uncertain value, in articles
whose due price can be determined neither by reference to the cost of
production, nor to the actual uses to which they are applicable, is unfavor-
able to the observance of commercial morality. Hence, we And that deal-
ers in horses, in medals, in old pictures, in antiquities, in articles of rarity
and curiosity generally, where the temptation to exorbitance of demand or
misrepresentation of quality has no checks but the limited means of the
purchaser or the degree of his connoisseurship, are usually extremely
prone to imposition, &)th as regards the price and the character of their
merchandise. On the other hand, merchants who trade in goods compara-
tively stable in market price, and possessing a value proportioned to their
known uses in the concerns of every-day life, much less frequently incur
the imputation of defrauding their customers in respect to quality or
price.
It is, doubtless, in no small degree to speculation in stocks and other
securities, whose future value does not admit of calculation by any known
criterion of estimation, in lands for which there is no present demand,
and in other articles of utterly uncertain or remotely prospective value, in
which, in our haste to be rich, we have so generally engaged, that we are
to ascribe the fearfiil and all-pervading pecuniary demoralization which,
in commercial towns, has made every man afraid of his neighbor, and has
converted many mercantile communities into hordes of plunderers as un-
scrupulous and as indiscriminate in their pillage as the most lawless wan-
derers of the desert. Whether legislation can remedy this enormous and
most dangerous and most disgracrful evil, is a question of very grave con-
sideration ; but as public opinion has proved utterly powerless in checking
its progress, it is quite time that the authorities of the land attempt to ar-
rest its further advance, by even the sacrifice of those associate franchises,
the negotiability of whose securities has aflforded such facilities for legally
irresponsibly mismanagement and monstrous pecuniary wrong. The de-
sire of gain, with a view to employ it for good and lawful purposes, is not
an illaudable passion ; and the love of money is criminal or commendable,
according to the aims to which it is designed to be subservient In our
time and country, money has uses so numerous and so valuable, that a
more than ordinary solicitude for its possession may well be justified. In
a utilitarian age, it is the readiest means of acquiring all the good things
of material life — an indispensable condition of tne enjojrment of the best
facilities for high intellectual culture ; in our era, pre-eminentl v distin-
guished for the number and extent of its charitable benefactions, it ia the
most potent instrument of Christian benevolence. The wealth accruing
from a prosperous trade is the source of our noblest and most liberal en-
terprises, and our most opulent commercial towns have long been remark-
able for the munificence of their public endowments. Experience, there-
fore, has shown that the pursuit of legitimate Commerce is as unlikely to
engender sordid and self-seeking habits and purposes as any other gainful
calling, and it is the well merited boast of the age of Commerce, that it is
also emphatically the era of liberal knowledge, and of systematic, enlarged,
and enlightened charity.
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Ice: and the lee Trade. 1«0
irt. n.— ICE: AND THE ICE TRADE.
In New England and »onie other parts of this country, there are har-
vests gathered in the winter as well as in the summer ; at the last the
fields wave with a golden harvest, at the first there are vast fields of a
solid, transparent, brittle, nearly white substance, which we call ice. The
summer harvest is ripened by the influence of heat, attended by timely
rains. The winter harvest is matured by the cold, and the more distant
the sun the better it is for the crop. No fEirmer observes the prospect for
his cro^ more closely than he who is looking for fields of ice to be gath-
ered. He is a great Wend to cold and clear days in December and at the
beginning of January, just the opposite of weather sought by the poor
man ; and perchance by the farmer who has already gathered in his har-
vest of the fruits of the earth.
Formerly nothing was made of the ice crop in this country. The gold in
these hidden mines upon our lakes was the same, but for centuries it was
undiscovered wealth, like that of California. The boys, indeed, watched
the formation of the ice, and were well pleased if they could have a little
indifferent skating by Thanksgiving, with the hope of a capital article by
Christmas or New Year's. Another use of ice m the early days of our
history, was to afford bridges over rivers and lakes for a considerable por-
tion of the year. These bridges of nature were thought much of by our
fathers. It cost nothing to build or to repair them. The only trouble
with these free bridges was, that sometimes they contained fatal holes, in-
to which unwary passengers not unfrequently made a fatal plunge ; and
then those persons who were disposed to pass over them until late in the
spring, often found that thye was such a thing as riding a free bridge to
their death. As for the domestic use of the. excellent ice which several of
our northern States always afforded, in such vast quantities as to have
supplied the wants of the world, it was not thought of. And the idea of
exporting to those countries and islands where nature never formed it, was
not the subject for an idle dream. All this is quite a modem invention.
Ice is a^od old Saxon word. Its very form and sound indicate as
much. We are sure, then, that our Saxon ancestors knew what cold
weather was, and had some experience with ice, even though they did not
know much of it as a luxury or necessary of life. Ice is formed of some
fluid, particularly of water, by means of cold. Let our winters become
very open and warm, and our ice farmers and merchants would find that
their occupation was gone. But the cultivators of fields of ice are as sure
of a harvest, as those who till the soil ; for He who has said Summer shall
not cease, has destined Winter to be as sure in its annual return. And
when the Lord answered Job with such questions as these : " Hast thou
entered into the treasures of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasures of
the hail ? Out of whose womb came the ice ? and the hoar frost of heaven,
who hath gendered it ?" we are led to expect that cold and winter, snow
and ice are perpetual institutions.
"Ice," in the language of a scientific writer, "is only a re-establishment
of the parts of water in their naturalv9tate." The mere absence of fire is
supposed to account for this re-establishment. Gallileo was the first that
observed that ice is lighter than the water of which it is composed ; hence
the floating of ice upon the water. This rarefaction of ice is owing to the
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170 lee : and the Ice Trade.
air-bubbles produced in water pj freezing. These bubbles, during their
production, acquire a great expansive power, so that the containing vessels
are burst Ice usually forms on the surfiace of the water ; but this, like
the crystalization, may be varied by an alteration of circumstances. It
is an important law of nature that ice forms much less rapidly below the
surface than on the surface. If the freezing was equally below as above,
our ponds and lakes and rivers would become solid masses of ice during
our long winters, which the summer heat could not melt away. And thus
there would shortly be almost a perpetual reign of winter's cold. Ice is
formed in layers, resembling what we see when a tree is cut down, deno-
ting the gradual growth of the tree. In ice fifteen inches thick, there will
be found twenty-one layers, and so on, in that proportion.
It is a noticeable fact, that in those latitudes wnere the warmth of the
climate renders ice not only a desirable but a necessary article, it was not
afforded to the inhabitants except by artificial processes, until the recent
custom of shipping it from the colder regions. Fortunately, in warm cli-
mates, there have, for many centuries, been well-known processes whereby
ice could be procured by means of glauber-salt, and by ether ; the last
being much the best. With a small quantity of ether, a much larger
quantity of water can always be frozen, and the apparatus required is very
simple. So that the inhabitants of warm climates have always been able
to enjoy the luxury of ice-cream from ice of their own manufacture, and
at a trifling expense, provided they had the necessary information.
Ice was used for domestic consumption in this country previous to this
century. We read that as early as 1792 there were several ice-houses,
owned mostly by farmers in Maryland and Pennsylvania. They probably
existed in other sections of this country. The principal uses of ice were
well known at that period. k
The idea of exportinff ice to low latitudes was first developed by Fred-
erick Tudor, Esq., of Boston, in August, 1805. During the following
February he shipped the first cargo of ice that was ever exported from
this country, and probably from any other, in a brig belonging to himself,
from Boston to Martinique. It has been stated that he could find no ves-
sel ready to take the ice ; hence, he was obliged to furnish one himself
The vessel was loaded at Gray's Wharf, Charlestown. The ice was cut
with axes and saws in Saugas, which then formed a portion of Lynn. It
was carted to the wharf in wagons. How slow and fatiguing the process,
compared to what it is at the present day, where steam does so much of
the work. Grav's Wharf has continued from that day to this to be the
center of the wharves from whence ice is shipped at Boston.
Although Mr. Tudor went out with the first ice that he dispatched to
the West Indies, the voyage was attended with great losses. These hap-
pened in consequence of the want of ice-houses, and the expense of fitting
out two agents to the different islands, to announce the project, and to se-
cure some advantages. But a greater loss arose from the dismasting of
the brig in the vicmity of Martinique. The embargo and war intervened
to suspend the business, but it was renewed on the return of peace. As
late as 1823, continued disasters attended the business, which largely af-
fected the finances and health of Mr. Tudor. After an illness of two
years, he was enabled to proceed and to extend the business to several of
the Southern States, and to other of the West Indies. In 1834, his ships
carried the frozen element to the East Indies and to Braadl, an important
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eveot in itadf, since no other veaiel had ever ykited those distant partd of
th^ world on a similar errand, and beeanse they have proved good markets
from that day to this.
It is now half a century since the founder of this trade commenced it.
He is still actively and largely engaged in the business, and notwithstand-
ing early losses, by pursuing the same business for a long period of years,
he has found an ample reward. Since Mr. Tudor engaged in the business,
he has been joined in the same by N. J. Wyeth, of Cambridge, who has
long been engaged in, and who well understands it Other companies en-
gaged in it are those of Ga^e, Hittin^r <fe Co., Russell, Harrington k Co.,
and others in Boston and vicinity, who make Fresh, Spy, Newham, and
several other ponds, the scenes of their operations.
The great increase of the Boston ice trade has been since 1832. In
that year the whole amount shipped was but 4,352 tons, which was cut at
Fresh Pond by Mr. Tudor. In the year 1864 the amount exported from
Boston was 156,540 tons. In the preceding year there were but 100,000
tons shipped. In 1845 there were but 48,422 tons exported. The rail-
roads receive some $90,000 for transporting ice, and those who bear it
over the sea from 1400,000 to $500,000.
Boston^ finds the best market for ice in the ports of our southern cities.
Of all that was exported last year about 110,000 tons were sold in those
cities. The next best market was the East Indies, where 14,284 tons were
sold. Other moderately good markets were Havana, Rio Janeiro, Oallao,
Demerarm, St Thomas, and Peru. Of the whole of last year's exports,
only 896 tons were sent to Great Britain, and that was landed at Li^r-
pool. Years ago we were accustomed to hear how delighted the queen of
England was with our Newham Lake ice. The mother-land now ships a^|^||^^
portion of its ice from Norway, which is believed to be the only nation
that exports ice, save the United States.
In the vicinity o^ New York only about 20,000 tons are annually har-
vested for exportation — the home market requiring neariy the entire crop.
At Rockland Lake 120,000 tons are annually secured ; at Highland Lake,
«0,000; at New Rochelle, 10,000; at Athens on the Hudson, 15,000; at
Rhinebeck, 18,000; at Kingston Creek and vicinity, 60,000; at Catskill,
20,000 ; near Baarytown, 12,000 ; making a totel of 285,000 tons, or not
fiu* from the amount gathered in the vicinity of Boston.
The above amoimts are stored by companies as below: — 113,000 tons
by J. D. Ascough k Co., known as the Knickerbocker Ice Company ;
67,000 by A. Barmore & Co. ; 60,000 tons by C. R. Wortendyke <k Co. ;
46,000 tons by Winch, Huyler & Co. ; and 20,000 tons by Tumbull, Ack-
erson & Co.
The principal towns on the Hudson lay up for home consumption about
as follows :— Newburg, 4,000 tons ; Poughkeepsie, 6,000 ; Hudson, 4,000 ;
Albany, 20,000; Troy, 10,000 tons. Such is a general estimate ftimished
by a friend in New York, who is actively engaged in the business. It is
believed to be essentially correct
In Central and Western New York the use of ice is quite extensive,
and the numerous lakes in those sections afford a plenty of an excellent
quality. The following extract of a letter dated Syracuse, New York, Jan-
nary 16, 1855, will be read with interest, as showing the rise and progress
of the ice business in that city. It is frx>m the pen of Joseph Savage, Esq.
He says : —
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"I b^^ to make a regtilar bneiness of selling ice in 1844 or 1846. Previ-
ons to this I had been in the habit of selling ice to the keeper of a saloon or
soda fountain. I put up about twenty cords annually, he pajdng the cost of
filling the house, and I reserved to myself what ice I wished to use in my own
family. This was thought to be a good bargain for us both. I began to supply
families in 1844. The next year I supplied fiftv families. In 1846, 1 filled an
out-building with ice, and increased the business by the addition of the butcher's
trade. Numbers, however, both of butchers and private families, had houses of
their own ice, and this continued until the trade became systematized. There
are now very few instances of individuals putting up their own ice. This is
now the practice of only two of our principal hotels, and they do this more for
convenience than profit.
" The number of families who now take ice regularly is, I think, from 600 to
600, besides saloons, hotels, butchers, etc. This business is shared by myself
and another about equally. The amount put up last winter for this place was
about 6,000 tons. Of this quantity, I estimate that from one-fourth to one-third
is either dissolved or in some way lost
'* We get our ice from the Onondaga Lake, a sheet of water from four to five
miles long, by from one-half a mile to two miles broad. Owing to the marshy
character of the land around the lake, no houses are built on its margin as at
Fresh Pond and Rockland Lake; consequently all our ice is drawn from the
lake in the winter while the ground is frozen, a distance of one-and-a-half to
two-and-a-half miles, at a cost of some fifty or seventy-five cents a ton, when it
is stowed away in the ice-house. I
** Ice sells in this city at from 12 60 to 13 per ton to butchers and hotel-beep-
ers, who usually take abont that quantity at once, and is in £ict our whciesak
trade. In small quantities of from fifty to two hundred pounds, we sell fbr
more, or at about an average price of twenty cents per hundred. This, I think,
is about the price of ice in Central and Western New York.
'* The mode of cutting ice here is precisely the same as at Cambridge or Rock-
* land. Our houses for storing are built in the same manner, and all above ground,
only of less capacity. Our towns being all inland, with the exception of Bufiyo,
are necessarily limited as regards the use of ice, to the quantity wanted to sup-
ply its own inhabitants, .so that compared with Boston and New York, it is now
and always must be small, as we can have no export trade. It is, however,
steadily increasing in importance and amount, and is a remunerating business at
the above prices, when competition is not too active, as is often Uie case vdth
the ice business.*'
There is much ice cut to supply the markets of Cincinnati and Chicago.
To supply the first city they used to resort to the ice to be found in Sie
vicinity, but now it is cut and brought from the great lakes, or from wa-
ters connected with them. In Peru, IHinoia, a large quantity of ice is cirt,
which finds a market in the towns on the Lower Mississippi River. It is
taken down the river in fiat-boata, and it is a curious fact that theee boats
are left in the autumn in the Illinois River to freeze up. When the ice ia
of sufficient thickness in the river it is cut and placed in the boats, that
properly protected afiford the only ice-houses needed. In the sprinar, when
the ice breaks up in the river, the boats, freighted with the frozen element,
are ready to float to the markets of the far South.
The cities of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, in favorable
seasons, secure in their own neighborhood a large portion of the ice used
by their inhabitants. They depend upon cold weather in the early part
of the winter to make their ice, and if Uiey do not secure an ice harvest
then, they do not at all. In the best seasons they look to Boston for their
best and thickest ice, such as is used in the firstrclass hotels ; and in un-
favorable seasons, (say one-third of the whole,) the greatest portion of
their supply of ice is mmished from more northern lakes.
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Ice: and the Ice Tradi. 173
Charleston, Mobile, and New Orleans are fine markets for Boston ice,
particularly the latter citj, where there is at least t200,000 invested in
ice-houses, wharves, etc Some of the most substantial brick buildings in
the cities of New Orleans and Mobile are houses that are annually filled
with Boston ice.
The leading house in Boston that is engaged in the exporting of ice is
that of Gage, Hittenger & Co., which exported last year exactly 91,540
tons. The remainder for the year, 65,000 tons, was exported by Frederick
Tudor, Daniel Draper & Son, Russell, Harrington & Co^ and by the New
England Ice Company. The number of vessels engaged in these shipments
was 620.* The exports of ice from Boston furnish the largest amount of
tonni^e of any other item. The commercial marine of the United States
has been materially increased by the operations of the ice trade. A large
portion of the vessels formerly engaged in the freighting trade from Bos-
ton sailed in ballast, depending for remuneration on frei^t of cotton, rice,
tobacco, sugar, etc, to be obtained in more southern latitudes, often com-
peting with the vessels of other natioiyi which could earn a freight out
and home. Now a small outward freight from Boston can usually be ob-
tained for the transportation of ice to uiose places where freighting vessels
ordinarily obtain cargoes.
The domestic consumption of ice in Boston and vicinity in 1854 was
about 60,000 tons. In 1847 it was but 27,000 tons. Messrs. Thurston &
Stockton, successors to Gage, Hittenger & Co., in the retail trade sell
largely each season. Their prices as by their own card were, last year, as
follows : — A family gave #5 for nine pounds a day from May 1 to October
1. If it took fifteen pounds a day, the price for the season was $8 ; if
twenty-four pounds, $12. Butchers, grocers, and fishermen, taking one
hundred pounds daily, paid seventeen cents a hundred. To hotels, con-
fectioners, and others that consume five hundred daily, it was afibrded at
83 per ton.
Where Boston ice is sold in large quantities to be shipped, the average
price is $2 a ton. In years when there is a great scarcity it may bring;
$6. Like everything else, the price is regulated by the plenty or scarcity.
The ice-houses at Fresh Pond in 1847 were capable of containing
86,732 tons, or more than half the ice that was gathered in Massachusetts
at that time. In that year the accommodation at seven oilier ponds in
the vicinity of Boston was equal to the storage of 54,600 tons. These
ice-houses have been so increased that in 1854 their storage capacity was
300,000 tons.
From what has been said, it is clear that the ice trade is no mean one.
Though it has advanced quietly, and has as yet scarcely made any figure
in the literature of Conmierce, it is destined to be a very large business in
this country. Already, from all that we can learn, there is invested in
this branch of business in all parts of the United States not less than from
$6,000,000 to $7,000,000. And in ten years, judging from the past, it
may be twice as great as at the present time. The number of men em-
ployed more or less of the winter in the business in Boston and vicinity is
estimated at from 2,000 to 3,000 ; and in the whole country there are
supposed to be 8,000 to 10,000 employed.
All this is a clear gain to the productive industry of the country. Many
men are thus employed at a season of the year when employment is the
* Boitoii Alnuuue for 18S5, aad Timotby T. Sawyer, Esq., Uie Mayor of Chartoatown.
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174 !<»: and the lee Trade.
scarcest, and at fair prices of about $80 a month each, or $1 25 a day.
Nor is this all. The value of all real estate has been much enhanced ift
the neighborhood of all fresh bodies of water where ice is secured, and
new business advantages are constantly obtained.
The mode of gathering a harvest of ice is likely to be one of the most
interesting topics to the reader. As has been intimated, the ice is mostly
made in December and January. About the middle of the last-named
month any good farmer of ice can estimate the value of the crop, and at
that time, or before, he is on the alert with his army of men to ** lay up,^
in the language of ice men, the winter's harvest There is this advantage
in reference to this crop, that while there is no sowing of seed there is toe
reaping of a harvest The ice farmer knows nothing of plowing the
ffround— of harrowing the same— of clearing his crop of the weeds. It
IS left for him simply to anticipate a harvest, which is ripened by super-
human processes. He does, indeed, sometimes aim to assist nature by
passing over a pond that is frozen to break holes through the ice, that the
water may overflow the surface of the ice, that thus the precious substance
may form the faster at the bottom ; often, too, snow is removed from the
surface of a pond, since it is a garment imfriendly to the formation of ice.
Aside from these aids, he who gathers this most frigid crop has little to do
but to witness the elements of nature as they act in concert to mature it,
until it be time to strike the first blow in gathering the silvery blocks.
When the ice is of sufficient thickness to cut, from nine to twenty inches,
according as it is to be used at home or exported, the owner causes the
field of ice to be cleared of snow (if there be any) with wooden scrapers,
drawn by a single horse each — the snow being piled up on the several ice
boundaries. Next another scraper is used to carry off the snow-ice, as it
is termed, which is not fit for market This scraper is made of iron, with
a sharp cutting instnmient attached to the bottom of cast-steel. This ma-
chine IS also drawn by a horse. A man rides upon the scraper, and thus
several inches of snow-ice is cut from the surface, which is removed into
the water, from the surface of which the ice has already been taken.
The next process is to mark off a field of ice into squares of about five
feet each, by a sharp instrument, drawn by a horse. To it handles are at-
tached, and a man holds and guides it as he would a plow. With this in-
strument he marks and cross-marks. Next follow in the very tracks thus
marked out what are called ** cutters,"* also drawn by horses ; and thus
the ice of acres of the pond is cut up into square pieces, and nothing re-
mains but to saw it slightly with hand-saws before it is ready to be floated
off through artificial canals, cut through the ice for the purpose, to the
shore of the pond. The floating is brought to pass by a large number of
men. From the shore the ice is taken by horse-power on sleds or carts to
a neighboring ice-house, or, what is better, it is immediately taken piece
by piece up an inclined plane by steam-power, to a sufficient elevation, and
thence it is directed down a more moderate inclined plane by hand to the
doors of ice-buildings, into which it is lowered by steam, and packed away
by the requisite number of men. This steam process is quite wonderful,
and is carried on in suitable weather by day and by night All this must
be seen to be truly enjoyed and thoroughly understood.
* It is ettlmated tbat ibis tnatriLinent hst ledoced Um ocwt of euUing the lee in Uie neigliborlMod
ef Boston %15^1M per annom.
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lee : and ike Ice Trade, 1Y6
Most of the ice-houses that we have seen are built of wood. Some-
times they are found of brick. They are very high and broad, and ate
usually from 100 to 200 feet in length. Fresh Pond, Cambridge, Mass.,
has its shores almost covered with some fifty of these ice-houses. They
present a singular appearance, neither looking like bams nor houses ; and
one unacquamted with the ice business would be almost, certain to ask, on
seeing them for the first time, " What are they ?" The construction of
these houses, in which ice is to be stored until sold, must be regulated by
the climate — the amount to be stored — the material nearest at hand — and
the relation of the waters to the shores — the object being to have a cool
spot, where the influence of the sun and a warm atmosphere shall be least
Added to this, the mass of ice must be preserved as much as possible from
wasting, by being surrounded by saw-dust, tan, shavings^ rice-hulls, char-
coal, leaves, all of which must be used in the ice-house, or aboard ship,
according to circumstances.
The question may arise in the reader's mind, " How do companies fix
their boundaries, where several cut ice upon the same pond ?" This ques-
tion, so far as Fresh Pond is concerned, may be answered as follows ; — In
the year 1839, from the great quantity of ice that was secured there, a
diflSculty arose as to boundaries, which was referred to three commissioners,
namely, Messrs. Simon Greenleaf, Levi Farwell, and S. M. Felton. They
decided that each owner should hold and occupy the same proportion of
the contiguous surface of the pond as the length of his shore-line was to
its whole border. This rule might apply generally where there arises any
dispute about boundaries.
Ice was formerly regarded as a luxury, only to be enjoyed by the wealthy,
or by those well-to-do in the world. But within a few years it has been
regarded, not merely as a luxury, but as a necessary of life, and desirable
to be secured during the warm months by every family. It is useful to
preserve fresh meat and' fish. Every one knows how important is its ap-
plica^tion to preserve butter hard and nice in the summer. It is useful,
too, as a general cooler of most articles of food and drink. Take a large
city that uses aqueduct water, how could the inhabitants use it for their
daily beverage, unless it were cooled, for six or eight months of the year ?
If they could subsist without ice, so they could without fresh meat, and
without fruit. But a people highly civilized must more than subsist — they
must live — they must live comfortably — they must have the necessaries
and some of the luxuries that a gracious Providence has cast into their
)>ath. Fruits of the most delicate kinds and flowers are preserved fresh
and blooming by the use of ice. Ice^ too, has its medical uses. It is a
tonic, and almost the only one, which, in its reaction, produces no injury.
It is stated that in India the first prescription of the physician to his pa-
tient is usually ice, and it is sometimes the only one.
Ice is important, even, in promoting good morals. How often do men
in health drink ardent spirits as a beverage because they cannot procure
good or only tepid water that ice would render palatable ? Temperance so-
cietie6 have alluded, in their published documents, to the importance of ice
in warm climates, and in warm weather in temperate climates, as a promoter
of the use of the healthful beverage of cold water, and thus of the cause
of temperance. It is idle to expect that water will be the general drink of
the people, unless it be cold ; and it is equally idle to suppose that a large
number of earth's inhabitants can secure cold water at all seasons of the
year, except by the addition of the universal cooler under consideration.
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1T6 lee : and the lee Trade.
Ice is coming to be almost UDiversallj used by the inhabitants of our
ciUes and large towns. It is used in hotels and many families through the
year. It is found useful in the manu^EUitare of oil. Fishermen and batch-
ers are excellent customers of the ice merchant If Faneuil Hall Market,
or the other markets of Boston and other American cities, should be yisited
at ten oVlock of any summer morning, no fresh provisions would be seen,
and yet every varie^ is to be found in hundreds of ice-chests in which they
are stored. Packet ships no longer find it necessair to have on board live
fowls and pics, very much to their inconvenience, for it is easy to have on
board a small ice-house, in which the fresh provisions necessary for the voy-
age may be packed and preserved. The various fruits of our orchards are
to be found fresh in the spring in India, Brazil, and the West Indies, and
in as fine a condition as in Boston or New York — and all through the use
of ice.*
The questi6n of the use of ice by farmers is an interesting one. A very
few intelligent farmers stored ice for their own use, as has ^n mentioned,
more than half a centurv ago. When the late Daniel Webster removed
from Boston to Marshfield, more than twenty years since, for the purpose of
cultivating a farm as a pastime Irom more severe mental pursuits, he felt
the need, as a farmer, of having his private ice-house, which he immediately
built Every winter he filled that house with ice from a pond near his resi-
dence, or else from one more remote in Duxbury. His house cost him about
$100, and he filled it at an annual expense of $25. Thus he could pre-
serve fresh meat and fish in the summer, and prevent his butter from run-
ning away,\
Several other farmers of Plymouth County now have their private ice-
houses. The same is true of many more of Massachusetts and other sec-
tions of the country. The farmer with his ice-house has a decided advan-
tage over his neighbor-farmer without one. If his water is too warm for
table use, he can cool it If, for any reason, temporary or permanent, it has
a disagreeable taste, he may modify it, or he may manu&cture a different
kind. If he takes a foncy to have a little ice-cream of a sultiy day, he has
the materials at hand. And, indeed, the farmer may be called to use ice in
about all the modes to which it is ever used. We can hardly see how that
a large and independent farmer should consent to be without his own ice-
house. Small farmers may not wish to be at such an expense for what lit-
tle they would use ; but that little they need as much as the large farmer a
larger quantity. And this they may procure from the ice-cart, as they dp
fresh meat and fish from those who carry it around to sell ; or a small neigh-
borhood of farmers may unite in building an ice-house for the common
good, and store and use the ice in the same manner.
Sometimes quite a large farmer will live in sight of a fine pond, and suf-
fer for the ice that he might have gathered from it in his winter leisure.
This ought not to be. More than two-fifths of the adult males of this
country are devoted to agriculture, and the larger proportion of them culti-
vate farms in a climate cold enough to afibrd a winter s harvest And why
should they not share in that harvest that the bounUful Benefiictor has n
pened at their doors. Why should not they generally rouse up and fumbh
themselves and their families with this great luxury and necessary of good
living f
* These fteto and others haye beeo placed before the writer hj Frederick Tndor, Baq^of Boston.
\ Letter of C. Porter Wright, of Marshfield, late principal former of the Bon. Daniel Webster.
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Private lee-boiiseB are oonstmcted diflbrently by difierent individaals.
Formerly, they were rather oeUars than house* above ground. But the
more approved mode of building now is to erect them pretty much above
ground on some cool spot, where, if the land is of a porous nature, it is all
the better, since it will obviate the necessity of making a drain beneath the
xnaas of ice. It is usually recommended that the entrance shonld be from
the north, and that the larger the quantity of ice {ceteris paribus) the less
of it will be melted and wasted. As to the protection to be afforded to the
iee from the effects of the sun and atmosphere, they are to be the same, in
general, that is afforded in the large ice-houses in which ice is stored for ex-
portation.
The per cent of ice that wastes depends wholly on circumstances. Ship-
ping houses should deliver 60 per cent, and more if delivered early in the
season. Of ice shipped for India, if, after a voyage of sixteen thousand
miles, in which the equator is crossed twice in a passage occupying four or
five months, one-half of the original cargo of ice is delivered, it is consid-
ered a successful deliv^y.
Fortuaes have been made in the ice business, and others^ have been lost.
It 18 a department of human effort that requires the strictest attention and
the most judicious management. Formerly, the trade, though not sufiRering
from competition, was so new as not to be well understood ; now the dealer
is liable to sufiler by the active competition that he meets on all sides. Still,
as the use of ice is constantly increasing both at home and abroad, and as
the crop is often a total or partial failure, he who thoroughly understands
the business will 6nd it about as safe and remunerative as any other.
It IB a noticeable &ct that ice is not naturally formed in climates where it
it most needed, as in India, and in the equatorial regions of the earth. The
onrefiecting person might, from this circumstance, be inclined to question
the goodness of Him who is said to be ^ good to all, and whose tender mer-
cies are over all his works.*' But the Maker of all yearly matures ice
enoi^h for all his creatures, in all parts of the earth, and it only requires
the swift ships of Commerce, that He seems to have foreseen and ordained,
to famish all earth's inhabitants with this necessary of life. And here we
see one of the important uses of trade and Commerce, without which many
of the good gifts of Providence could only be enjoyed by a few. Indeed, it
is hardly more a duty to till the earth than to furnish those its surplus fruits
who have no ground to cultivate ; and we cannot but most forcibly feel the
goodness of the bounteous Lord of all, without contemplating Commerce
as a part of Hie plan by which His gifts were to be universally enjoyed.
In this connection how vast is the harvest of ice that perishes yearly.
Hundreds of lakes and rivers in the whole northern section of our country
present their annual beds of as pure ice as was ever cut, and yet no maa
has attempted to gather in the silver harvest. How much it is to be re-
gretted that millions in all parts of our earth, and we had almost said in
this country, pine during long months of each year for this cooler and tonic
The time is coming when it will be otherwise — when the farmer will have
ice in his cellar about as commonlj as potatoes, and when no good provider
of a family will forget his ice.
One of the most attractive drives in good sleighing from Boston and
neighborhood is to Fresh Fond, to witness the processes of securing a pre-
dous harvest. The pond is pleasantly nestled among hills of a moderate
height. Of a pleasant afternoon of a winter's day, hundreds of sleighs
TOL. xzxiu. — NO. n. 12
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178 lee: and the lee Tmde.
may be foitnd there filled with well-dressed persons of both sexes, fall of
life, and on the qui vive to witness the wonderful operations before them.
If they are paying their first winter visit, the sights before them are strange
indeed — the silvery pond glaring under the oblique rays of the sun — the
dark blue waters from which the ice has already been removed — the cari-
ous and huge buildings that fringe its shores — the hundreds of laborers
with scores of horses that almost darken the pond, each aiming at useful-
ness according to their several ability — the curious mode of removing the
snow and snow-ice— of working and cutting the marketable solid — the
floating it through narrow artificial canals — and, above all, the storing it by
the wonderful power of' steam — all these things quite fill the crowds of
spectators with admiration, and they feel paid if tbey have performed a jour-
ney of thirty miles merely to witness them. By steam it is quite common to
cut and house two tons a minute, and this is only a moderate rate ; and
when a full force is at work together, six hundred tons are often stored in a
single hour, and where there are several parties on a single pond, each lay-
ing up ice at this rate, the scene cannot but be exciting.
The only State in our vast country that imports any ice from any odier
country is the golden one on our Pacific shore, the youngest daughter in
the family, but by no means the least promising. California has had a por-
tion of its ice from Boston, but a still larger portion is obtained from the
Sitka Isles, lying oflf the Pacific coast of Russian America. This is carried
in vessels to San Francisco. We read of no ice being cut in Oali&>mia
proper.
The use of ice is as old as the age of Homer. The ancient Romans
cooled those Tiberian and other wines that the poet Horace so graphically
describes with frozen water. Indeed, the wealthy classes in every age have
both known and tested its virtues. The common use of it was left for our
day, and ' more particularly for the use of the inhabitants of this favored
land ; and it is not at all improbable that the use of an article, at once so
grateful and healthful, will become as universal, at some future day, as the
use of salt and butter.
The prospect for a harvest of ice in the neighborhood of Boston the pres-
ent year is, at the time we write, very good. The great rain and snow
storms of the past two days (January 19 and 20) may injure the crop a
trifle. We are sure there will be extra expense in clearing the various ponds
of snow. Perhaps a fourth of the ice has already been secured. Februaey
is the month most relied on in this latitude for the bulk of the annual yield.
From Philadelphia we have accounts that the ice fiirmers have already
housed an average harvest.
It used to be tauntingly said (we know not by whom) that " New Eng-
land produces nothing but granite and ice." We have " broken the ice "
upon this last production, and if the reader has had the patience to follow
our rather discursive pen, he has found that whatever the importance to be
attached to the ice trade, present and prospective. New England is the fisither
of it As for the granite story, a larger one might be told.
We cannot close this paper better vhan in the language of Hon. Edward
Everett,* who, in paying a worthy tribute a few years ago to the gentleman
who first engaged in the ice trade on a large scale, has, by his beautiful
words, given warmth to a very cold subject : —
* As reviaed and printed in Uie *< Hundred Boston Orstors."
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lee: and the Ice Trcde. 179
** The ^old expended by this gentleman at Nahant, (Mr. Frederick Tudor,)
whether it is little or mach, was originaUy derived, not from California, bat from
the ice of our own Fresh Pond. It is all Middlesex gold, every penny of it.
The sparkling surface of our beautiful ponds, restored by the kindly hand of
nature as often as it is removed, has yielded, and «pill continue to yield, ages
after the wet diggings and the dry diggings of the Sacramento and the Feather
Rivers are exhausted, a perpetual reward to the industry bestowed upon them.
The sallow genius of the mine creates but once ; when rifled by man the glitter-
ing prize is gone forever. Not so with our pure crystal lakes. Them witb each
returning winter, the austere but healthful Spirit of the North,
* with mace petrifle, cold and dry, *
As with a trident smites, and fixes firm
As Deloe floating onoe.'
" This is a branch of Middlesex industry that we have a right to be proud of.
I do not think we have yet done justice to it; and I look upon Mr. Tudor, the
first person who took up this business on a large scale, as a great public bene-
fiietor. He has carried comfort, in its most inoffensive and salutary form, not
only to the dairies and tables of our own community, but to those of other re-
gions, throughout the tropics, to the farthest East If merit and benefits con-
ferred gave power, it might be said of him, with more truth than of any prince
or ruler living,
* Snper et Gartmantaa et Indoe
Proferet Imperimn.'
^' When I had the honor to represent the country at London, I was a little
struck one day, at the royal drawing-room, to see the President of the Board of
Control (the board charged with the supervision of the government of India)
approaching me with a stranger, at that time much talked of in London — the
Babu Dwarkananth Tagore. This person, who is now living, was a Hindoo of
great wealth, liberality, and intelligence. He was dressed with Oriental ma£f-
nificence— he had on his head, by way of turban, a rich Cashmere shawl, heT(f
together by a large diamond broach; another Cashmere around his body; his
countenance and manners were those of a highly intelligent and remarkable
person, as be was. After the ceremony of introduction was over, he said he
wished to make his acknowledgements to me, as the American minister, for the
benefits which my countrymen had conferred on his countrymen. I did not at
first know what he referred to ; I thought he might have in view the mission
schools, knowing, as I did, that he himself had done a great deal for education.
He immediately said that he referred t<9 the cargoes of ice sent from America to
India, conducing not only to comfort, but health ; adding that numerous lives
were saved every year by applying lumps of American ice to the head of the pa-
tient in cases of high fever. He asked me if I knew from what part of America
it came. It gave me great pleasure to tell him that I lived, when at home, within
a short distance of the spot from which it was brought It was a most agree-
able circumstance to hear, in this authentic way, that the sagacity and enterprise
of my friend and neighbor had converted the pure waters of our lakes into the
means, not only of promoting health, but saving life, at the antipodes. I must
say I almost envied Mr. Tudor the honest satisfaction which he could not but
feel, in reflecting that he liad been able to stretch out an arm of benevolence
firom the other side of the globe, by which he was every year raising up his fel-
low-men from the verge of the grave. How few of all the foreigners who have
entered India, from the time of Sesostris or Alexander the Great to the present
time, can say as much ! Others, at best, have gone to govern, too often to plun-
der and to slay — our countryman has gone there, not to destroy life, but to save
it^-to benefit them while he reaps a welKeamed harvest himself.**
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180 WwHihuty't Writing.
Irt. in.— WOOraCBI'S WRITIllGg.
The book, the name of which heads our article, contains a collection of
the speeches, addresses, and decisions of the late Hon. Levi Woodbuiy, of
New Hampshire.
The long political career of Mr. W. in die Senate and the Cabinet was
80 connected with the commercial and financial le^slation of the goyem-
menl, that the record of the twenty years of his life spent in those posi-
tions, embodies within it a history of Commerce and finance.
With his connection with political parties we have no business ; it per-
tains to other journals than a Merchants^ Magazine, So far as his statea-
manship related to the mercantile interests of the country, it concerns this
journal, and we propose briefly to review it.
The era during which he filled a prominent position in public life was
marked by the active discussion of the tariff and the currency. Now
that opinion has become settled and confirmed by experience, it is difficult
to realize the stormy conflict through which the regulation of these ques-
tions was effected.
New ideas of the theories of wealth, Commerce, and finance, were
struggling for expression. The divorce of private pursuits from State in-
terference was loudly called for ; independent action for individuals and
for government ; freedom for their intellect and enterprise in commercial
pursuits, ^ broad as their personal liberty, found advocates who pressed
for a practical result.
Hardly fifty years have passed since Commcrco and finance began to
assume shape as a science. Great corporations, exclusive privileges, re-
strictive legislation, monopolies and arbitrary impositions, for centuries
had ruled the course of conunercial progress in Europe, retarding tlie
development of the extended relations and firee intercourse of nations
which are the solid basis of civilization and wealth. The mind relieved
firom oppression by new liberty in government, sought to explore these
regions m political economy and inspire there fresh vigor and prosperity.
Energy is a characteristic of our countrymen ; and the believers in both
the old and new systems met on the arena of debate with their ideas en-
larged and developed beyond the narrow thought of those who had lived
under the stifling restrictions of European policy.
It was a wondrous contest, led by giants of debate. The issue whidi
was to decide the destinies of this continent, either for free trade and a
specie basis of currency, or to prohibitory tariflfs and a paper-based credit
system, governed by mammoth corporations, hung suspended for twenty
years.
The leaders of the defeated party have filled the public ear with their
renown, and their praise has been sounded even by their opponents. Why
should the successtiil be debarred from like evidences of appreciation of
their work f There is no place in American politics where the victors of
senatorial contests can repose on their hard-won laurels and enjoy fame
and gratitude for their labors. Life to them is a continuous campaign,
and only when the earth has closed over their bones can come those un-
biased expressions of approbation and esteem that are coupl^ witli the
idea of a happy rest
Mr. Woodbury entered into political life during the war of 1812, as a
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WaodburyU WritingB. 181
Democrat, and came into national politics, after having filled many im-
portant positions in his native State— including that of Governor — hj be-
mg elected to the Senate of the United States m 1824. His abilities had
been developed by experience, and he took rank in the Senate commen-
sarate with the high expectations of his friends. The tariff question was
the most important of the time, and he ranged himself at once on the side
id those who opposed the protective system. Living in the commercial
town of Portsmouth, the interests of navigation and Commerce were fami-
liar to him. His mind was not speculative or theorizing ; it sought prac-
tical results, and made experience the basis of calculation. A sincere be-
liever in the improvement of the human race, he was not conservative by
prejudice or instinct, and yet so careful and laborious were his investiga-
tions, that his results were remarkably reliable, stamping him as that
** rara avis," a prudent and careful reformer.
Although the United States had commenced its career as a Aree trade
power, the long discontinuance of its foreign Ck>mmerce, through the
embargo and the war of 1812, had produced a great increase of domestic
manufactures, as well as a change in the rates of its tariff from the low
revenue point to the highest consistent with the income desired to meet
the expenses of government and the war debt What had been the inci-
dent of war a combination of special interests, manufacturers, miners,
some branches of agriculture, and a portion of capitalists, now desired to
convert into a system of tariffs that would by prohibitory protections se-
cure to them an exclusive control of the home markets for their existing
and future investments.
Commerce and navigation, crushed by long years of suffering, opposed
but a feeble resistance ; the capital employed in the foreign trade had been
considerably diverted into these new occupations, and the body of mer-
chants owed a divided allegiance ; the natural ally of the agricultural in-
terests, the carrying trade, gave it an uncertain support. The idea of
forcing a premature development of manufactures by a hot-bed system of
|m>tection gained ground; States changed their positions; speculative
views attracted enthusiastic business people ; and legislation was lending
efficient aid to force an unnatural system on the country.
Mr. Woodbury's investigations into political economy made him dis-
trust the adequacy of this mode to produce a legitimate object, the £ur
proportion of manufacturing population, compared with other classes of
the community. Not content with a mere theoretical position in favor of
free trade, Mr. Woodbury watched the bearing of the details of the pro-
tection measures on his constituents. Their agricultural and fishing inter-
ests were iniuriously affected by the proposed measures. He brought for-
ward a motion for the partial repeal of the duties on salt, and in a speech,
(vol. 1, p. 15,) exhibited an array of facts and statistics which were so
convincing, that although the protectionists had a decided majority in
both houses, yet the reduction of two-thirds of the duty was achieved. In
the struffffles on these questions, Mr. Woodbury found his position closely
allied wimi that of those renowned leaders of the republican party — Cal-
houn, Hayne, and McDuffie, on the questions of commercial policy. The
confidence then created between Mr. Calhoun and himself outlived their
separatioi^on the nullification measures.
In that union of statesmen who clustered around Gen. Jackson, elevating
him to the Presidency, and forming the nucleus of the Democratic party.
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182 Woodbuty^s Writings.
were found other men — as Benton, Van Buren, Ingham, Dickinson, Wright,
and Buchanan — who inclined towards the protective theor}'-, yet were
willing to circumscribe, within more or less moderate limits, the extent of
its imposition. The contest on this subject was not extinct when Mr. W.
left the Senate. An indignant minority was meditating the utmost re-
sources of constitutional resistance to a tariff which burdened its constitu-
ents and outraged its ideas of constitutional equality. The argument, on
the ^^ew of its feasibility in relation to national wealth, was giving place
to a mixed discussion on the respective rights and powers of the State sov-
ereignties and the general government. The doctrines of nullification,
which had lain dormant since the collisions on the sedition law in '98,
were revived with a sectional array of support which threatened our do-
mestic peace ; and angry discussion was only allayed by the passage of
the compromise measures introduced by Mr: Clay at the last critical mo-
ment
Mr. Woodbury did not participate in these last debates, having passed
from the Senate to the Cabinet of Gen. Jackson as Secretary of the Navy.
In this position, although apparently out of its sphere, he found occasion
to gratify his earnest desire to promote and extend the commercial rela-
tions of the country. Piratical Rajahs were sternly punished ; men of
war were sent to distant fields of commercial enterprise to give practical
evidence of our naval power and disposition to punish aggression on our
Commerce. He laid the foundations of new relations in the East Indies,
by organizing a squadron to cruise in those seas and exhibit to those bar-
barian powers our strength. A series of commercial treaties with Muscat
and Siam were made under his auspices, the commencement of the policy
since so happily completed by the treaties with China and Japan. Our
Commerce in that region, before then greatly exposed to predatory attacks
and arbitrary local impositions, derived from his policy a security before
unknown, the parent of its present noble development.
From the Navy he passed to the Treasury Department, succeeding Mr.
Taney, whose confirmation had been refused by the Senate. The deposits
of the government had just been removed from the Bank of the United
States, and the financial crisis was commencing. On Mr. W. devolved the
organizing of the new system for keeping the public moneys in the De-
posit or Pet Banks, as they were called. At no time in the history of
our country were the duties of the Secretary of the Treasury so numerous
as then. A new department has since been created, and new bureaus,
which relieve the head of the treasury from many onerous labors then per-
sonally devolving on him.
The industry of Mr. Woodbury's mind found a wide field of employ-
ment during the eight years that he was the head of this department
His official labors occupied him from twelve to fourteen hours a day ; and
the volumes of his reports on the subjects within his department would
of themselves form a very considerable libraiy. Had not his constitution
been as robust as his mind, he never could have survived the labors he
performed.
In the volumes before us no references are made to his reports when in
iSie treasury, except by the republication of his report on the cotton crop
of the United States, its growth, manufacture, <S?c.; one on thev losses by
banks and bank paper ; and one on the safe keeping of the public money.
Were no other instance in existence of the labors of Mr. W. than the cot-
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Wwdlnm/'g Writit^s. 183
ton report^ it would be suffieient for a reputation. The task of coHectiog
and organizing the scattered information on the subject was performed
with industry, and its condensation and tabulation make it a model re-
port, invaluable to all who are interested in any branch of the cotton
trade.
When Mr. Woodbury took the Treasury Department, he assumed a
front position in the party which opposed the Bank of the United States.
The bitter partisanship that already existed was increased by the violent
efforts of the bank to retain its position as controller of the currency and
depository of the public funds. By an active and unnecessary contraction
of circulation, she had brought a pressure on the classes engaged in Com-
merce and finance. A sharp correspondence between Mr. Biddle and him-
self on the legality and security of a system of drafts put out by the
branches as currency, instead of the notes of the mother bank, showed
Hiat he was the evident and first object of attack.
Should a crisis in the finances of the country take place, the failure of
credit and the suspension of specie payments by the government, would be
followed by the accession of the opposition to power, and the restoration
of the bank as fiscal agent of the government. To this end were directed
the attacks of the strongest opposition that ever assailed an administra-
tion. Calhoun, Clay, and Webster, each led a division, assailing from
different points. The bank had charge of the commissariat. Never was
a treasury department so assailed ; yet its resistance astonished the assail-
ants. Neither the heavy artillery of the leaders, nor the clang of partisan
presses, produced the anticipated results. Steady, cool, and wary, the Sec-
retary held his ground, and kept his temper. Timid politicians fled from
the battle, seeking positions that seemed safe from its fury, and many
waverers joined the enemy.
At first, confidence was not widely spread, but never had secretary bet-
ter supporter than the hero of New Orleans. Both gathered strength in
the fight ; and as the administration held its steadfast way month after
month, public confidence was reinspired. The whole influence of the
Bank of the United States had opposed, from a well-grounded apprehen-
sion of his distrust, the re-election of Gen. Jackson. The removal of the
deposits from the bank, which followed a year or so after that re-election,
may be deemed a partisan, as well as a reforming act, fraught with im-
portant consequences.
The revenues of the country were deposited in twelve or thirteen banks,
commonly known as the Pet Banks. Under the old system, the Bank of
the United States had discounted on them, as if they were general de-
posits and a basis of the credit ^stem of the country. The new deposit
banks preserved this feature, so that the circulation and credit system of
the country were unaffected by the change. The efforts of the bank for
a suspension thus beinff checked, a rivalry grew up in accommodating the
public with loans. Ouier State banks pressed also to be made deposito-
ries of public funds, that they too might eitend both their circulation and
discounts.
While the number of deposit banks was small, the large deposits of the
government enabled the secretary to restrain their expansions, and at the
same tipie protect them against sudden or unforeseen emergencies. His
controlover their movements was sufficient for all the purposes of safety.
Of course, the possession of such large deposits and the movement of ex-
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184 Woodhunty's WtUmgn.
changes consequent, were desirable objects to all banks, and an overwhelnir
ing rush of other banks was made to secure a share. The secretary had
no necessity for more fiscal agents, and was satisfied of the impolicy of in-
creasing their number.
On his refusal, Congress was appealed to ; again he remonstrated in
most decided terms, and explained the embarrasraaents the proposed
change would cause to the department, and the dangers to the safe keep-
ing of the public moneys. The prize was too tempting ; an act was passed
by a great majority of both houses of Congress which forbade any bank
becoming the recipient of more government deposits than three-fourths of
its capital stock. This measure necessarily added thirty or forty more de-
posit banks, and compelled the distribution of the revenue to points dis-
tant from the commercial centers where it was collected, and where it
could be most conveniently kept to pay the public creditors. The practi-
cal control of the department over its funds was nauch diminished.
It was at this time that Mr. Woodbury announced that the war debt
of 181 2, ^d all the other funded debt of tJie United States, had been paid
off, or funds were on deposit awaiting the call of creditors to finally ex-
tinguish that greatest of evils, a national debt, and that nineteen millions
of surplus revenue remained in the treasury after this extinguishment. In
the modem history of nations these facts were unparalleled, and gave
great eclat to his administration. Mr. Woodbury recommended the in-
vestment of the surplus as a fund on which to rely when the final reduc-
tions under the compromise should temporarily diminish the revenue.
His advice was unheeded, and the course we have first mentioned was
adopted.
Immense inflation of currency and wide-spread speculation followed. In
vain was disaster prophesied ; a mania infected financial circles ; yet the
prudence and watchfulness of the secretary might have been successful in
averting evil, but for a further element that entered. A surplus of upwards
of twenty-five millions of dollars beyond the reouirements of the govern-
ment lay on deposit in the banks. An act of Congress directed this to
be vnthdrawn from them and deposited with the several States of the
Union. It was a distribution bill. The secretary remonstrated against
the danger that making such large transfers would bring upon the credit
and circulation of the country, to which this already served as a partial
basis. The necessary consequences came. In order to meet the transfer
drafts, banks had to contract their loans ; severe revulsions followed, and
before the forced process was completed, credit was destroyed, and speoie
payments suspended by the banks throughout the Union* The funds of
the government were involved ; the further aid of the deposit banks in
managing the revenue lost ; and the Treasury Department was thrown on
its own resources, unaided by legislation.
The opposition, which for years had carried on a fruitless war, rallied
at once, and substantially aided by the now delinquent State baoiks, at-
tempted to force the treasury to a like suspension of specie payments.
The secretary was resolved that the public honor should be preserved, and
gold and silver paid to all creditors who demanded them, and bore the
brunt of these attacks with the same solidity of resistance and imtiring
caution and industry which had served him so well before. The ordinary
resources of government vanished ; its funds locked up in non-specie pay-
ing banks; Commerce prostrated, and land sales su^nded; revenues
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Woodhtm/'s Writings. 186
were difficult to obtain, while ezp^Mlitures were already fixed by law, and
eould be only slightly curtailed.
The secretary created resources, developed plans, found means before
unknown ; and, in despite of the violent efforts of political enemies and
the absolute crash of business, from the beginning to the end, no creditor
of tlie government was ever refused the payment of his demand in gold
and silver. Opponents were confounded, alarmists set at naught, and the
honor of the treasury preserved in untarnished luster amid the general
vortex of suspenuon and repudiation.
One instance of the cleverness of the secretary may be interesting. In
transacting the business of the government, the requisition upon the treas-
ury and the warrant of the secretary on the treasurer for the sum named
IB the requisition, had been made upon one sheet, and were both filed in
the office of the treasurer as vouchers, when he issued his warrant on the
banks for the money thus called for. Now, the money was kept by the
treasurer himself and the collectors and receivers of the United States. It
was difficult to procure specie to pay duties at the custom-house, and the
opposition expected that this circumstance would force the government to
suspend specie payments and adopt the use of the paper currency of the
banks. Mr. Biddle predicted it ; the great lawyers of the opposition be-
lieved it, and confidently awaited the announcement of the suspension
of the department as the crowning glory of their long and vigorous oppo-
sition. /
The secretary took his shears, and with one clip, separated the requisi-
tion from the warrant The requisition went on the files, and the credit-
or took the warrant and presented it at his pleasure to the treasurer for
redemption. By an order of the secretary, the warrant was made re-
ceivable for all public dues at Custom Houses or Land Offices. It had,
therefore, the value of specie, or six to ten per cent premium over cur-
rency, and at once became in great demand with the business community
for the purposes of exchange ; and for paying debts to the United States,
it took the value of spede. This had not been foreseen. One clip of the
shears had cleared the Treasury Department from the toils spread around
it by the able and distinguished leaders of the opposition. It towered, in
oonseious strength, unhurt amid the wreck. It was more than talent, to
produce success with such simple means.
Besides the multitudinous labors of daily ingenuity and temporary ex-
pedients, the department was compelled to devise a permanent system to
r^lace the wreck of their bank agents. The specie circular and other
acts, had given fore-shadowings of the tendency of the secretary's mind ;
and, at the extra Session, was announced a matured sub-treasury scheme,
which, by divorcing the government from the banks, should render the
commercial classestind the Treasury 4epartment independent of each other.
The work of ref<»in and reorganization was at last in a tangible shape.
False and hollow systems of credit, paper currency, and bank regulators,
were approaching their end< A constitutional, practical and safe system
for keeping public moneys, which should in itself be the governor of the
fluctuations of the currency, able to check expansions and relieve contrac-
tions^ without departing from law, or exposing the money of the people to
the dangers of private speculators, was offered for public approval.
In our necessarily narrow limits, it is impossible to trace the history of
these financial events. During the four years of Mr. Van Buren's admin-
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186 Woodbury' $ Writings.
istratioD, it was the key of party orffanizatioB. Thonsands of pampUets
and myriads of ^eches, expressed Uie views of its friends and opponents.
Financiers, merchants, capitalists, brought their ideas prominently forward.
The whole debtor and creditor classes of the community felt themselves
personally interested ; and the public and private talent and experience of
the Union were arrayed in the discussion of the subject The Treasury
Department formed at once the citadel of the new ideas, and an armory
whence their supporters drew the statistical weapons of defense and as-
sault. The whole banking and credit system underwent a searching inves-
tigation, which resulted in the thorough remodeling of the loose theory
of currency and credit before relied on.
The life of Mr. Woodbury, while in the Treasury Department, was spent
in a continual storm. He entered at the commencement of the financial
war, and he saw the divorce of government from banks absolutely accom-
plished, and the ereat foundations of a regeneration of the credit and cur-
rency systems laid and carried up to a demonstration of their feasibility.
Mr. Van Buren's administration was overwhelmed in 1 840, and the secre-
tary retired from his post, after having for eight years, maintained the
honor of the department and the integrity of the laws, through the se-
verest trials. He had carried the sub-treasury scheme into practice, and
demonstrated not only its practicability but its vast superiority over all
previous modes of conducting the finances. With the Democratic party
he retired from office, abiding the coming of that sober second thought of
the people to which the President had appealed.
Having been elected to the Senate of the United States, he took his
seat in that body, on the incoming of the next administration. Mr. Clay,
in the plenitude of success, and with the energy of his powerful nature,
had resolved on a system of reactionary measures, which should carry
back the legislation of the country to the point where it stood when Gen.
Jackson's administration began. The results of 1840 he looked on as the
verdict of the people, and proposed, in his own strong language, " to ex-
ecute the sentence of the law" on the defeated Democracy and their lead-
ers. One of the Cabinet stood defiant in the Senate Chamber.
The reports ofMr. Woodbury while in the treasury, were criticized from
Maine to Georgia, as crude and prolix. The statistics and dry reasoning
of banking questions, are not favorable themes for rhetoric, and the necea-
sa^ and frequent recurring qualifications of language where practical ac-
curacy is sought, forbid much condensation. The reports of the treasury
were chiefiy remarkable for the immense amount of accurate information
conveyed in them, and the clear perceptions of a prudent and safe policy
for managing the fiscal afifairs of the government. In general they were
answers to calls for information and not designed as opinions or essays.
The ten years spent in the Cabinet had obscured the memory of the ora-
torical powers of Mr. W. Great as he was admitted to ^ on details, his ca-
pacity for generalization was forgotten, until his first speech forcibly re-
called it
The report of the new secretary, Mr. Ewing, involving the data and au-
thority for the action of his party, was at once attacked by Mr. Wood-
burv, who exposed its errors and fallacies with great clearness, siistainiag
at the same tsme the financial policy of Mr. Van BureiTs admuiistratioiu
The absolute mastery that Mr. Woodbury possessed over the details of the
policy and action of the past administration, and the stores of infbima-
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Woodbury's Writing. ' 187
tion which hie invettigatioiis on fiBanoial subjects had accnmulatecl, gave
him great facility in the discussion. He brought up powerful arrays of
fkGtB and arguments that lost nothing of their force by the ityle in which
they were presented. While in the treasury, he could only defend himself
with the scant means of reaching public opinion that the machinery of a
free government permits to administrative officers. Now he was in the
open arena, amid the assailants of his policy. The first speech convinced
them that instead of pressing forward to their new measures, the ground
they already occupied was insecure. Mr. Van Buren was never so well
defended as during this extra Session. The strong points of his financial
policy rose above the dust and fog of misrepresentation. The Democratic Sen-
ators were not numerous, but among them were Calhoun, Benton, Lrcwis,
Wright and Buchanan, all statesman of distinguished ability. The de-
^se of the past was particularly Mr. Woodbury's sphere, and many as-
cribed to the clear and vigorous performance of that obligation, the high-
eat influence in determining the reaction of opinion on the merits of that
policy.
Mr. Clay's measures (the Bankrupt Law, Land Distribution, and Tariff")
bad a central point, to which they served as buttresses, the rechartering of
the Bank of the United States. This combination was broken by the re-
peated vetoes of the bank bills by President Tyler. We shall not follow
the debates on these measures ; they throw some new light on the curren-
cy question, but do not affect the history of progress. The United States
Bank could not survive its usefulness, and a distinguished friend wrote its
epitaph, when he characterized it as " an obsolete idea."
The compromise of 1832 guarantied permanent restraint on the sys-
tem of laying a tariff" for protection, fixing twenty per cent as the highest
point of taxation. A large free list had grown up during the preceding
ten years. Mr. Woodbury, near the close of his term as ^retary of the
Treasury, made a report on this subject ; questioning first, whether further
increase of revenue was necessary for the ^conomicaJ support of the gov-
ernment, he suggested placing on twenty-eight of the thirty-nine millions
of the free list, a tariff" of ten or fifteen per cent, carrying absolute luxuries
to the twenty per cent class and reducing the rate on some articles of
general necessity. He admitted the right of discriminating below this
revenue point in favor of competing American articles. To this he added
the suggestion of reducing and remodeling the system of drawbacks and
of introducing the Warehouse system extensively in connection with cash
duties. These changes would at once add five millions to the revenue,
without disturbing the general features of the Compromise Bill, while the
recovery of Commerce from its depression, would soon increase the im-
ports. Mr. Clay's theory was to distribute the income from the public
lands to the States, thus diminishing the revenue of the United States be-
tween two and three millions yearly. This, and an enlarged expenditure,
would create such a deficiency in the treasury, as to compel the limit of
twenty per cent fixed in the Compromise, to be overrun in order to obtain
sufficient revenue ; when, under itke professions of indirect protection and
home valuation, his favorite protection could be realized. The discussion
of the theory of taxation was revived. The protectionists seeking to car-
ry out these views, while the friends of free trade rallied to protect the com-
promises of the act of 1832 from destruction. The ** little tariflf" was the
pj^ecursor. The tariff of 1842 was a blow at free-trade and threatened
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the profltraUon of our foreign Commerce. Supported by the dominant
party, it had a miyority in Congress. Its opponents exhausted in vain
their resources, an appeal to the people only was left The time had come
wlien the free-traders must convince the people of the correctness of their
views or see our Commerce sink, perhaps forever, beneatli a restrictive
policy.
The exertions of Mr. Woodbury were not con6ned to the Senate ; in the
lecture rooms of Lyceums and Societies, before the primary assemblages of
the people, and in the pages of this Magazine, to which he was a welcome
contributor, he sought to impress the advantages of a liberal commercial
policy. His dislike of mere abstract theory was prominently exhibited ; he
dealt not in ex cathedra cpinions, and, when investigating a subject, todc
nothing for granted, not even a principle. His artfrnments were conse-
qucDtly supported by illustrative citations, which his industry had accumu-
lated to an extraordinary extent. The long training of his mental powers
to investigation, enabled him to digest and condense within the narrow com-
pass of a speech masses of observations, and, he took much pleasure in
proving the soundness of his positions, while he was exhibiting the conclu-
sions thence deduced. Three of his speeches on this tariff are given in the
volumes which lucidly expose the workings of the various protective acts in
their bearings on the Treasury and on the people. Holding that, neither
in its absolute or modified state, should a protective system be so arranged
as to throw the burdens of taxation on the necessaries or the luxuries of
the poor, he moved, in the debate of 1842, to place tea and cofiSse on the
free list As one of the minoritv of the committee that had reported the
\a\\ of 1842, the duty of attack lay oa him, which he &ithfuliy performed.
The tariff of 1842 was not allowed to sleep in quiet after its passage, Mr«
McDuffie's bill in 1844 for its repeal bringing on a renewed debate. Mr.
W.'s appeal on behalf of the interests of our foreign Commerce and naviga-
tion, involved a thorough examination of the pandyzinff influence of the re-
strictive system. The disastrous effects of tiie tariff of 1842 on the ship-
building interests were exposecl. The unincorporated ship-builders, with
their wealth uncombined, had been unable to exert that influence on their
representatives, which the superior activity and concentrated organizationa
of manufacturing capitalists had enabled them to wield for many years.
Ship-building and navigaUon have been the natural occupations of the
Eastern States whenever the *' let alone '' policy has permitted their devel-
opment, which the results of the protective policy had greatly retarded.
Improved communications with the ocean were favoring a growing agricul-
tural community, in bringing their products within reach of the markets of
the world. The importance to them of a change in the policy which de-
pressed Commerce to benefit certain protected interests, was abundantly
evident
Mr. Woodbury strongly urged the necessity of relieving ship-building
and Commerce, in order to advance the interests of agriculture, by securing
to them cheaper freights to the markets of the world. The mutual de-
pendence between these pursuits was illustrated by statesmanlike exposi-
tions. These views met the concurrence of the free traders of the West and
South, and the revival of the old alliance of interests became daily apparent:
The democratic triumph in 1844, closed the reactionary struggle of Mr.
Clay. The people had pronounced in favor of a liberal tariff ^tem, and
the free traders were in the ascendancy. Here we must close our review of
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the connexion of Mr. Woodbuny with the caose of commercial and finan-
cial freedom. Twenty years of exertion in their behalf, closed with the ac-
cesftion of Mr. Polk to the Presidency, in 1845*
The intense struggle on these subjects was over. A chapter in the his-
tory of the Union only awaited the entering up of the popular decrees in
1846, by the reinstatement of the Sub-Treasury, and the reduction of the
tariff, to complete a record of the fierce struggle between progress, commer-
dal liberty, independence of government and people in fiscal affairs, on the
one hand, and the consolidating tendencies of conservatism, special legbla-
tioD, and the subserviency of bank capital to political power, on the other.
With the result, a new life was breathed into Commerce. Navigatioii
flourished ; and the rapid development of our resources under the increase
of intercourse with foreign States, has given to our merchants an unsurpass-
ed rank among the civilizers of the world, and made the trade and naviga-
tion of this young republic, second to those of no other power of the earth.
The development of these liberating tendencies goes onward. Reciprocity,
a thoroughly American idea, suggested by Jefferson, is wooing the afiections
of slow and hesitating neighbors, increasing the sphere of our usefulness and
industry, while it promises to be soon established as a great free trade league,
that shall include this continent in its fraternal embrace.
Mr. Woodbury was not the organ of the commercial interests of his day.
His consistent political attachment to a party to which the great body of
merchants were usually hostile, prevented any such assumption. As a
statesman he gave liberal legislation on commercial questions, a consistent
advocacy, even when it was tar in advance of existing ideas. In looking
back on his career, it is remarkable how close was his perception, and how
steadily he strove to bring the public mind to the admission of views now
deemed absolutely demonstrated. Of all who surrounded him, how few
have been so profoundly penetrated with that wisdom of progress, which
made him that which we described in the beginning, ^ a prudent reformer.^
Of how few can it be recorded that all their favorite measures were crowned
witli success.
We have nothing to do with party politics, hence Mr. W.'s career is not
of our sphere, except where his labors have been on the subjects to which
the Merchant Magazine is devoted. As an orator, he bad won solid fame.
He was clear, logical, and often eloquent ; his manner easy« graceful and
energetic ; his language fluent and his voice full and agreeable. He was
always emphatically what is known as a good speaker ; but the wonderful
stores of facts, figures and authorities, and the extensive acquaintance with
every portion of public business that he possessed, made him a formidable
q>ponent in debate. A uniform sense of courtesy marked him as an ora-
tor, adding fresh dignity to the grave and composed habits of a life that rose
above low ambitions and petty passions.
Mr. Woodbury was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of the
United States, as Associate Justice, and resigning hi3 seat in the Senate,
took no further part in political life. His decisions on commercial and ad-
miralty questions, were very popular with the merchants' as a class, and
earned for him the reputation of being a sound and liberal commercial law-
yer, who appreciated the' character of mercantile transactions, with a readi-
ness rarely found in one whose professional career had been mostly in
country practice. The volumes before us contain a number of his decisions
on constitutional law, which fully sustain the high estimate put upon his
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190 Woodbury'9 Wrkinsff.
aUlities, and witness the grasp of thought and patient investigation he
brought to bear on all questions before him.
Mr. Woodbury's name had been prominent in the democratic party in
1848, for the nomination by its convention, as a candidate for the Presi-
dency. It was still prominent in connection with the nomination of 1 852,
and his friends had sanguine expectations of success ; but events are not in
mortal control. Death suddenly claimed his prey, and Mr. Woodbury died
amid his elms at Portsmouth, in September, 1851. The history of his life
is yet to be written. The ashes of time have not gathered around the em-
bers of political strife sufficiently to justify the work being composed with
a spirit of impartial criticism which gives to history its highest value. The
life of Mr. Woodbury was marked by a rigid sen»e of justice, an inflexible
determination, and a capacity for severe, continuous mental labor, very rarely
found. In his personal relations he was a good neighbor, steadfast friend,
and kind head of a family. As an opponent, as we have already said, never
vindictive, and too magnanimous to descend to personal abuse or petty re-
taliations. His laborious habits gave him time for every thing, and his
tastes led him to the pursuits of science, in many branches of which he was
very well informed. As a member of numerous scientific societies, he con-
tributed his aid to their advancement, and in organizing the reform of the
weights and measures, and the coast survey, when at the head of the Navy
and Treasury Departments, he gave most valuable aid to the efficiency with
which they were executed. The influences of the spirit of the age were
strong upon him, and, in all his writings and speeches, a deep conviction of
the bene^cial tendencies of modern civilization, and an ardent faith in the
capacity of man to work out the great problems of life, and to accomplish
invigorating steps of progress in all the aflairs of government, industry and
social relations, is everywhere manifest. Inactivity, and that conservatism,
which opposes improvement because it is change, had no part in his active
mind. The labors of his life were to place progress upon wide and strong
foundations, to remove oppressions and promote free inquiry and sound re-
forms. The volumes before us were in press at the time of his death, and
were published a few months afterwards, slightly modified. One volume
contains selected speeches, the other literary and judicial productions. The
lectures, especially, breathe an eloquence, a philosophic spirit, and an almost
poetic sympathy over their pracdoal subjects, whidi seems extraordinary in
the iron statesman and financier.
The bulk of Mr. Woodbury's writings while in public life, are only to be
found in the State papers of Congress, and the journals of their debates, and
in the judicial reports while he was on the bench. These volumes contain
simply a selection, bearing a small proportion to the uncollected residue.
The stores of information in his unpublished papers, are untouched. The^
would throw great light on the subjects of our inquiry, and we must await
with anxiety, the time when a careful and extended life of Mr. W. shall pre-
sent the full history of his public career.
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Th$ Curreney and the Tariff. 191
Art. IT.— TAB CDRRBNCT AHD THE TABIFP.
FiZKicAZY Hmrr, Esq., EdiUjr of the Mtrehanit^ Mapaxifu, #to .*—
Dear Sir : — ^I ask the atteDtion of your readers to some plain thoughts
on \he currency and the tariff, differing from those generally promulgated.
Some misapprehension of the difficulty and the profound depths of the
science of political economy, in its relation to these subjects, so intimately
blended in their action upon the industry. Commerce, and prosperity of
the nation, appears to have oppressed the minds and embarrassed the ar-
guments of most of the writers upon them. But the normal principle, that
genius, intelligence, industry, and inte^ty are entitled to their equivalent
reward, underlies the science of political economy ; and it is the duty of
every man who has a thought to spare, to give it voice, and claim fc^
this principle its just prerogative in the institutions and policy of the
nadon.
We see that our commer«ial system is in a state of antagonism to this
normal principle, or national law of industry and trade ; and the most
marked peculiarity of our history is found m the constant drain of the
precious metals — the frequent mercantile failures, the severe money pres-
sures, and consequent prostration of industry, and the violent and unjust
transitions of property that succeed — notwithstanding the genius, intelli-
gence, and unparalleled industry of the people. Nothing of this sort oc-
curs to any comparative degree in any other country, and in some coun-
tries such events are wholly unknown.
It is the wont of business men to look widely abroad, or to dive deep
into the unfathomable science of political economy for the cause of the
frequent pressures and panics that disturb the trade and industry of this
country. It appears to me that cause is near at hand — on the surface,
and capable of a very simple illustration. Let me present one that I have
already published elsewhere.
Suppose, Mr. Editor, that you and I, and Peter and John, and ninety-six
oUiers, form a community large enough for varied industry and mutual
support, engaged in the business of life. Peter and John dig gold, and we
adopt the produce of tiieir labor for our medium of exchange and measure of
value. It is plain that the produce of their labor in gold will be exchange-
able for, and will properly represent the same amount of labor in your
magazine, my leather, our neighbors' com or potatoes, or anything else.
This is the just condition or natural law of this state of things. Of course,
he who works the most intelligently as well as the most industriously,
will accumulate the most proper^. There will be some oscillation from
excess of production in some branches, and deficiency in others, but the
margin of that oscillation will be limited, soon observed, and we shall re-
turn to the proper distribution of labor, with the certainty of the vibrating
pendulum to its center. It matters not how much or how little gold Peter
and John produce, it will serve our purpose equally the same, and prices
will keep parallel with the quantity brought into or deducted from the
currency.
Some of us now discover that we can live with less labor by banking.
We obt«m'a charter, offer the security of a strong vault, and by this and
other temptations gather all the gold in the conmiunity into the coffers of
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192 The Currency ond the Tarif.
our bank. We then, according to the charter, discount notes and bills
receivable, credit the proceeds of the discounts to depositors, and issue
bank-notes, till the deposits and circulation payable in specie on demand
amount to three times the sum of the gold previously constituting the cur-
rency. How much does this operation increase our property ? Nothing.
It will inevitably increase prices and expand our obligations of debt on the
same quantity of property transferred threefold. It will give us magni-
tude of name for everything, but of wealth not a picayune more than be-
fore.
Now, there is another community of one hundred men in a country
accessible to us — they have their Peter and John digging gold — they have
no bank of credit discount — nothing of money but gold — they have as
much gold as we, but only one-third the sum of money to settle the bal-
ances of trade — their price of a day's labor is necessarily one-third of ours,
and the value in money of all their indigenous commodities and property
must be one-third of ours. We open a Commerce with this community.
Does any sensible man need to be told that they will glut our markets
with their commodities — nay, that they will manufacture our raw mate-
rial, and sell the product back to us, charged with only one-third the sum
for labor that we must pay on our own similar production, and by fair
and legitimate Commerce drain us of our specie ? This is no mere hy-
pothesis. It is very much the condition of our trade with Germany. Not-
withstanding our reputation for whittling, they whittle out penny-whistle*
and Nuremburg babies, and with them whittle our specie out of our pock-
ets. We deal with France upon similar terms for silks and gew-gaws, and
with every other country in the world to a disadvantage in the exact pro-
portion that we have depreciated our currency below theirs by the issue
of bank notes and bank credits, redeemable in specie, beyond the equiva-
lent value of bullion. With equal industry, under equal conditions of
labor, they can help themselves to our gold almost without stint ; and no
tariff within any collectable scale of duty could prevent this result.
I make this statement broadly, to show the principle upon which this
system of discounting upon the credit of the bank virtually operates.
There is great protection to us in the folly and weakness of other nations,
rather than in our tariff or our wisdom, which we will consider hereafter.
Meanwhile, this Briareus sits in our midst, grasping with his hundred
hands our whole industry and Commerce. Sometimes be appears to be
reinforced by his two equally hideous brothers, who were once buried by
their father in the bowels of the earth, in disgust at their deformity, and
the whole three hundred handed giants are "huddling in our necks with
their darane3 fingers," tickling us into a fancy that the dollar is almighty,
and teaching us, pagans that we are, to worship its graven image in a pa-
per note. It is but a kite. We are charmed with its graceful sweeps and
curves and gyrations in the breeze ; but the first squall snaps the twine,
and lands our paper deity in a distant field, where other boys as foolish
and as fond as we, launch it again into the air, to be admired, and lost,
and found as before.
The immense variations in the quantity of this delusive currency that
we call money, the greater part of which is but a mere " promise to' pay "
money that has no existence, produce corresponding variations in the mo-
ney value of property and debts, so that no reliable estimate can be made
of property for any considerable period of time. There can be no reason-
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The Currency and ike Tariff, 193
aUe relinnce that the quantity of money whioh measures an obligation for
six months, will be anywhere at- its maturity to discharge the debt ; and
Ais baffling uncertainty renders the trade of the country but little better
than licensed gambling.
Statisticians demonstrate that only three to five of every hundred who
enter into trade in this country, pass through life without failure or dying
in poverty. When we consider the opportunities thus afforded to the un-
scrupulous of grasping the fruits of the labor of others, the distress of the
conscientious, the sufferings of families, the broken health and broken
hearts thus occasioned, this fact is perfectly appalling.
Perhaps the mode of estimating the exports and imports by our cur-
rency may be the only practicable way of aggregating them for statistical
purposes ; but it is a very indecisive and unsatisfactory account of jtheir
quantity ; for it is quite possible that the quantity may remain the same,
while by name in money value they would be doubled, or vice versa ;
and the same is true, of course, in regard to the wealth of the nation. In-
flations or contractions of the currency may double the figures at one pe-
riod, or reduce them fifty per cent at another. For this reason, our tabular
statements of Commerce and of consumption per capita, are wholly unre-
liable ; they can be frequently impressed into the service of falsehood as
well as truth, and made to prove anything or nothing, to accommodate
the theory or the prejudice of the writer.
In the city of Baltimore I observed for about twenty-five years the varia-
tions in the value and rent of a warehouse in the most central position for
business, occupied in the first instance by Mr. Peabody, the present London
banker, at the annual rent of $750 per annum. It had been built upon a
ground rent of $900 per annum four or five years previously. The owner
had been compelled by the monetary crisis attending the operations of the
branch of the United States Bank in that city in 1819 to relinquish it to
the owners of the ground, who, with one of the finest warehouses in the
city added to their property, could not obtain for it within $160 per annum
as much as they had before received for the ground alone. Flour at that
period was worth $3 76 per barrel, so that 200 barrels of flour would re-
present the yearly rent of that warehouse. In the subsequent years during
which it was under my observations, the rent increased from $750 to
$2,000 ; and it is an instructive coincidence that at each new lease, 200
barrels of flour nearly or exactly represented the price of that rent, varying
as it did in money, and increasing nearly threefold. No doubt that rent
is worth nearly or precisely 200 barrels of flour to-day. This ought to
show the little reliance to be placed in tabular statements of property in
money, with our defective currency. The property in this case is un-
changed, excepting by the depreciation of age. It is a warehouse, costing
a certain amount of human labor and ground, in the same central posi-
tion in regard to trade as at first. It is the same wealth, and nothing
more. Yet a tabular statement of the property of Baltimore would con-
tain this item at three times its value in 1823. Certainly flour is not a
very stable measure of value, depending as it does upon varying crops and
an uncertain foreign demand. Nevertheless, it is more reliable for long
contracts than money, under our system, as this illustration demonstrates.
The builder and owner of the warehouse in this case was wronged ; he
was despoiled of his property by our money system, and others possess the
fruit of his labor without having granted any equivalent therefbr. Every
VOL. xxxin. — NO. II. 13
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194 The Ourrmcy and the Tat^ff.
other dty in the Union can furnish similar examples of this inaugarated
iniquity.
Of what avail, then, is the provision of the Constitution of the United
States that ^^ Congress shall have power to coin money and regulate the
value thereof," or the negative provision, that '^ no State shall emit bills of
credit, make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in the payment of
debts, or pass any law impairing the obligation of contracts ?"
The value of money is regulated to disorder^ to the impairing of con-
tracts, and to the confusion of all just ideas regarding the rights of prop-
erty, as eflfectually by the powers exercised by the States in granting bank
charters, with authority to issue " bills of credit," — for bank notes are no-
thing less nor more — and those bills are as effectual and forcible a legal
tender in practice as if the several State Legislatures passed direct laws
upon the subject at every session, or even authorized the issue of base coin.
And the following strange anomaly or rank absurdity presents itself to
every ingenuous mind disposed to consider language to mean what it
says: —
*^ A principal authorizing a thing to be done, does it himself, and what
a principal cannot do himself, he cannot authorize to be done." This is
good law and good common sense ; in defiance of which, and in defiance
of the plain provisions of the Constitution, we find the States creating
banks, authorizing the issue of notes — bills of credit, in fact, and nothing
else — and directly emitting bills of credit in the form of bonds themsiBlves.
I am aware that special pleading has proved to the satisfaction of many
minds that these bank notes and State bonds are not bills of credit within
the meaning of the Constitution, and I once saw a letter to this effect from
Mr. Webster to Mr. Peabody, of London, who with others entertained
some scruples in regard to the validity of State bonds. I suppose it satis-
fied Mr. Peabody ; it did not satisfy me. If the bank notes and State
bonds are not bills of credit, it is impossible for a candid mind to detei^
mine what else they can be.
In the matter of State debt, which I believe is one difficulty in the way
of the interpretation of this part of the Constitution, it seems to me that
a sufficient voucher might be provided by entering the amouut subscribed
to a loan in a book in the hands of the creditor, after the manner of our
bank deposits, and by transfers on orders fi*om the creditor, recorded in
the books of the State Treasurer. There would seem to be no constitu-
tional objection to this ; but in regard to the ^^ bank bill of credit," that
huge power of evil, a traveling tinker among the currency, changing val-
ues all the time, causing violent transfers of property, a constant discoui^
agement to the conscientious, enterprising merchant, urging the unscru-
pulous and cunning to dash boldly forward and occupy, to the exclusion
of better men, the avenues of trade, the great source of poverty and dis-
tress to honest, industrious men and their families, and, nnally, the cause
of broken hearts, recorded in the bills of mortality under every name but
the true one ; it should be utterly repudiated and abolished, along with
the credit deposits that belong to its system.
In our government scheme of finance, for raising surplus from impost
duties, we must meet a struggle of opinion between the advocates of the
principles of protection and revenue, so purely political and partisan, as
to blind the opponents to the plain facts that lie at the bottom of all pros-
perity, whether of the individual, the family, the conununity, or the State.
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The Ourreney <md the Tarif. ^ 19S
This pro^rity rests npon tbe free untaxed labor, genius, and intelligence,
of the people ; and the less the government has to do with it the better.
One man working ten hours of the day, and exchanging his surplus prod-
uce with another, working with the same intelKgenoe and industry only
seven hours of the day, must bring the latter in his debt, if both are equally
pmdent in their consumption, and exchange their products on an equal
measure of value. This simple fact we lose sight of in our arguments
upon the tariff question. There cannot be a doubt that the labor of the
people of this country, with their power of machinery and unequaled
general intelligence applied to the production of wealth, is in the ratio of
ten to seven of that of England, the next most favored nation of the
world, or even greater. We need no protection against such weakness,
and we should ask of the government no teaching, only protection for life^
liberty, and property, and the smallest possible tax of any kind. The
principle of protection applied to the tariff, is in my opinion, a chimera;
and it is clearly a method of inflating prices, and checking exports ; there-
by increasing the evil it was designed to remedy ; causing the export of
specie, the returns of which come to us in luxuries and manufactured
articles, in competition with our home industry. If I pay my neighbor
for his home-made article more than the foreign one would cost, I (marge
him the more for my labor in return, and we reciprocally raise prices on
each other, and on all other producers, and thus aid the credit banking
system to raise the prices of all commodities, till their export becomes un-
profitable. In a recent controversy upon this subject I took occasion to
present the following proposition. Suppose it costs you $600 to maintain
your family for a year, without any tariff on your cotton and woolen
doth, tea, coffee^nd other necessaries ; and during the year you can pro-
duce flour and potash, that can be sold for export to England at the ex-
treme limits of $050. What will be your condition and that of the export
trade, if, by reason of a tariff on the necessaries consumed in your family,
your living is made to cost you $700 ? You could not afford to sell your
produce at the exporter's limits of 1660, and would not be likely to do it
England would procure her supplies from the Baltic ports or elsewhere,
and draw on us for $660 of specie that we should otherwise pay in flour
and ashes. This principle must run through the whole field of domestic
labor, as I view the subject, and through all the ramifications of trade :
therefore it appears to me the lower we can keep the duties the better.
My correspondent replies bv another question that covers the whole argu-
ment for the protective policy, so called. " If," he says, " by the aid of a
tariff we create a home market, that enables you to realize $800 for your
flour and ashes — how then ?" Why then, I rejoin, it is non-intercourse
and nothing else. But the export of such specie and the receipt of such
commodities as will and must come to buy it, for if our usual products
cannot be exported by reason of their high cost, it is plain that we roust
•ell our specie or our foreign trade is at an end, and the industry it fosters
is at an end with it It would be a severe tariff, the scale of which its
advocates have never measured, that under the operation of our system of
inflated prices would prevent the importation of foreign products, more
than sufficient to drain us of all the specie we could well spare, and run us
in debt for a large balance into the bargain. The true policy under this
supposition would be, to have a non-intercouse act at once. This would
at least save^to us the California gold. Non-intercourse, embargo, and
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190 , The Currency and ihe Tarig.
war, first established our cotton and woolen manufEu^tures, and nothing
else will sustain them if they are not sustained abroad, for the tariff doea
not help us.
I have no prejudice against the tariff policy. Badged with the log-cabin,
drilled in the Whig procession, fed with hard cider, and taught to consider
hard money and free trade devices of the enemy, my prejudices and my
reading have been all the other way. I read the Tribune dutifully still,
and have never voted any but a Whig ticket, but the issues of that party
are dead, and the party is dead along with them. There has been time
for some calm consideration and independent thought upon the subject,
and I make no doubt that ere long, most practical merchants will agree
with me, that the protective tariff policy, and paper money, are both mis-
takes that need to be rectified.
I do not now propose to examine the question of a revenue tariff : but
I must say that I cannot see its justice. I cannot comprehend why the
producer with a large family, who must necessarily be a liberal consumer
of foreign products, and who is apt to be a poor man, should be taxed
more than a wealthy unproductive bachelor, or a wealthy childless man,
or as much as any wealthy man, who consumes less or no more of foreign
products than he. It would seem therefore, that the mote equitable mode
of raising revenue for the government, would be by direct taxation.
Our true and oflScient protective tariff is the intelligence, enterprise, in-
dustry, and integrity of the people, to which nothing in the known history
of mankind bears any comparison, and the folly and weakness of Europe.
These are our protection and our strength.
With the people of Europe war is the most honorable employment and
the chief business of life, requiring and usin^ the strongest men ; and it
operates with a more than twofold power agamst the resources of the na-
tion. It changes an able producer to an exhausting consumer. It em-
ploys large numbers of the population in furnishing food and material for
the army, and the labor and the cost of supporting men, women, children,
and brute animals thus employed, are lost to the accumulative power and
wealth of the nation. Judicious vmters assert that no nation can carry on
an aggressive war for any considerable period that shall require for its
army more than one-fifth of its able-bodied men, the remaining four-fifths
being indispensable for the maintenance of the army abroad and the mass
of tbuB population at home.
" In peace prepare for war," is the motto of all Europe. Accordingly,
we see the nations bristling with bayonets in time of profound peace. It
is a common idea that extravagance is the reason of the balance of trade
being so generally against this country, and the cause of our commercial
embarrassments ; but there is nothing in it. Exceptional individuals there
are who are extravagant, and spend more than they earn ; but, as a whole
people, we earn and pay for all the elegancies and luxuries we enjoy, and
have abundant means left. No nation on the globe is so little extravagant
as our own, in the true sense of that term.
But war is an extravagance. A standing army in time of peace is an
extravagance. The army of France, which I think rarely falls below
400,000 men on the peace establishment, is a plaything more costly and
exhausting to the resources of the nation than all the gay equipages, rich
furniture, silks, satins, jewels, operas, and the other baubles that furnish
interest and amusement to all the vain men and frivolous women in our
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7%e Currency and the Tariff. » 197
land ; and ftom these the principal nations of Europe are no more exempt
than we. A privileged aristocracy, exempt from labor ; an established
church, costing, as in England, $35,000,000 per annum ; a cumbrous mass
of pauperism — all these are extravagances, the results of an old and de-
caying civilization, from which we, as a nation, are ahnost wholly free.
Our comparative exemption from these, and the intelligent industry of the
masses of the population, promoted and secured by our common schools,
are carrying us forward to a heig&t of power and prosperity, and with a
rapidity such as the world never before saw equaled ; and we k^ teaching
the world with emphasis the important lesson for human happiness, that
peajce^ not wwr, is the true mode of securing power, and the true policy fdr
mankind.
Nevertheless, we exploiter each other in our business relations at home,
and we fritter away a considerable portion of our productive labor for the
benefit of other nations. With a productive power in proportion to our
consumption, constantly applied, equal to 10 to 7 at least of the next most
favored nation of the world, the balance of trade is almost constantly
against us. True, we can spare this balance, and have the means of pros^
perity left, but it is waited on wars and on objects foreign to our interests,
or to the advancement of mankind. We should do better to keep it at
home.
The explanation of this apparent paradox, this constant unhappiness
and continued prosperity, is before us in the inflated, staggering currency,
which is never anywhere in a reliable position twelve months at a time,
and in the never-ceasing industry of the people. The tariff is of secondary
importance.
It remains to consider the remedy for the evils we experience. This is
a matter requiring the careful consideration of our merchants. As a class,
it appears to me they have unaccountably neglected a subject easy of com-
prehension, the right understanding of which is of vital importance to their
prosperity, and to the general welfare of the nation.
It is a trite remark, that it is easy to point out an evil, but not so easy
to devise a remedy. Periiaps it may be a sufficient answer to this to say,
that an idea must be created before it can have power to discover or en-
force its remedy ; and I think the true idea in regard to the currency has
J ret almost to be created in this country. The evu is the o^pring of State
egislation ; and most men look to legislation for the remedy. The efforts
of several of the States to pass laws to suppress the issue and circulation
of small bank notes, are in the right direction. Such laws have been
passed in several of the States, but are effectually enforced, I think, only
in Mainland and Virginia; they have had a most beneficial effect in
strengthening the currency of those States, and none passed through the
money pressure of the latter half of last year with so little inconvenience
or suffering.
But it would be impossible to get a uniform system of legislation in the
several States upon the subject. An attempt to pass a law in the Massa-
chusetts Legislature at its last session, restraining the issue and circulation
of small bank notes, was defeated by the selfish interest of the members,
many of whom, and some of the members of the banking committee, were
bank officers or directors, and by the general ignorance of the whole, who
were satisfied with the shallow idea that a one-dollar note will buy at
much as a silver dollar, and they seemed to think that it would be an
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198 ♦ The Currency and the Tariff.
affliction to carry the weight of specie in their pockets. But such a
measure, if adopted hy all the States would be only an alleviation — not a
cure.
The true remedy I conceive lies with the people, and more immediately
with the merchants in their individual capacity. If any number of mer-
chants in New York or Boston would realize one or two millions of dol-
lars in coin, and establish therewith a " mercantile treasury," it could, I
think, be so directed as to beeome the' nucleus of a power that would
shortly reform the whole system of the currency of this coxmtry.
There are men in New York, and in every other city and community,
thank heaven, who can be trusted. We know them and we trust them
now. Their note is as good as any bank note of the best quality, and
their word is as good as their bond. K such men would establish an in-
stitution or commercial firm of this character, manage it themselves, pledge
themselves to each other and to the public, to receive, pay, and loan no-
thing but specie or the precious metals — unless it might be desirable to
the public for the convenience of portability, to receive certificates of de-
poMt, and never to issue one dollar of that description unless for the
equivalent coin retained in hand — it could be ma^e a substitute for our
savings banks, that are now little else than satellites of the other banks of
the credit system. They could borrow money at four, and loan it at six
or seven per cent ; they could charge a commission on accounts, loans, or
transfers ; they might deal in exchange, perhaps make advances for a com-
mission on bullion or plate deposited ; and other sources of profit might
be found in the practical working of the institution to remunerate the pro-
prietors. But it would operate with power, I think, in the correction of
the evils of the present diseased currency, by keeping in check the issues
of the banks of the credit system, for whose notes, to the extent of its op-
erations, it would substitute specie.
It is a circumstance generally unknown or unthought of, that when the
alarm in regard to the Provident Institution for Savings in Boston took
place last fall, in consequence of the fact becoming known to the public
that the institution had invested largely in the stock of the Webster Bank,
the deposits in that institution and the other savings banks in the cit^
and suDurban towns, amounted to between eight and nine millions of dol-
lars. They had nothing to pay out but notes of the Boston banks. The
whole sum of specie in those banks was only $2,400,000, and they had
before as much as they could do to take care of themselves, their custom-
ers, and • their circulation previously issued. New York was as much
pressed for specie as Boston. There was no resource for an immediate
additional supply. In this emergency, a Catholic priest and a wealthy
Irishman addressed the assembled multitude, who were clamoring for the
return of their deposits, assuring them of their safety ; and the excitement
subsided. It was full time. Such a state of things is preposterous, and
should carry a condemnation of the system that produces it.
The reduction in the quantity of money, and the fall of prices that
would follow the substitution of coin for our entire paper currency, I have
not now time to consider. It may form the subject of a future article ;
but it may be well now to say that great misapprehension exists concern-
ing this. The change would be almost entirely a substitution of the one
for the other, and not a great reduction in quantity to cause a general or
disastrous foil of prices in this country ; for the balance of trade is legiti-
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7%e Currency and th$ Tariff. , 190
mately in our favor, as I have already demoDstrated, lo secure the coin to
any desired extent as soon as we shall require its use. No nation in the
world could exchange products with us on a specie, or any other equal
measure of value, without falling in our debt. This is the explanation of
the early and entire success of the Sub-Treasury that politicians supposed
would require and absorb all the specie, and break every bank in the
United States. That admirably devised scheme of finance now retains in
the country twenty or thirty millions of dollars of specie that would in-
evitably cause inflation, fluctuation, and wide-spread disaster, as before,
and would disappear like magic, if the ^vemment funds should be again
committed to the custody of the credit banking system. That money
alone, in my opinion, preserved our banks from a general suspension of
specie payments during the recent pressure.
In the present delusion of the public mind regarding banks, the system
of expansion and inflation cannot stand still. The establishment of a bank
is generally considered, in a country neighborhood, equivalent to the crea-
tion of wealth to the sum of its capital at least ; and the legislature cannot
equitably refuse a loan so valued, and already so freely granted, to any
town that may petition for it. More capital, more capital, is the constant
cry. Every one thinks it necessary to provide more money for increasing
prices and increasing demands. Nobody thinks of the natural remedy for
a deficiency of money — lower prices, till they fall in an avalanche on all
the property touched by the magic finger of the idolized bank. The
sapient member of the Legislature, a duality of statesman and bank di-
rector, says a bank note will buy as much as the specie. It is money, in
his opinion, real money, therefore the making of a bank is the making of
money ; and so we apparently go ahead, but really advancing backtoards ;
and so we must go, so far as I can see, if we depend on legislation, till the
bubble bursts in a general suspension of specie payments. Then will a
specie deposit bank, or an institution such as I have described, be the only
one having character or capacity to do anything ; and then will its merits
commend it to public favor in a manner that will probably put an end to
Uie present credit banking system in this country forever.
Now, a " mercantile treasury " of this character might place and keep in
circulation, in coin, a large portion or all of the money usually held on
deposit in the " savings institutions," so called, which serve at present in a
great degree as a means of inflation in other banks, and it could not be
pressed for its engagements. It would substitute the thing promised
to be paid for the mere " promise to pay," and it would be a public bene-
diction.
I am not alone in this opinion. A new sentiment wholly independent
of politics is fast growing into importance, that would rally around and
sustain any reliable institution established to give it practical effect
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200 Canada : its Commerce and jRe9our€ei.
Art. T.— CANADA: ITS C09MERCE AND &ESOURCES.
In the selection of a country which offers the greatest security to life and
property, and yields the lareest reward for labor and capital, Europeans wiil
readily appreciate the fact that North America presents to the laoorer and
capitalist inducements superior to those of any other on the globe. Em-
bracing almost every variety of climate, soil, and production, and possessing
natural resources and advantages, which, properly developed and improved,
will make its inhabitants conspicuous among the people of the earth for
wealth and commercial as well as political influence, America supplieB for
the surplus population and capital of Europe a field for enterprise that ad-
mits of no limitation or comparison.
Canada, which may safely be regarded as the most thriving and prosper-
ous portion of the continent, on account of its great agricultural resources,
and its proximity to the ocean navigation and the Atlantic markets, exhibits
in its remarkable increase of population and trade, undoubted evidence of a
substantial, real progress in those material interests which combine to give a
nation strength.
While the population of Great Britain and Ireland increased from
26,883,496, in 1841, to 27,452,262, in 1851, or at the rate of about half
a million, or about 2 per cent, during the ten years, and while the popula-
tion of France increased from 34,280,278, in 1841, to 35,781,028, in 1851,
showing an increase of 1,551,450, or 4^ per cent, in ten years, the popula-
tion of the United States and British North America increased from
20,000,000, in 1841, to 27,200,000, in 1851, showing an increase of
7,200,000, or about 36 per cent, in ten years.
POPULATION — UPPER CANADA.
1811. 18i8. 1812.
77,000 186,000 261,060
18S8. 18^1.
886,824 466,867
LOWE& CANADA.
1841.
486,066
1851.
962,004
1811.
611,920
1844.
690,782
18^1.
B 90,261
1881— say Upper Canada. . .
6ay Lower Canada... .
240,000 1861— eay Upper Canada . .
6 1 1,920 eay Lower Canada . . .
761,920 Totol...
959,004
890.261
Total
1,842,266
2.260.000
1856. estimated at
While the free population of the United States increased from 5,305,925,
in .1800, to 20,000,000, in 1850, or nearly 400 per cent in fifty years. Up-
per Canada increased from 77,000, in 1811, to 952,000, in 1851, or 1,100
per cent in forty years, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, the most thriving
portion of the United States, increased 320 per cent in twenty years, from
1830 to 1850 ; Upper Canada in the same time increased 375 per cent.
The abolition of the Seigniorial Tenure in Lower Canada will, doubtless, be
attended by a more rapid increase of population than formerly. The lon-
gevity of Canada is unequaled, there are 4,100 persons between 80 and 90
years of age; 1,270 between 90 and 100; and 74 between 100 and 120.
In the consideration of the respective merits of the difierent localities or
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Canada : its Commerce and Resources. 201
dtstricU of the North American Continent, it is reasonable to assume that
the Valley of the Rivers Mississippi and Missouri, should be considered at
present the extreme western limits of that portion of the North American
Continent which is favorable to agriculture and other industrial pursuits.
Those States bordering upon the Atlantic Ocean are tbe oldest and foremost
in manufactures and Commerce. Possessing the seaports, they are engaged
in Commerce between the interior of the continent and foreign countries.
As a general thing the soil of tbe Atlantic States is not so remunerative to
labor as those rich tracts of land in the vicinity of the great rivers and
lakes of the conUnent, which find access^ to the ocean at New Orleans and
Qaebec
Those States south of latitude 40^ and known as ^^ slave States,'^ are
Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama,
Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.
The dimate of that section of the continent is highly unfavorable to Euro-
peans or whites, with perhaps the exception of the most northern districts.
The chief products are cotton, rice, tobacco, and sugar, which are cultivated
by slave labor.
Without attempting to settle the question as to the right of man to en-
slave or degrade his brother-man, it is sufficient, for our present purpose, to
know that the Southern slave States present, in comparison with the North-
em free States and the Province of Canada, at least a humiliating spectacle
in the eyes of the civilized world. While the slave territory of the South
experiences no marked progress in population, wealth, education, agriculture,
arts, and Commerce, the free territory of the North is rapidly advancing in
everything which tends to the solidity and greatness of a nation. Tbe an-
tagonism that exists between free labor and slave labor, deprives the former
of that dignity and value which it possesses in the more enlightened pro-
gressive free territory of the North. It may well be questioned how far
5ie peculiar institutions of the South are capable of givmg security to the
investment of capital within its borders, when we consider the possibility of
a dissolution of the Union, and a separation of the free States from the
slave States, the result of which would unquestionably be disastrous to the
white population of the South.
With a prudent forecast, and with an intelligent appreciation of the facts
already stated, the most discriminating and prosperous of the millions of
Europe who have migrated to America, have selected for their residence the
best portion of the continent, and which may be described as the Valley or
Basin of the St Lawrence and the great Western Lakes. The States of
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, bordering upon those lakes,
together with the Provinces of Canada, offer a greater amount of prospect-
ive increase to the laborer and capitalist than any other section of the con-
tinent From this rich tract of land, extending a distance of nearly two
thousand miles, with a coast line of nearly three thousand miles, from the
mouth of the St Lawrence to the head of the great lakes, the Atlantic and
European markets derive, to a considerable extent, their supplies of bread-
stuff and provisions ; and it may, with strict propriety, be designated as
the " Garden of America."
The enormous increase of wealth and population having its basis on the
ample resources and natural riches of that fertile re<rion, evince a rapidity
and steadiness of growth, in every department of material prosperity, be-
longing to no other country of the same extent in the world.
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202
Canada : its Commerce tjmd Ee9(mTte$,
The trade of the Wetteni Lakee in 1841 was Taloed at ,
1846
« " 1861
$66,000,000
186,000,000
800,000,000
Exclusive of the cost of vessels and the profits of the passenger trade.
The surplus waters of those lakes are all tributary to the River St Law-
rence. Canada possesses this great natural commercial highway, or channel
of communication between the interior of the American Continent and the
Atlantic, and holds the ocean key to lakes and rivers, on which is carried a
Commerce amounting already to the enormous sum of $400,000,000 an-
nually.
A consideration of the position of Canada, with a territory 'of 160,000,000
acres of land, the greater part of which is susceptible of the highest culti-
vation and improvement, with a steady but rapid increase of population,
which is doubled every fifteen years ; and with the astonishing growth of
her trade, Commerce, and navigation, will result in the conviction that Can-
ada has a future, and that she holds a favorable position for the promotion
of her industrial and commercial interests, and for a liberal participation in
that substantial progress and advancement in the acquisition of public
wealth, which, as a natural consequence of the rapid development of ^vast
resources, will attend the untrammeled energies of the enterprising n^Uions
of America.
Easy of cultivation, remunerative to labor, and favorably situated upon
the great navigable highway to the ocean, the land in the vicinity of the
St Lawrence and its tributary waters, will appear exceedingly desirable to
all who appreciate Jts advantages in respect to fertility of soil and easy ac-
cess to the principal markets of the worid.
The agricultural interests of Canada are exhibited in the following state-
ment:—
Total occupied acres of land cultivated . . .
** ** uncultivated ,
7,800.889
17,989,796
Say 18,000,000 acres occupied lands, worlb £65?879,048 or $273,5^6,1^2.
The average price of the Canadian occupied lands is about $15 25 per acre,
or £3 sterling, which is about the annual rent of lands in England. Un-
occupied lands can be bought at from five shillings sterling to twenty shil-
lings sterling per acre. There are under cultivation : —
1,189,811 acres of wheat, yielding 16,155,946 bushels, or 14| bushels
per acre, 20 bushels per acre being a fair average on good wheat lands.
89,876 acres Lidian corn, yielding 2,029,544 bushels, or 22 bushels per
acre, 26 bushels per acre being a fair average on good com lands.
77,972 acres rye, yielding 869,835 bushels, or 11| bushels per acre.
329,755 acres peas, yielding 4,223,487 bushels, or 13 bushels per acre,
1 7 bushels being a fair average on good land.
913,366 acres oats, yielding 21,434,840 bushels, or 24 bushels per acre,
65,660 acres barley, yielding 1,389,499 bushels, or 21| bushels per acre.
Pototoes bush. 10,080,178
Hay tons 1,647,486
Buckwheat bush. 1,169,681
Hops lbs. 224,222
Maple sugar 9,772,199
Hemp and flax 1,917,666
Cider galU. 754,989
Tobacco IbB. 1,268,183
Butter »5,«18,467
Cheese 2.787,790
Wool 4,180,740
Beef bWa. 1 82,669
Pork 668,928
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Canada : its Camntsree and Bedomtes,
209
THS LIVE 8T00K OOMPaiSlfr—
Hor?e«. 885,87*7 I Sheep .
Horned cattle. 1,882,644 | Swine .
1,697,849
825,476
Total Talae of live stock • £10,947,687
Total aoBoal yaloe of grain. 5,624,268
Total annual value of other produce 4,485,158
Total annual ralue of manufactured agricultural products 1,455,999
Total annual value of beef and pork 1,605,908
Total £24,071,766
The agricultural products and farming stock of Canada divided equally
among the total population of men, women, and children, would supply
each family of six persons throughout the Provinces annually with —
Wheat 2,940 lbs., or 52i bush.
Indian com . . • 392 Iba., or 7 buah.
Rye 168 lbs., or 8 bush.
Peaa. 768 lbs., or 13 bush.
Ottia 2,112lb8,or66 bush.
Barley 192lbe.,or 4 bush.
Potatoes. 1,748 lbs., or 38 bush.
Buckwheat . . . ,
Maple sugar . .
Cheese ,
Beef and pork ,
160 lbs., or 8} bosh.
82 lbs.
92 lbs.
480 lbs.
Food, each family 9,064 Iba.
Besides 5 sheep, 4 oxen and cows, 3 hogs, 24 acres of land occupied and
cultivated, or 60 acres of land occupied, improved, and unimproved, leaving
140,000,000 aCres yet unoccupied and uncultivated.
In the above statement, it will be observed, only the leading staple arti-
dea have been named, and no mention is made of the garden and farm
vegetables, fruits, poultry and game, fish, and other items of food, which
are veij abundant — and also, that in the calculation the entire population of
Canada is embraced. One important fact may be inferred from an attentive
consideration of the foregoing statement, viz. : that the people of Canada
have an abundance of rich, wholesome food, and after supplying the wants
of the farmers, and the mechanics, manufacturers, merchanta, and other Ca-
nadian consumers, have a large surplus of produce for exportation. The
exports of Canada amount in value to about $24,000,000 annually.
The surplus agricultural products of the soil form an important item of
public wealth, and a substantial basis for Commerce with other countries.
Although the agricultural productions of Canada furnish evidence of its
prosperity, it is not upon these alone that her inhabitants rely for support.
The products of the forest supply Canadians with sources of wealth which
are not easily overestimated. From the Ottawa and other rivers emptying
into the St Lawrence, immense quantities of timber and lumber are brought
to the seaboard for exportation.
The timber exports of Canada, amount to tlO,000,000 annually. From these
exports Canada also derives a solid basis for her Commerce with other coun-
tries. The capacity of Canada to sustain a large population is quite appar-
ent Her people may be increased to 25,000,000, with a corresponding in-
crease of genemi prosperity.
Any man of ordinary capadty and industry can obtain employment and com-
mand wages on the farm — in the shop— and the factory — in the ship yard
or the forest — in improving new or cultivating old landb — in the navigation
of the noble lakes and rivers — in the pursuit of Agriculture, Manufactures
and Commerce, that will enable him to enjoy this " bill of fare,'' a perusal
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204 Canada : its Commerce and Beeaurces.
of which will satisfy Europeans that in Canada they need not be deprived of
the necceftsaries, the comforts or the luxuries of life. By a recent treaty
made between Great Britain and the United States of America, the free
navigation of the river St Lawrence is secured to the United States of
America, and free access to the markets of the United States is secured for
the produce of Canada. The farmers of Canada can now have the choice
of Canadian, American and European markets for the sale of their produce.
The duty exacted by the United States Government upon ordinary im-
portations of merchandise from Europe is twenty per cent, while the Prov-
ince of Canada requires only twelve-and-a-half per cent upon the same
articles. This is considered by some as an advantage of seven-and-a-half
per cent upon importations, in favor of Canadian consumers, while others
have regarded the high duty upon imported goods as favorable to the con-
sumer, because by keeping out of the country foreign manufactures, they en-
courage home or domestic manufactures, and thereby create good ** home or
near markets," for the produce of the farms. However this may have been,
it is now positively certain, that Canadians have the privilege of choosing
markets, and under the present system, their position is highly advantage-
ous for Agriculture, Manufactures and Commerce.
Water-power on the Canadian rivers, and cheap fuel for propelling ma-
chinery for manufacturing purposes, may be easily procured, and in addition
to these natural facilities, the government by the admission, at a mere nom-
inal duty or free of duty into the Province, of the raw materials of cotton,
wool, dec, are encouraging Canadian manufactures. Experienced mechanics
and artisans readily find employment for their skill and talent in Canada.
The display of Canadian manufactures at the Annual Provincial Exhibition,
some of which elicited much admiration at the World's Industrial Exhibi-
tion in London in 1851, specimens of which may be seen at the Paris Exhi-
bition of 1855, reflects great credit upon the manufacturing and mechanical
classes in Canada. Europeans would find this a profitable field for the in-
vestment of capital in manufacturing establishments, under the guidance of
skillful mechanics from England, France, Germany, Belgium and other
countries where manufactures have attained perfection. The iron and cop-
per mines of Canada are important sources of wealth.
The ship-yards, iron forges, nail factories, flour and lumber establish-
ments, tanneries, machine shops, paper mills and factories of various kinds
in Canada, will compare favorably with those of other and older countries,
and with the continued progress and advancement of the agricultural inter-
ests of Canada, it is reasonable to anticipate a corresponding prosperity in
that other strong arm of national wealth, which may be designated as the
mechanical or manufacturing interest.
Agriculture and manufactures — twin elements of a nation's strength —
should, and doubtless will, go hand-in-hand, and be mutually tributary to
each other's prosperity in Canada. The fraternal and intimate relation Uiey
bear to each other in the Province, forbids that antagonism of feeling or in-
terest which exists in older or more densely populated countries, where the
agricultural and mechanical interests sometimes come into collision in the
adjustment of questions affecting the general commercial interest and policy
of those countries.
The natural commercial facilities of Canada have and are constantly being
improved by the construction of canals and railways. The public works of
Canada are of an extensive character, and will compare favorably with those
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Canada : its Commerce and Besources. 205
of any country in the world. There are already constructed 80 miles of
canab, costing $15,000,000, and of sufficient dimensions to enable vessels
from any European port to ascend the St. Lawrence to the great lakes On-
tario, Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior, touching at the ports of Quebec,
Montreal, Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton, Bufialo, Cleveland, Detroit, and
Chicago. Cargoes of produce from any of these porta may be conveyed to
Europe without breaking bulk or transhipment of any kind, if desired.
From the St. Lawrence and the lakes, several lines of railroad to the interior
are open and in process of construction.
The Grand Trunk Railway with the connecting lines of railway in Canada,
amounting to about 1,200 miles, will supply an open communication, at all
seasons of the year, between the different points in the interior and the sea-
board, and will supply immigrants and travelers arriving at Quebec, Mon-
treal, or Portland, from Europe, safe, comfortable and speedy conveyance to
any part of Canada and the Western States. In addition to the railways,
there are, during the season of navigation, several lines of steamers ascend-
ing and descending the St. Lawrence and Western lakes.
Immigrants arnving at New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and other
Atlantic ports, intending to proceed to Canada or the Western Statea, are
necessarily subjected to the inconvenience, expense and danger attending a
long journey by land, by routes that for five hundred, one thousand, or fifteen
hundred miles afford no opportunity for cooking, washing and sleeping.
Assuming two cents, or one penny sterling per mile, as the average cost of
land transportation, for each emigrant, from New York, Philadelphia, and
Baltimore, to Chicago, which may be regarded as the great distributing
point of the West, the expense for a family of six persons must be about $ 1 60
or £Z0 sterling, while the same persons could go comfortably per St. Law-
rence steamers, from Quebec to Chicago, at an expense of not exceeding one
cent or half-penny sterling per mile each, which would be a saving to the
family of at least $75 or £15 steriing, by taking the St. Lawrence route.
This sum saved would be sufficient to buy fifty or sixty acres of unimproved
government land.
By taking the St. Lawrence route, emigrants have the twofold advantage
of the most desirable route to the Western States, and at the same time the
opportunity to become acquainted with the resources of Canada, and its ad-
vantages as a place of residence.
The portof Quebec was visited in 1,854 by 1563 vessels, equal to 600,838
tons *; besides, built at Quebec 68 vessels, equal to 46,628 tons ; making
1,631 vessels, equal to 647,628 tons, as the total amount of shipping at
Quebec, for cargoes of Canadian lumber and produce, viz :
Voaeels.
Eqnalto.
British
1899
619,891
Korwegiafl
68
24,884
Prussian
18
7,084
Oerroan
7
2,662
Swedish
4
1,866
Vessels.
Equal to.
Aufitriao
1
811 tons.
French
2
463 «
Portuguese
16
2.871 "
American
64
41,639 «
Canadian
68
46,790 "
1,681 647,628
The immigration into Canada in 1854 increased 50 per cent over that of
1853, and was as follows : From England, 18,473 ; Ireland, 16,876 ; Scot-
land, 6,770; Continent of Europe, 11,683; Lower Ports, 652. Total,
53,794.
The policy of the government in selling wild lands at a merely nomi-
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206 Canada : iU ComtMroe and IU$ouree9,
nal price to actual settlers, is attractive, and in districts recently surveyed,
the settlenoent has been so rapid that new districts will soon be in requisi-
tion to meet the wants of the increasing population. A portion of the
above-mentioned immigrants proceeded to the Western States, and came
via Quebec, on account of its being the most economical route.
The St Lawrence is also the most desirable for freight between the
Western lakes and the seaboard. Appreciating this fact, several Western
railway companies have imported large quantities of railroad iron from
Great JBritain via River St. Lawrence. The freight of iron from Liver-
pool to Quebec and Montreal is about the same as from Liverpool to Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The cost of transportation
from Montreal to ports on Lake Erie is about $3, or 1 2s. sterling, per ton,
against $12 or $] 5, equal to 488. to 60s. sterling, per ton, by these over-
land routes. Flour is conveyed from Chicago, at the head of Lake
Michigan, to Montreal for 28. sterling per barrel The cost per United
States railways or canals to the seaboard is about 4s. sterling per barrel.
The free navigation of the River St. Lawrence will now make the nat-
ural advantages of the Canadian route between the seaboard and the in-
terior of the continent available for a large carrying trade, and the re-
moval of all former restrictions will invest that noble highway with its
appropriate commercial importance and value. Already its superior ad-
vantages attract the attention of enterprising merchants in the United
States, Canada, and Europe, and as it becomes more generally known it
will be more highly appreciated and employed.
Having glanced at the material interests of Canada, and the induce-
ments presented to the agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial
classes for the investment of labor and capital, it may be proper to notice
its educational and political institutions.
The educational system is well established, an4 receives the fostering
care and attention of the government. Liberal 'appropriations of public
moneys are made by the Parliament and people for the support of schools
throughout the province. There are 500 schools, attended by 225,000
scholars, supported at an annual expense of $400,000, or 100,000/.
If any Canadian youth is deprived of a good business education, the
fault rests with the parent, who withholds from the child the opportunity
to attend the Common Schools of the country, or with the unfortunate one
who neglects to improve the educational facilities so universally avail-
able. The literary institutions of Canada are of a high order, and ably
sustained.
The political institutions of Canada are in the form of a responsible or
a representative system of government, which consists of a Parliament of
130 representatives, chosen by the holders of land the annual value of
which IS 6/. sterling, and 40 councillors, appointed by the Executive. The
Governor- General of the province is the representative of her majesty the
Queen of England. The Parliament is supposed to represent the wishes
of the people, and is invested with the power of making the laws of the
province. The Governor-General seldom interferes with the legislation of
the People's Parliament, and is assisted by the advice of the Executive
Council or ministry of the province, who are responsible to the people for
their conduct, and can only retain oflBce as advisers of the crown so long
as they can retain the confidence of the people's representatives in Parlia-
ment. If good, sound, judicious, wholesome laws, are not made and ad-
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Journal of Mercantile Law. 207
ministered according to the liberal constitution of the country, the remedy
is in the hands of the electors of the province, with whom the power of
giving character to the ^vemment is lodged. The pro^ritj of Canada
is the best evidence of the adaptation of its laws and system of govern-
ment to the wants and circumstances of its enterprising people.
Canada has no standing army, and requires none, but there are 120
newspapers and journals published in the province, and the freedom of
the press is enjoyed to the fullest extent To the press, as an element of
power more important than the sword, the people resort for the correction
and redress of their grievances. To be " killed in the newspapers " is re-
garded a much sorer punishment than to be exiled to Siberia. The press
and public opinion are identified with each other, and without the concur-
rence and support of the latter, the former either falls to the ground or
ceases to perform its appropriate office of giving expresdon to the voice
and wishes of the, people.
The bench, bar, pulpit, legislature, banks, and counting-houses of Canada
are occupied, in many instances, by men of very humble origin, if we may
believe the accounts that are given of them by those who ^^ knew them
well at home." Aristocracy, wealth, parentage, and family pride, are of
little or no avail to any one, when competing with the man of industry,
intelligence, and character, for the honors of life or the respect and confi-
dence of the community in which he may reside. Labor is respected and
receives, as it deserves, its just reward. The sons of the poorest emigrant
can, by a diligent use of the means of advancement so abundantly at their
di^osal, become the honored and respected associate of those who enjoy
the highest honors and privileges of public and social life.
JOURNAL OF MERCANTILE LAW.
PROMISSORY liOTB WITH TEH PER CENT PER MONTH INTEREST.
In the Twelfth District Court, San Francisco, October, 1854. Felix ArgentI
u» M. G. Vallejo and John B. Frisbie.
This was an action on a promissory note made in the coarse of certain trans-
actions. The following were the facts as charged in the pleadings : the defend-
ants had made their note to the plaintiffs on the 27th November, 1850, for
$5,450, payable forty-five days after date, without grace, and bearing interest at
10 per cent per month; and on the 14th of January, 1851, the defendants deliv.
ered to the plaintiffs a note at 10 per cent per annum of Theodore Shillaber, for
the sum of $10,000, which was secured by mortgage. The action was brought
to recover on the first note, with interest at the rate of 10 per cent per month,
which raises the debt to a very considerable sum. The testimony and the argument
were mainly directed to the question whether the plaintiff hod taken the note of
Shillaber only as a collateral security, or as in absolute payment of so much
money.
The court charged the jury that they were authorized to infer from the use
which Argent! made of the Shillaber note, which had been taken as collateral,
and the control which he exercised over it, namely, in the taking of a mortgage
from Shillaber, and extending the time of payment, that he, Argenti, considered
or held it in complete payment of his note against Vallejo and Frisbie, unless it
appeared from the evidence, of which they were to judge, that Argenti made
such arrangement with Shillaber, with the knowledge and consent of Vallejo
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208 Journal of Mercaniiie Law.
and Frisbie, the indorBers. The jury might also infer that Argenti considered
the Shillaber note as his own from another fact, which was in evidence. It was
that in the arrangement with Shillaber, the said collateral was to bear 4 per cent
per month, which upon its face bore only 10 per cent per annum. A party hold-
ing a collateral was not authorized or empowered of bis own volition to add to
or deduct from -said collateral, or in any manner vary the amount which may be
recovered by the owners. From such an act the jury micht reasonably infer
that Argenti considered it as his own, unless they were satisfied that he had done
so by the indorser's consent.
The jury found for the plaintiff the full amount of the note, with 10 per cent
per month interest, less the amount received from the sheriflTs sale under tho
Shillaber mortgage, with ten per cent per month — the verdict to be computed.
IMPORTANT TO MERCHANTS — MANAGER, WITH SHARE OF PROTITS, A FARTHER.
The following important decision is recorded in a late number of the Free-
man^ s Journal : —
An interesting case on the law of partnership has been decided this week. A
gentleman who had been engaged as manager to a large manufacturing concern
at a salary, with a per centage on the profits, had been removed by the principal
on various grounds, the only one proved to the satisfaction of the jury bemg
that he had held out himself as being a partner. The action was brought to re-
cover a sum of £4,000 for salary and profits for five years, on the ground that
under the agreement he was in fact a partner, and could not be discharged. The
Judge directed the jury that, although palpably no partnership was intended, the
agreement created one, and they must find damages for the plaintiff, which they
did to the extent of £600, being the amount of the salary only. It being well
known that these agreements, especially in large houses, are of frequent occur-
rence, the decision, if upheld, goes the full lenfi^h of making any manager or
traveler who receives a share of the profits to all intents a partner, who cannot
be got rid of during the continuance of the agreement.^ Be//as/ Com, Register.
BILL OF EXCHANGE — ^FARTNERSHIF — ACCEPTANCE.
Nichols r5. Diamond. Where a bill is drawn personally on one of several
partners, and he accepts it on behalf of the partnership, he is individually liable.
This was an action upon two bills of exchange by the plaintiff to draweri
against the defendant as acceptor. The defendant, by his plea, denied the ao-
ceptance. At thit trial before Justice Talfourd, at the last assizes for Devon-
shire, the bills, which were respectively for £64 Is. Id., were put in evidence,
when it appeared that they were respectively directed " To James Diamond,
Purser, West Downs Wining Company," and were accepted by the defendant,
** James Diamond, by procuration of West Downs Mining Company." The de-
fendant was a shareholder in the mining company. It was objected by the coun-
sel for the defendant that the acceptance was not pursuant to the drawing, and
was therefore invalid.
His lordship left the case to the jury, who, finding a verdict for the plaintiff^
leave was reserved to set the same aside, and enter the verdict for the defendant
upon this point Rule refused.
SHIPS PASSING EACH OTHER — LIABILITY OF OWNERS.
It has been ruled by the British Court of Exchequer, and confirmed by the
Court of Common Pleas, that a vessel passing another vessel passing in con-
trary direction cannot, under any circumstancci*, be wrong in porting helm ; that
the question for the jury is not whether the master saw the danger of collision,
but whether there actually were any danger ; and that the owner of the vessel,
the master of which neglects to port his helm, is liable for damages for any in-
jury arising from that circumstance.
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Commerdal ChnmeU and Review. flUBl
COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW.
CORDITIOIf or THE MONIT KAEKBTfl AT HONK AND AtftOAD— CURRCNCT rOR VOTINO Tni INOOMIRO
cmup— AvnaPATioiit or PROtrcRiTT—TnB railroad intkrbst— roRBioii rAtLORBa— bankb or
VEW YORK ARV BOBTOR^'-CI.BARINO ROVIB rOR RBW YORK BTATB BANK*— DBP08ITB Or OOL0
AMB BILVBR AT TBI IfBW YORK ASSAY OmCB AND PUtLAOKLPillA KIJIT— IMPOETB AT »«W YORK
rOR JDNB, rOR SIX MONTUS PROM JANUARY IST. AVD rOR TUB PISCAL YBAR BNDtNO JOUR 30— IM-
PORTS ATNBW ORLEANS— RBVBMUB rROK COsTOJfS AT PUILADBLPniA AMD 0USTUN — SHIPMBJITS OP
MtODUCBf ARD TBB BBIPPIRO INTBRBST, BTC.
. There were some apprehensions, soon after the date of our laat, of an in-
creased stringency in the money market, and a partial return of the old pressure.
The accounts from abroad were less encouraging; there was an increased de-
mand for capital in nearly all of the principal markets of the European conti-
nent, and at London the bankers aH seemed to fear a loss of confidence. These
fisars have since been partially dissipated. There has been little that U cheerful
in the late foreign advices, but the condition of things in this country is ^Mghly
•Dcoaraging. The harvests are everywhere promising, and the capital required
to move the incoming crops can be readily obtained. There is a very limited
amount of business paper maturing in either July or August, and this will en-
able those desiring currency to invest in produce to obtain it before the pressure
comes In September. There is a large amount of money loaned on fancy stocks,
especially in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, and if these loans were to be
suddenly called in, there would certainly be trouble. But the supply of specie
is abundant, and as long as this continues no great distress need be apprehended.
With $50,000,000 per annum from California, and nearly as much more from
Australia, the calculations based upon the old manner of moving the preeidua
metals are all upset, and the practical result disproves the finest theories. The
accounts from the harvest-fields of Europe are encouraging, while in this coun-
try the crop of breodstuffs must prove a very large one. If harvested in good
eondition, we shall have a very large surplus. There would seemto bene ques-
tion but what a large portion of this surplus will be needed in France and Engu
kiBd. The supplies from the Black Sea will be greatly interrupted, and the
belligerent attitude of Europe will call for an Increased consumption. America
must furnish bread to the world during the next year, and we shall have it to
spare. If this does not induce a high state of prosperity in this country, then
we shall be disappointed. The cotton crop is less promising; the long dry sea-
son has been succeeded by an unusual quantity of rain ; on the Uplands this
will have but little effect, but the production of the richer fields will be much
shortened if the wet season is continued.
The interest on nearly all of the various railroad and other bonds, throughout
the country, due July l^t, was paid with commendable promptness, although is
A few cases the money was borrowed instead of being earned. The New Jersey
Central Railroad Company have borrowed $1,500,000, to be expended on their
road, upon their 7 per cent bonds, at 85 cents. The Legislature of Connecticut
have authorized the New York and New Haven Railroad CompJiny to compro-
mise their difficulties with the holders of the ^t >ck fraudulently issued by Schuyler .^
VOL. xxxin. — ^HO. II. 14
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21p
OomvMrdal Cfkromde and Review.
but DO plan of settlemeDi has yet been ofilciallv proposed. I( is probable thai
such a plan will be submitted ere long to the parties interested, and this vexed
question finally laid at rest
The failure of Messrs. Strahan, Paul & Scott> bankers, at London, with
whom many of the aristocracy of England, and a large number of widows and
orphans, had their securities deposited, has created an unusual sensation in that
metropolis. This firm had little to do with the mercantile world, their custon-
ers being almost exclusively of the classes indicated. They appear to have been
insolvent for a long time, owing to unfortunate speculations, and they had con-
verted or otherwise appropriated over half a million of dollars of securities de-
posited with them, besides owing three or four times that amount in general ac-
count This, and the previous dock-warrant frauds, will muke English financiers
a little less bitter in their invectives against American disthonesty and repudia-
tion. The efiect has already been to enhance the comparative value of Ameri-
can securities. Even business paper, with the signatures of our leading mer-
chants, is now regarded as an acceptable investment, and the energy of character
peculkr to our people is coming to be better understood throughout tho old
world.
The banks in this country, for the most part, stand very strongly. Some of
the Western institutions have not recovered the shock given to public confidence
by the failures of last year, but most of them are now in good credit, and by
proper caution mu< succeed in recovering their position. The New York banks
stand very strongly, although their discount lines have considerably increased.
The following will show the weekly averages of tho city institutions since Jan-
uary 1st:—
WKXKLT ATXaAGSS NEW YOEK CltT BAHSS.
Loans and
$82,244,706
Dote. CapiUil.
Jan. 6. 1806 $48,000,000
Jan. 18.
Jan. 20
Jan. 27.....
FeK 8
Feb. 10
Feb. 17
Feb. 24
March 8....
March 10 ...
March 17 ...
March 24 . . .
March 81 ...
April 7 ..
April 14 ...
At>ril 21 ...
April 28..,.
May 5 ....
May 12 ....
May 19
May 26
Juoe 2
Juue 9
June 16
June 28
June 80
July 7 ....
July 14 ....
48.000,000
48,OUO,000
48,000.000
48.000.000
48.000.000
48,000,000
48,000.000
48.000,000
48.000,000
48,000,000
48,000,000
47,688.415
47.856.665
47,855.665
47.865.665
4V.856.665
47,855,666
47.855.665
47,865.«65
48.684.780
48.684.780
48,684.730
48.688.S80
48,688,880
48.6»8.S80
48.63S..')80
48,838.880
88.976.081
86.447,998
86,654,667
88.145.697
89.862.170
90,850,081
91.590.604
92.886.125
92,881,789
92,447.345
98.050.778
98.684.041
94,499.894
94.140,899
98.632,893
92.505.961
98,098.248
91,642.4«8
91,676.600
91.160.618
91,197.653
92.109.i«97
98,100,886
94,029,426
96578,212
97.«6l>.491
98,621,002
Ppwie.
.$18,696,968
16.4S8.626
16,872.127
16,697,260
17,489.196
17.124,891
17.83i*.085
16,870,876
16.681.279
16.870,669
16,933,982
16.602,729
16,018.105
14,968.004
14.890.979
14.366,041
14,282,424
14,325,060
14 585.626
16.226,066
15,314.682
16,897.674
15.006,165
14.978.658
14,706.629
15,641.970
16.881.093
16,676,606
CtrcQlfttlno.
$7,049,982
6.686.461
6.681.365
6.739.828
7,000,766
6.969.111
6.941.606
6,963,662
7,106,710
7,181.998
7,061.018
7.462,231
7.337,688
7.771.534
7.623.628
7,610.124
7,0li',986
8.087,609
7,804,977
7,638 630
7.489,687
7,566,609
7.602,668
7,462,161
7,<86,668
7,894 964
7,748.069
7,615,724
$64,982,168
67.308,898
69,647,618
20.186 618
72.928.817
78.794^42
75.198,686
74.544.721
75,958,844
76,269,484
76,524,227
76.289,928
76,600,188
77,8U.9<i8
77,282,242
75,744,921
76.219.951
78.214.169
75,850,598
77,851,218
■75,765.740
76,848.286
77.128.789
77,894.464
79,118.185
81.908.966
85.647.249
85,664,168
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Chmmerciai Chronicle and Review, 211
The following will also show the weekly tveragcs of the Boston city bnnks
iinee the date given in our last :—
Jane 25. JnlyS. JalyO. July 18.
Capital $82,7 10,000 $32,7 10.000 |S2,7 10,000 $82.7 10.000
Loans and diacooDta. 62,984.226 53.180.777 58.897,696 54.279,031
Specie. 8,601,018 8,506.606 8,426.*200 8,220.702
Due from other banks. 8,000,000 8,000.000 9,024.196 8,019,938
Due to other bankn 8,000,Oro 8,000,000 6,902.198 6,726,199
Deporits 16,266.417 15,814,818 16,599.049 16,449,788
Circalation 6,587,958 6,687,781 8,244,099 7,602,687
The New York country banks have met in convention at Syracuse, and adopted
a plan for a clean ng*hoase in New York city, which has been referred to a com-
mittee for the maturity of its details, and we trust will ere long be established.
The plan is very much like that now adopted by the city banks, e.xcept that the
packages of notes to be exchanged and redeemed will be sent instead of being
brought by clerks, and the banks will be required to keep an account in some
city bank, w^here the amount which they may owe to the clearing-house, when
the exchanges are arranged, must be promptly met. It will save the banks a
large yearly expense, and be a public accommodation. While upon this subject,
we cannot but express our opinion that it would be greatly for the interest of aU
of the sound banks to arrange for a par redemption at New York. The law al-
lows them to deduct one-quarter from the amount thus redeemed, but this de-
duction can never be fully justified upon sound principles of banking.
The supply of gold from California continues steady, but as a considerable
portion is now deposited at the San Francisco Mint, the amounts deposited here
^ Dot show an increase corresponding to the actual receipts. The following
b the total deposits at the Assay Office, New York, in the month of June
1855:—
DKPOSrrS AT TBS ASSAY OFFIOI, MKW TORS, VOB TBS IIOKTH OV JUXS.
Gold. 8tlrer. Total.
Foreign coinfl. $11,000 $6,100 $16,100
Foreign bullioD 20,000 6,020 26,020
Domestic bullion. 1,986,000 14,580 1,950,680
Total deposits $1,967,000 $25,700 $1,992,700
Total deposits payable in bars. $1,925,000
Total deposits payable in coins 67,700
Gold bars stamped $1,992,984
Tmosmitted to the United States Mint at Philadelphia for coinage 88,279
The above deposits of gold include $16,000 in California Mint bars.
The gold deposits nt the Philadelphia Mint for the month of June were
$536,269, which includes $493,610 50 from California and the Assay Office in
New York, and (42,649 50 from other sources. The silver deposits are $207,000,
including silver purchases. The following will show the coinage at the Phila-
delphia Mint for the month of June : —
Onld coinage . . ,
Silver coinage • .
Copper coinage .
Pieces.
Value.
826.018
$792,650 00
1,180.500
268.170 00
618,414
6,184 14
Total 1,989,062 $1,063,964 14
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212 Commerdai , Chronicle and Bmem^
The imports for June show a less comparative decline than during seTeral for-
mer months. At New York the total receipts for June were $1,794,221 less
than for June, 1854, $5,467,239 leas than for June, 1853, and $2,234,015 greater
than for June, 1852, as will appear from the following comparison : —
rOBBIGN IMPORTS AT KXW YORK FOR JUNB.
18SS. 18§). 1854. ISiS.
Entered for consnmption 17.636,181118,590^17 18,476,880 $8,020^46
Entered for warehoueing 640.722 8,010,404 8,005,646 2,7 16.246
Freeg(K)d8 1,062,947 744.909 2,148,048 1,188,048
Specie and bullion 429.747 116,021 168,814 68.779
Total entered at the port $9,759,697 $17,460,861 $18,787,833 $11,993,612
Withdrawn from warehouse 911,479 1,181,896 1,422,672 1,804,6^0
It will be seen that the falling off, as compared with last year, was almost
wholly in free goods and stock entered for warehousing. The imports at the
same port for the six months ending June are $26,86*5,946 less than for the same
period of 1854, $29,889,094 loss than for the same period of l85S,and $6,651,802
greater than for the same period of 1852. We annex a comparison with each
period referred to :—
FORBIGN IMPORTS AT NBW 70RK FOB SIX MONTHS FROM JANUARY IST.
18S2. 18M. 18M. 18iS.
Entered for oonsomptioD $47,044,912 $76,888,164 $70,447,814 $46,897.70S
Entered for warehousiDg 6,027,749 11,606,681 18,726,750 18,882.891
Freegoods 7.844,785 8,696.616 9,231.284 7,762,627
Specie and bullion 1,878,181 900,062 1,408,027 464,116
Total entered at the port .. . $61,295,627 $97,886,623 $94,818,375 $67,947,429
Witlidrawn from warehouse. 8,626,777 6,624,654 10,908,044 12,242,070
The month of June ends the fiscal year of the United States. The govern-
ment returns, including the total for each of the minor ports, are not yet com-
pleted, but we have compiled the total for New York. From this we seo that
the imports for the year ending June 30th are $36,568,978 less than for the year
ending June 30th, 1854, $11,884,989 less than for the year ending June 30th,
1853, and $34,237,678 more than for the year ending June 30th, 1852, aa will
appear from the following comparison : —
IMPORTS OF FORBIGN MBBOHANDISB AT NBW TORR FOR THB FISCAL TBAR BNDING JCNB 80tH.
18^2. 1S§S. \m. I85i.
Entered for consumption.... $94,846,881 $186,458,668 $147,989,241 $107,029,210
Entered fur warehousing. .. . 11,466,714 16,144.678 27.417,160 82,022^96
Freeg«iod8 11.926,912 18,867.178 12,791,066 14.280,269
Specie and bullion 2,628,891 1,480,106 2,987,048 1,158.661
Total entered at the port . $120,267,848 $166,890,616 $191,074,604 $164,606,626
Wiihdrawn/rom warehouse 16,712,962 18,418,186 19,876,445 28,601,421
For the whole year the receipts of free goods have slightly increased, while
the warehousing business is larger than ever before since the system was estab-
lished. Of the decrease in the imports, by far the largest portion, aa compared
with last year, has been in dry goods, while compared with the year ending Jaiw
80th, 1853, the falling off in dry goods alone is nearly double the aggregate de-
cline. We have compiled the following table in proof of this statement ; —
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Commercial Chronicle cmd Review.
218
niPOETS AT h'KW TORK FOB THE TKAB KNDIXQ JUNB SOtB.
18$}. \m. \m.
Dry goods $79,192,618 $92,889,627 $62,918,448
General merchandise 87,198.002 98,684,877 91,687,088
Total imports $166,890,616 $191,074,604 $l64,606,62d
Compared with lost year the imports of dry goods have fallen off $29,471,184,
"while the imports of all other descriptions of Bierchandise have fallen off only
$7,097,794.
We annex farther porticulars of the imports of dry goods. It will be rten
that the total for June is $1,473,390 less than for June, 1854, $4,062,053 less
than fur June, 1853, and $530,807 greater than for June, 1852 ; these changes,
and especially the fulling off as compared with last year, being divided among
all eluHses of goods.
IMPOETS or FOanON DBT goods at NEW TORS nr JUKI.
BlfTIEED FOR OONSCMPTION.
18S!. 18$}. 18S4. mi.
Vaaufactares of wool $688,786 $2,820,865 $1,122,806 $772,908
MaoulactDres of cotton 880.786 908,01 1 640.761 298,04«
Hanufactaresofpilk 1,011,909 2,469,280 l,890,h27 1,269,212
AlaDuftu;tore« of flax 292,016 899.969 276.61 1 178,060
Miscellaoeoua dry goods 108,888 246,876 260,1 98 182,817
ToUl entered for consumption . $2,426,882 $6,829,941 $8,690,603 $2,696,624
Wnn DRAWN FROM WAREB0U8B.
ISii 18SI. I8S4. \m.
Maotifactaresofwoo] $62,094 $184,618 $118,471 $124,910
Manufactures of cotton 24,686 48.687 40,689 89,068
MaiiafacturesofMlk 88.182 108,660 187.871 96.886
Manufactures of flax 17,810 18.464 26,000 40.848
Miacellaneous dry goods 7,625 12,989 19,106 * 29.700
ToUl $199,647 $818,848 $341,486 $830862
Add entered ^r consumption 2,4 26,882 6,829,94 1 8,690,608 2,696,624
Total thrown oo the market... $2,626,479 $6,648,284 $8,982,089 $8,02^886
KRTIRXD FOR WARRBOUBIHO.
\m. ]8tl. IBM. 18SS.
Maonfactoresofwool $106,125 $618,264 $492,627 $245,468
Manufactures of cotton 82,665 181,817 166,768 64,627
Manufactures of nilk 86,984 148,979 886.660 164,972
Manufactures of flax 19,708 20,968 62.687 86.480
Miscellaneous dry goods 18,022 87,182 61,188 28,122
Total $267,404 $947,155 $1,097,880 $619,619
Add enUred ibr consumption 2,426,882 6,829.941 8,690,608 2,696,624
Total entered at the port $2,684,286 $7,277,096 $4,688,488 $8,216,04$
For the six months ending June 30th the receipts of dry goods have fallen off
$17,924,493, as compared with the same period af last year, $19,239,077 tA
compared with tJie firat six montha of 1853, and $1,700,708 as compared with the
same time in 1853.
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Camnurdal ChrcmeU wad Bmtw.
npoRTi or roanGH dat goods at tbs post or kcw tokk for sol mortbi, rmon
JANC7AAT IST.
XHTXRXD FOR CONSUMPTIOIC
ISSS. 18». 18S4. 18SS.
Monnfiietareeofwool |6,2'77,654 110,815,972 $8,74^868 I5.18M6)
Manufactures of cotton^ 4,«526,062 7,621,801 8,489,126 8.660,276
Manufactoreii of nlk 9,168,466 16,854,641 18,64(»,260 7,798.861
Manufactures of flax 2,985.404 4,199.560 8.718,007 2,224,698
Miscellaneous dry goods. 1,961,860 2,786,750 2,798,969 2,1 18,642
TotRl $28,969,486 $41,278,624 $87,290,214 $20,988,919
WITHDRAWN FROM WARIHOUBI.
\m. \m. 18H. i8tt.
Manu&ctures of wool $841,704 $688,404 $1,278,612 $1,191,678
Manufactures of cotton 1,028,816 608.285 1,644,071 1,651.176
Manufactures of silk 1,261,782 , 776,806 ' 1,446,088 1,677.888
Manufactures of flax 688,469 180,684 527.446 782,268
Miscellaneous dry goods. 226,849 214.747 209,781 685.587
Total withdrawn $8,982,610 $2,857,876 $6,000,947 $5,788,587
Add entered for consumption .. . 28.969,486 41,278,624 87,290,214 20.988.919
Total thrown upon the market. $27,902,046 $48,686,000 $42,291,161 $26,722,606
KirrXRXD FOR WARXHOUSnrO.
\m. 18S). 18S4. 18iS.
Manufi&etures of wool $788,660 $1,880,466 $2,096,807 $1,087,686
Manufactures of cotton 598,638 742.071 1,644,866 998,786
Manufactures of silk 1,621.494 970,757 1,864,786 1,426,706
Manufactures of flax 207,480 181.257 490,890 622.606
Misoellaneous dry goods 200,989 241,791 204.870 491,237
ToUI $8,287,161 $3,516,342 $6,190,168 $4,571,970
Add entered for consumption.... 28,969,486 41,278.624 37,290,214 20,988,919
Total entered at the port $27,266,697 $44,794,966 $48,480,882 $26,666,889
For tiie fiscal year ending Jane 30, the receipts of dry goodn, as already no-
ticed, are $29,471,184 less than the preceding year, $16,274,070 less than for
the year ending Jane 30, 1853, and $5,697,381 greater than for the year ending
June 30, 1862.
IMPORTS OF DRY GOODS AT THX PORT OF VEW YORK DURHfG THE FISCAL TKAR XKD-
IXO JUNE 80.
EMTXRKD FOR OONSUMPTIOW.
ISS!. I8SI. 1854. 18iS.
Manufactures of wool $12,054,269 $20,361,967 $28,116,936 $14,296,207
Manufactures of cotton 8,460,116 13.018.164 15.408,447 8,240.026
Manufiictures of silk 19,161,263 27,512.722 29.487,539 18,814,441
Manufactures of flax 5,521.293 7,568,861 7,577,627 4,880,462
Miscelhmeous dry goods 3,665,227 6.086,598 5,36 1 ,7 1 6 4,698.7 10
Tdtal '. $48,862,168 $78,637,802 $80,941,298 $60,92Ma
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Commercial CTironiele and Review, 815
inniDftAWN FROIC WARXH0C8B.
I8SI. 18». 18$4. I8SS.
ManafHCtorPB of wojl $2,167,409 11,429,076 $2,814,704 14,041,940
ilAiHifiictares of c<itton 1,&8M2S 990,7«0 2,069,678 2,649,978
Maoufactitrea of Mlk 2,34S742 1,441,680 2,184,028 8,076,868
Uanufactures of flax 861,704 846,357 778,789 1,148,979
MiscelUofsous dry goods 474,862 881,176 897,661 762,958
ToUI 97.418,040 14,688.948 98,244,660 $11,664,218
Add entered for conaumpiioo 48,862,168 78,687,802 89,94 1,293 60,928,846
Total thrown CD the market. . . $66,275,198 $78,126,260 $89,186,948 $62,693,068
BHTEftBD FOR WAREHOUSING.
IS^S. 1811. 18$4. 18».
Manufaetures of wool $2,834,296 $1,964,608 $8,746,483 $3.768,<)80
Maoufacturesofeotton 1,622,481 1,274.868 8,064,614 2,272,982
Manufacturet of ffilk 8,168.698 1,676,606 8.211.787 8,644,226
Manufactures of Aax 824,966 866,999 1,036,688 1,896,417
Miscellaoeous drj goods 618,518 492,836 889,962 1,007.044
Total $8,868,904 $6,666,211 $11,448,884 $11,989,698
Add entered for consumpdoD..... 48,862,168 78,637,302 80,941.293 60,928,845
Total entered at the port $67,221,062 $79,192,613 $92,889,627 $62,918,448
The e.xports show n much more favorable comparison ; the total shipments
from New York to foreign ports for the month of June, exclusive of specie, are
$9,155 larger than for June, 1854; only $320,246 less than for June, 1853; and
$1,066,231 larger than for June, 1852.
BXPORTS mOM HKW 70RK TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR THB MONTH OF JUNE.
18SI. 18)1. 18M. 185S.
Domestic produce $8,666,869 $6,067,229 $4,526,888 $8,966,70$
ForeiffO merchandise (free) 125,600, 109,668 148.600 647,682
Foreign merchandise (dutiable)... 482.594 894.043 666,656 786.806
Specie 8,566,366 8.264,282 5,168,188 8,862,898
Totol exports $7,730,818 $8,826,222 $10,399,722 $9,103,087
ToUl, exclusive of specie 4,174,463 5,560,940 6,231,639 6,240,694
This result was quite unexpected, considering the scarcity of produce at the
seaboard and the great falling off iu clearances of breadsluffs. We have now
shipped since January 1st, exclusive of specie, only $1,878,101 less to foreign
ports than we did the first six months of 1854; $4,276,086 more than we ex-
ported for the same time in 1853; and $7,350,218 more than for the same time
in 1862. The clearances of specie during the same time are but little larger
than last year, but twice as large as for the same time of 1853. There has been
a large increase in firee goods, owing to the dull markets here, guano and some
other free items having been largely reshipped.
EXPORTS PROM NEW YORK TO PORRION PORTS FOR SIX MONTHS FROlf JANUARY IST.
18a 18§S. ISil. 18fiS.
Domestic produce. $22,146,821 $26,422,290 $81,197,440 $26,887,424
Foreign merchandise (free) 621,119 697,477 732,815 8,108,657
Foreign merchandise (dutiable). . 2,419.576 2,040.980 2,884,679 2,989,862
Specie 12,624.009 8,654,982 16,185,867 17,074,796
Totol expurto $37,710,624 $36,816,729 $60,600,801 $49,605,628
Total, exoluilTe of specie 26,086,615 28,160,747 84,814,984 82,486,888
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216
OommercicU Chroniek and Bevum.
Turning now to the ezporta for the fiscal year just ended, we find the total,
excluaive of specie, only $10,967,249 Icpb than the very large total ship^d dur-
ing the year ending June 30, 1854; 1)2,822,094 more than fur the year ending
June SO, 1863; and 118,136,261 more than for the year ending 30th June, 186^
The exports of specie have been larger than in either of the previous three years :
KZFOBTS FROM KKW TORK TO FOBXXGN PORTS FOR TBE FISCAL TEAR SMDIKO JURE 80.
1851. 18§S.
Doroefitic produce ISS.S^S.^SV f 48,998,S50
Foreign roerchandice (free) 87 1,687 1,058,209
Foreign merchandise (dutiable)^ 4,461,886 4,450.027
Specie 87,278,708 21,127.228
Total exports 181,461,082 $70,628,714 fl07,675,070 $100 881.914
Total exclusive of specie 44,187,829 49,601,486 73.290,829 62,823,580
To sum up, then, we find that while the imports for the last fiscal year, as
compared with the one just previous, have declined 836,668,978, the total ex-
ports have declined only $7,193,166, while the specie shipments have increased
only $3,774,093. This showing is far different from that which many predicted*
and proves that this trade will regulate itself if political economists will have a
little patience. We annex a recapitulative summary to show at a glance the
seTeral totals for the year:—
IMPORTS AND XZP0ET8 AT NEW TORE.
18i4.
18Si
$66 816.088
$52,602,406
1,889,978
4.084.387
5,684,818
6,686,781
84,284,241
88,058,384
Yt»r «iKllaf Jone 80. Export* of f peels.
1855 $88,058,884
1854 84,284,241
Total exports.
$100,881,914
107,575,070
Total hsporli.
$154,506,6^6
191,074,604
Difference $8,774,098 $7,198,156 $86^68,978
It will be a matter of interest to many of our readers to know the course of
the trade throughout the year. For their gratification we have compiled a table
embracing the several months of the fiscal year, and showing the result of each
month's imports and exports, as compered with the same month of the preceding
year. From this it will be seen that the decline in imports began in Septemben
and, with a single unimportant exception, continued to the close; while the de-
cline in exports, exclusive of specie, was greatest from September to December:
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS FOR TBE FISCAL TEAR ENDING JUNE 80, 1855, COMPARED WITB
TUB SAME FOR TBE TEAR ENDING JUNE 80, 1854.
July
August ...
September.
October . . •
November .
December •
January. . .
February..
March.....
April ,
Hay
June ,
EXPORTS XXCLDSIVE OF SPECIE.
Increase.
TOTAL IMPORTS.
$258,786
50,722
'804,666
9,155
$1,890,871
i'sViisi
1,125,818
8.177,617
1,796,044
*1,V98,606
' VsV.ioi
624,487
$149,843
2,890,859
985,902
$8,025.8t<
1,161,887
8.953,085
4,612.446
6,e61,99S
6*884.017
7,476,428
5,586,196
1,794,221
$628,829 $11,590,578 $4,026,104 $40,595,08S
628,829 4,C26,104
Total decreaae.
$10,967,249
$86,568,97$
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Cmnmerdal C^ronieU amd iStmeit.
21t
The cash revenue at the same port for June (exelnsive of pena] duties and
hospital money) shows a slight decline compared with June of last year, but a
greater falling off from the receipts for June, 1853. The total received for cash
duties for the last six months is $5,438,016 05 less thnn for the corresponding
period of last year, $6,867,383 79 less than for the same time in 1853, and
$49,632 83 more than for the same time in 1852. The total for the fiscal year
ending June 30 i-i 18,999,984 06 less than for the previous year, 15,590,881 40
less than for the year ending June 30, 1853, and 13,979,962 67 more thun for
the year ending June 30, 1852. We annex a comiaiison for each term spe-
cified:—
CASH DUTIBS RKGKIVEI) AT NEW TORK.
18§!. 18$}. mi 18SS.
Id Jane $3,282.680 28 $8,840.728 88 $2,452.606 83 $2,316.464 80
Previous 5 months.. 12,017.632 65 17,826,606 17 17,286,858 98 11,988,480 91
Totol 6 months.. $14,250.H12 88 $21,167,829 60 $19,787,960 76 $14,299,945 71
Total fiscal year. 28,678,910 36 88,249,754 43 41,668,867 09 82,668,878 08
The receipts for customs at Boston show a less comparative decline, as the
steamers arriving there this season have brought larger freights, owing to the
change in the line to New York. We look for no important increase in imports
over last year until afler the close of Augubt; from that time to the end of the
year we anticipate a large comparative increase in the receipts of foreign mer-
chandise. We annex a comparative statement, showing the imports at New
Orleans during the last fiscal year: —
nfPOETS OF XKROHAKDISI AND BULLION AT THV PORT OF NEW ORLXANS FOR THR FIS-
CAL TRAR ZNDING JUKR 80, 1865.
Dutiable. Free. Bol. Ac fpede.
July, 1864 $197,297 $67,869 $S6Ji87
August 806.416 16,727 40,270
September 676,961 160.866 28.014
October 761,847 126,918 86,926
November 986.668 880,062 48,2 1 6
December 786,764 818,400 98,849
January, 1865 686,784 679.786 88,169
Februarj 428.P4 1 682,687 1 26.461
March 672,219 488.419 880,880
April 672,478 869,616 90.721
Maj 496,944 419,690 48.487
June 471,296 402,781 188,928
$6,989,002 $4,297,170 $1,687.48$
Dutiable « 6,989.002
Free 4,2V'i,170
For the past three fiscal years ending June 30, the following is a comparative
statement : —
IMPORTS OF MXRCHAHDISX AT THR OUBTOIC-BOUSR, NSW 0RLRAK8.
im. im. isis.
Dutiable $8,019029 $8,272,449 $6,989/>02
Free 4,272.262 8,876.678 4.297.170
BulhoD and specie 1,362.882 2,268,128 1.687.436
$18,654,118 $14,402,155 $12,928,60$
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Oommereial ChnmcU and Rmm§.
MOffTHLT ESCnPTB OF CASH DUTm AT VWW OftLBAHS FOft THV TSAB
ISfil.
Jolj 162,281
Aujfnst 100.796
Sf ptember 1 9tf ,896
Oct«»ber 219,724
November 219,842
December 283,122
$1,106,981
18tf.
January |21 8.666
Pebniitry
Match...
Apiil ...
May
Jtme. . . .
180,801
S02.9IS
171,147
166,239
146,840
$1,021,109
1,106,981
$2,128,690
Amoont recVed for fiscal year. 2,568,617
Decrease or falliog o£ $480^57
The annexed statement will show the amoant received for daties at the cns-
tom-honse in Philadelphia, for the month of Jane, and for the first six months of
the current year, compared wiih the corresponding periods in the two pre?ioas
years : —
18i]. 1S51. IS5S.
Jane $628,603 90 $804,754 75 $249.445 20
Previous 5 months 1,831,651 65 2,088.619 12 1,408,082 85
ToUl 6 mooths $2,460,155 65 $2,898,878 87 $1,662^28 05
We also annex a sammary, showing the comparative revenue, iit^ at Bos-
ton:—
Revenue corecied at Boston for the month ending June 80, 1855 . . . $606,961 03
Cullectedfur the moothof June, 1854 668,194 07
Decrease $ 1 57 .283 04
Collected for the fi^al year ending June 80, 1854 8,842,289 06
Collected for the fidcal year ending June 80, 1 855 7,6 1 6,568 78
Decrease $726,720 28
Collected from January 1 to June 80, 1864 4.844.763 89
Collected from January 1 to June 80, 1855 8,706,848 85
Decrease. $637,904 64
Foreign arrivals from January 1 to Juno 80, 1854 1,218
Foreign arrivals from January 1 to June 80, 1866 1,285
Increase 72
It will be seen that the foreign arrivals from January Ist to Jan« 30th, 1855,
exceed the arrivals for the same period in 1854, 72 ; while tlie revenue for the
same time is $637,904 64 less than it was in 1854.
The keeping up of tiie exports at N jw Vork, notwithstanding the large falling
off in the shipments of bread^tuffs, has excited general surprise. The following
comparative summary of the shipments of the leading articles of domestic prod-
«ce for the lout siix-and-a-half months will be foand highly interesiing :«>
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Commercial ChrmuU and M$m£W,
319
BtPQ&ra or esBTAiN artioues or wmwsno pftODroB rmon jhew tobk to woMxnw
PORTS rROM JANCART IST TO JULY 16TH : —
Aflbes — pots . .
pearls ,
Beeswax
.bbls.
..lbs.
18Si. 186S.
4.828 6,627
463 1,618
184,654 112,086
Breadtiuff'9 —
Wheat flour ..bbls.
Rye flour
Com meal
Wheat budh.
Rye
Oats
C<»m
Candles — mold..boxe8
tperm
Coal tons
Cotton .bales
Hay
Hops
657,897
9.986
48,187
1,380,409
815,158
16,859
2,410,796
81,727
8.674
16.131
192,830
2,821
481
226,198
18.818
88,217
81.288
6,139
12,111
2304,293
81,748
7,488
4.006
168,766
8,584
7,640
18i4. 18Si
N^aral stores. . . .bbls. 361,680 892,803
diU— whale.... galls. 109,422 92.068
sperm 284,870 478,842
lard 17.164 82.066
lioseed 2,058 6,079
Prownont —
Pork bbls. 64,864 112,880
Beef. 40.856 47.619
Cut meats. lbs.. ..13,148,061 14,668,462
Butter 1,816,826 867,871
Cheese 1,168,441 1.461,786
Lard 8,821,190 6,202,481
Rice tree 16.470 10,818
Tallow lbs. 2,449,006 1,098.826
Tobacco, crude., pk^s 28,697 19.824
Do., manofacturedlbs. 1,612,735 2,622,682
Whalebone 787,470 1,047,780
Tlie foregoing shows that the exports of wheat flour have doclined two-thirds
and the shipments of wheat, which for the same time last year reached nearly a
million-nnd-a-half of bashels, have almost totally ceased. The clearances of
Indian corn have been nearly the same. Cotton has fallen off, while the ship-
ments of many descriptiona of provisions have largely increased. There can be
little question but what Great Britain will need large supplies of breadstufis dur-
ing the coming year, even though her own crops should prove a full average : to
that we may reckon not only on large sales of produce for export, but also on a
large carrying trade for our vessels. The shipping interests have suffered very
much during the last year, and many have found no employment for their ves-
sels which paid for more than the expense of maintenance and repairs. A brisk
demand for our produce would revive this drooping trade and put new life in
naval aflairs.
NEW YORK COTTOar MARKET FOR THE MONTH ENDING JULY 20.
r«KrAEED rOE THI HK11CH4NT1'M40AZIIIB by UULHOSN k. miDKRICKSOlC, BROKKRB.KKWTOKX.
The month under review, and since the close of our last report, (June 22d,)
has been one of depression and great irregularity in prices. An unexpected rise
in the Southern rivers, particularly in Alabama, caused the release of a large
body of cotton, and on its receipt at the ports, such being the state of monetary
afiairs, that a large portion was forced on the markets to meet payments due and
past due — ^in consequence a rapid decline took place, and which, extending to
our own market, caused a depression in price of one-and-a-half cent per pound
daring the month, and two cents per pound from the highest point of the past
two months.
The motives on which the advance of the past season were based still exist,
and so long as the present European war is confined to the parties now in the
field, the probabilities are that the present rate of consumption abroad will suffer
DO diminution. Trade in the manufacturing districts of England and France
eontinaes remanerative, and the consumption of the raw material beyond thai
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220 ComMurHai Chrtrndi and Bmm$.
of any fonner period. The demand for RoRsia may slightly suffer, from her
isolated position, but at the price she pnys for her present requirements, and
which she obtains, more than compensates for the decreased demand. In this
country the complaints ubout manufacturing are comparatively few, most styles
of goods paying a fair profit The change in opinion of the value of cotton
seems based upon the free receipts of the piist month, and although the proba^
bilities are that the crop \^ill fall short of the preceding one by at least 100,000
bales, there remains a want of confidence in those very motives by which the ad-
vance was obtained.
For the week ending June 29th, the sales did not exceed 6,500 bales, buyers
demanding a greater reduction than holders were willing to accede to, a large
quantity was withdrawn from sale. There was, however, no disposition to en-
gage in the article, and the market closed dull at a decline for the week of ^e.
per pound.
PaiCSS ADOPTED JURE 29TH FOK THE FOLLOWIKO QCAUTTES: —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N. O.AcTexaa.
Ordinary, 10 10 10 lOJ
Middling Hi 11| 11| 1^
Middlingfair l«i 12t 18 18^
Fair 18 18^ 18| U
The transactions for the week ending July 6th again showed considerable de-
cline ; the sales were estimated at 5,000 bales, at ic a |c. per pound off from
quotations of week previous. The foreign advices received this week reported
Jd. per pound decline, and to this the addition of large receipts of cotton at
Mobile gave cause for alarm in the ranks of s^pecuhitors, who offered their stocks
at the above reduction, without, however, inducing purchasers to any great ex-
tent. The market closed tamely at the following nominal quotations : —
F&IOES ADOPTED JULY 6tH FOB THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES: —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N. O. &. Teiaa.
Ordinary 9^ 9^ 9i 9i
Middling 10^ IH Hf IH
Middlingfair Hi llf 12^ 12f
Fair 12 12^ 12f 18^
The week following the market opened with a better inquiry, and at an im-
provement of ic per pound. The sales reached 9,000 bales, a large portion
being for export Holders assumed much firmness, and the demand was limited
by their excessive demands. A slight yielding would have induced larger pur-
chases, as a more favorable feeling was manifested in the article. The market
closed firm at the following : —
PEICES ADOPTED JULT IStH FOB THE FOLLOWIKO QUALITIES: —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.JtTezaa.
Ordinary «f 9f 10 10^
Middling Hi llf UJ \t
MiddUngfair 11} 12 12i 18
Fair 12i 12i 18 18i
A more moderate demand existed during the week ending at date, and the
sales did not exceed 5,000 bales at much irregularity in prices. There was an
increased destre on the part of holders to meet the views of buyers, and the
amount on sale at quotations annexed was large. Operators, however, could
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Commereial Statistics.
221
not be induced to go on, ard In the absence of demand, large quantities have
been shipped abroad from iirat hands here, and by orders from the South. The
rates annexed are merely nominal, the market closing without inquiry : —
PRIOn ADOPTED JOLT 20tH FOB THB FOLLOWING QUALITIES : —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O. Ac Texas.
Ordinary 9^ H H H
Middling : 11 Hi Hi Ilf
Middliog&ir Ilf 12 12| 12^
Fair 12 12i 12i 18^
CROP AMD GROWING CROP.
The crop of 1854-55 now points to 2,825,000 bales. The growing crop is
represented to be in a fine condition generally. The late and excessive rains
may, however, prove injurious in some districts.
COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.
SHIPPING BaiLT [.V THE UNITED STATES.
A STATEMRXT SHOWING TOE NUMBER AXD CLASS OP VESSELS BUILT, AND THE TONNAOt
TUBUBOr IN EAOa STATE AND TEEEITOay OF TUB UNITED STATES DURING TUB TBAft
BNDIMQ JUNE 80, 1864 : — ^
, CLASS OF VESSELS. v TOTAL TON*AGB.
Sloops and Total No.
Ships aad Schoon- caoiU ofressels Tons and
barks. Brigs, era. boats. Steamers, baut. 95Uis.
Maine 166 78 99 12 8 848 168,631 54
Kew Hampshire 9 2 11 11,980 12
Vermont 1 8 .. 4 227 34
Massachusetts...:.... 82 4 87 4 8 180 92,570 24
Rhode Island 5 .. 8 1 2 11 6,726 28
Connecticut 10 1 80 8 2 61 10,691 18
Kew Yi>rk: 46 10 89 86 70 800 117,166 69
New Jersey 88 27 9 69 8,664 17
Pennsylvania 7 4 27 124 76 237 36,763 25
Delaware 29 1 4 84 8,62145
Maryland 18 8 101 1 4 122 20.862 90
District of Columbia 42 2 44 2,814 24
Virginia 1 .. 9 8 6 19 8,227 69
North Garolina 82 8 8 88 2,681 84
Bouth Carolina. 18 10 .. 28 1,161 94
Geiirgia 1 .. 2 8 666 69
Florida 7 .. .. 7 662 41
AUbama 1 .. 4 2 2 9 1,999 78
Miastssippi 8 .. .. 8 77 15
Louisiana 1 .. 6 6 2 14 1,608 62
Tennessee 2 2 208 90
Missouri 2 7 9 8,070 92
Kentucky 22 22 6,828 71
Ulioois 18 8 4 1 17 8,868 70
WtsGonain 26 .. .. 26 2,946 04
Ohio 4 20 27 41 92 17.045 49
Indiana 4 4 2,400 51
Michigan 1 5 22 12 8 48 7,788 21
T«zas 1 1 124 48
Oalifomia 11 10 6 26 1,028 09
Oregon ••••••••.•••. •• •• •• •• •• •• •.•••..
ToUa 884 112 661 886 281 1,774 586,686 01
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222
Ogmmmtml SiatkikM.
■TATmrf
nn&Bor,
1815 TO
tuflwiiMi nre imvcft avo class or iiim wc
1854, uclcutk:—
TLT, AJr»
B CMomm
T
ToMHoL
bain.
MU
1,403
1.073
898
850
534
507
623
622
781
994
1,012
934
884
785
637
711
1,065
1,188
987
507
890
949
898
858
872
762
1,021
482
766
1.038
1,420
1,598
1.851
1,547
1,860
1,867
1,444
1,710
1,774
1815
flMf»»d
btfU.
136
224
122
86
85
82
60
89
181
127
156
197
187
153
108
68
56
96
148
.169
94
50
65
72
79
89
109
101
91
34
47
87
164
168
174
148
117
65
79
95
112
Bcliooa
en.
681
781
559
428
478
301
248
260
260
377
538
482
464
474
485
408
416
663
625
497
301
444
507
501
439
378
810
273
138
204
322
576
6b9
701
623
547
522
584
681
661
cual Oii«M
bulM. CfB.
274
424
394
832
242
152
127
168
165 15
166 26
168 35
227 45
241 38
196 33
145 43
116 37
94 34
122 100
185 65
180 68
ICO 30
164 124
168 185
153 90
122 125
224 64
157 78
404 137
173 79
279 163
342 163
855 225
892 198
547 175
370 208
290 159
826 233
267 259
394 271
886 281
•SUM.
154,624 It
1816
76
131,668 M
1817
34
86,393 37
1818
1819
53
53
82.421 SO
79317 M
1820
21
47.784 01
1821
43
55356 01
1822
64
75,14« ft
1823
55
75.007 6T
1824
1825
56
56
90.939 00
114.997 2S
1826
1827
71
55
126.438 35
104342 07
1828
73
98,375 U
1S29
44
77,098 65
1830
25
58,094 24
1881
1882
1833
72
182
144
85.962 a
144>39 1€
ICi.Oft 36
1834
98
118.390 37
1835
25
46.238 62
Ib36
ya
113.627 49
18^7.. ,,.
67
122387 21
1838
d6
11S,1U 44
1839
83
120.989 34
1840
97
118309 23
1841
114
118393 71
1842
116
129,083 64
1843
58
63,617 77
1844
73
103337 29
1845
124
146,018 02
1846
100
188.203 93
1847
........ 151
248,782 67
1848
2M
318,075 M
1849
198
256377 47
1850
J47
272,218 54
1851
211
298,203 60
1852
265
351.493 41
1853
269
424,572 49
1854
384
585316 01
SHIPS 110 8HIPPIS6 OF THE UXITEB STATES.
Tb6 JSkipping Li»i, allodixig to the depre«s«d coodiUoo of the sbippiDg iptntto «f
tlie United StAtes iior the p«st year, gives the fullowing comprehendTe rammjuy of tbt
prcgrett of this department of our oatiooal industry and Commerce : —
Bapid as has beeo the progress of popniatioo in this couiitij for the past fortj j«*nv
(he iocrease io tie amooot aitd Talue of the toDoage empUi} ed in the aarjiog trade
haa TaaOy oatstripped it While pnpulatioo has aljoat doubled itself in tfairlj-favr
years, our t^toDsge has qoadrupltrd in that time. In the year 1820 the total teii^«e,
ir{(isured and enrol kd. was 1, 2b 0,168 tooa, and in 1854* it vaa 4302.902 toM^ The
gvocral pacification of Europe in 1815 iound us with a tonnage of 1368,127— of
which 864.2^4 tor.s were registered, the remainder being enrolled and licensed, repre>
lentir g with tolerable accoracy the proportions of the tonnage engaged in the f
and ci«siioir tra<le.
From 1815 till 1822, it appears that th« tonnage dedinnd m
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until the jear 182S that it again equaled wbat it had been in 1815. The caope of
Ums decline it ia not now oar purpoee to explore. It was doubtless caused mainly bj
the ability of the nations of Europe to do for themselves that which, as a neutral
power, we had been doing for them on the ocean durirg the progress of the conti-
nental war. From 1834 till 1828, the amount of tonnage gradually increased, until in
that year it reached 1,741,89 1 tons. The next year it decreased nearly half a millloii
tons, and did not attain the point it had been at in 1828 until the year 1884, fince
which time it has bten steadily increasing. From 1884 to 1844 the increase of ton-
nage was about sixty per cent, and from 1844 to 1854 it has more than doubled. The
followiog tabular statement will show the progress in this department of our national
indofitry : —
Registered Knroltod Employed In
tuDoage. toLoage. coaMiug truds,
1815 854,294 518,888 4S5,0ti6
1820 919.047 661,118 589.080
1825; 700,787 722,828 589,278
1880 676,675 616,811 516,978
1886 886,620 989,1 1 8 792,801
1840 899,764 1,280,999 1.176,694
1846 1,095,172 1,821.829 1.190,898
1860 1.686,711 1.949.743 1,766,796
1854 2,883,819 2,409,088 2,278,900
A remarkable feature exhibited by this statement is, the uniformity of the propor-
tiona of increase between that part cif our tonnage engaged in the coasting trade and
of that p<irtion employed in the foreign trade. Both of these classes of vessels have
Increased astoniehingly in the last five jears. "We have not the statistics to show the
fKt, bat we believe the tonnage of our commercial marine now exceeds that of Great
Britain.
Ihe tonnage employed in steam navigation has increased in a greater proportion
than that of any other description of vef>(els. In 1824 the tonnage of steam vessels
was 28,879. in 1884 it was 122.866, in 1844 it was 272,197, and m 1854 it reached
676,607 tuns. Ihis rapid extension of the steam tonnnge will doubtless continue to
move with even accelerated furce — the tendency is evidently in that direction, and
steam will take the place of sailing vessels where the circumstances are such as to
warrant the substitution.
The investment in vessels is a very large one, and the amount will perhaps astonish
some of our readers. 11 we estimate the first cost of these vcsfrels—Ftenm and sailing
—at fifty dollars per ton, (a very low estimate.) it will amount to $240,646,000, the
annual interest on which, at the legal rate, is fourteen millions four huidred thousand
dollars ! But the annual earnings of the ve^f els must not only include tie interest on
their cost, but also repairs and renewals. If we place these as equal to a total de-
struction in twelve years, we ^hall have $20,508,760, which, added to the annual in-
terest, make 184,908,760 as the total annual earnings of our commercial marine. This
amount, then, repiesents the value of the lalor either directly or indirectly employed
in the heme de^^artment of industry pertaining to navigation.
The Philade1{jl)ia Xf^/j^^r reasonably areerts that the shipbuilding interests are like
a bare meter — indicating 3 ears of prosperity and adversity in Commerce. Thus it says:
During the forty years between 1816 and 1855, the number of vessels built in the
United State? — includirg canal boats, i>t(omerp, sloi ps, k lioorers, btigs, and tliips, f nd
indeed all defcriptif ns, excepting those constructed for the federal govfiumeit — was
thirty-nine thousand and ninety-two. Tie tcnnage of these vessels exct^eded five
millions-and-n half, llie prosperity of this branch of induMry kept pace with the
fluctuations of the general prosperity, the periods of momentary depression witness-
ing the most terrible revulbions. It is only necessary, indeed, to coofrult the statis^tics
of American f hip building to tell when txpansion was at its height, and T^hen a finan-
cial crisis prevailed. In 1682 and 1888, over three hundred thousand tons were built ;
in 1840 and 1841, there was a decline of nearly thirty per cent The year 1868 and
the five preceding years witnessed an increased development of thif« but^iness ; but for
the last twelve months there has been a great decline. In 1853 and 1854, in fact, the
tonnage launched amounted to one-Feventh of the whole toniuige built Mnce 18I6.
The greatest ship-building State is Maine, which, in 1868. crmi-lructed 1 18,916 of the
425«672 tons built. New York comes second, llaaaachusetts third, and Penusylvania
foonh.
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LUMBER TRADE OP QUEBEC FOR FITfi TSARS.
We are indebted to WootI, Petry, Portras <fc Oo. for the subjoioed atatisties of the
wood or lumber traJe of Quebec in each of the yeara from 1850 to 1854, inclusive.
1. The *' Supply ** is derived from Superviaor^s returns for years eodiog December 1st.
2. The ** Export," from Onatoma returns for years ending December Ist : —
I. BUPrLT.
18d0.
1851.
1852.
1853.
18S1.
Timber-^
Odkjeet.... 1,082,854 1,589 932 1,650,078 1,353,431 2.176,071
Elm 1,504,660 2,0O8,7-/7 2,404.616 711.239 1,927.865
Anh ; 82,797 174,187 285,312 159,020 2--M,446
Birch 69,761 74,669 49.880 70,616 45.052
Tamarac... 256,414 490,081 465,382 718.130 2,649,769
White piue. 14.888,693 16,417,815 27.681,289 17,487,016 19,648,00*
Red pine... 2,121,816 3,189,387 2,405,644 2,060,659 8,756,848
Staves —
Standard, m. 2,036 1.455 2,080 1.914 1,841
Puncheon... 4,474 1,009 1,790 8,175 2,982
Barrel 26 1 .... 2 ....
DeaU-—
Pine,8tandU 1,462,000 1,560,000) o^asoqa « raa qoa j 2,228,668
Spruce 899,C00 660,000 f 2,465,286 2,608,896 | ^^^^j^
ZaUiwood —
Ked pine and
bemrk, qMs. 2,180 8,600 3,483 4,029 4,664
IL XXPORT.
18S0. 1851. 1852. 18». 1851.
Timber-^
Oak, feet... 1,116,240 1,124,200 1,086,480 1,068.320 1,836,920
Elm 1,626,640 1,428,880 893,880 1,168,600 1,468.600
Aj-h 47,280 102,720 86,440 82,200 106,160
Birch 180,200 122,800 94,860 101,760 61,160
Tamariic... 86,600 12,680 51,440 9,600 78,560
White pine . 13,040,520 15,941,600 16,695,920 17,399,480 19,612.320
Red pine... 8,686,840 8,48^-200 2,502,840 2,316,160 2,699,080
Staven —
Standard, m. 1,266 1,610 1,434 1,671 1,679
Puncheon... 2,702 2,443 1,766 1,854 2,708
Birrel 107 64 18 3 ....
DeaU—
Pme.stondU 2,207,086 1,418,684 1,842.391 2,425,469 2,604.666
Spruce 614,277 648,166 665,116 653,106 871,886
Lathwood —
Red pine and
bemlXc'ds. 4,428 6,816 6,569 6,076 6,972
cosrsuaiPTioiv or spirits in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Returns moved for by Mr. Oo^ in, member of the British Parliament, show that in
the year 1864 the gross total number of imperial gallonsiof spirits charged with duty
€nm knmA ^winanmnfinn iQ (ho United Klngdom amouutcd to 81,011,727— namely,
rland, 6,808,819 in Scotland, and 8,618,485 in Ireland. The
\ charged for consumption was, iu England, 10,589,611 gal-
)9 gallons, and in Ireland, 8,440,734 gallons. The quantity of
^r home consumption was, in England, 1,740,687 galloiM,
id in Ireland, 63,918. The quantity of colonial spirit bo
2,959,276 gallons, in Scotland, 148,686 gallons, and in Ire-
'be quantity of malt charged with duty in 1864 was, in Eng-
and theamojnt of duty, £5,210,498; in Scotland, 8,412,950
}71,829-, and in Ireland, 1,687,482 bushels, and the duty,
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£151,654; auikiiig ibr the whole UoUed Kingdom, 86,819,860 bwbelsof iiuli,Md
£6,042,888 amount of duty ; 4,698,880 gallons of spirits were made in Scotland from
malt only, and the amoant of malt drawback paid was £194,480. The quantity of
malt spirits consumed in England was 936,478 gallons, in Scotland, 8,444,257 gaUons^
and in Ireland, 84,777 gallons. The amount of malt drawback repaid on malt spirits
exported to England or Irekmd from Scotland was £88,665 ; on spirits imported into
England from Scotland, £8,267, and on malt spirits imported into Ireland from Scot-
land, £1,267. A second return, moved for by Mr. Dunlop, relative to spirits in Scot-
land only, shows that the total quantities of foreign spirits entered for home oonsump-
iioQ in that country amounted in 1854 to 255,658 gallons, (including 148,544 gallooe
of rum ;) in 1851, to 260,998 gallons ; in 1852, to 265,469 gallons ; in 1841, to 260,200
gallons; and in 1850, to 289,246 gallona The number of gallons of British spirits
cleared for home consumption in Scotland amounted in 1854 to 6,558,289 gallons ; in
1853, to 6,584,648 gallons ; in 1852, to 7,172,015 gallons; in 1861, to 6,880,710 gal-
loss; and in 1850, to 7,122,987 gallons.
THE PORK TRADE OF 1854-55.
The Cincinnati Price Current, on the 7th March last, published a partial statement
of the number of the hogs packed in the West during the season of 1854-5, expecting
to be able in a week or two thereafter to present a full exhibit. It now presents a
pretty full statement, embracing all the principal points, but first remarks : —
** It will be seen that the Western States show an increase in the aggregate, whila
in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky,,and Tennessee there is a large defidency. The falling off
in nomber is 849.408 head, and in number and poundp equal to 468,066 head— beii^
about 20 per cent. With reference to the product of lard, we have found it impotsible
to arrive at any satisfactory concloeion. The yield of leaf lard is unquestionaoly leM
than last year by at least five pounds to the hog ; but in many cases sides were ren-
dered mto lard to a considerable extent ; and thus the deficiency in the former will be
made op to some extent ; still, taking the entire West, the average yield per hog, of
all kinds, most be less than that of last year."
We omit the figures in detail, but give (de following recapitulation : —
Ohio
Tennessee. • .
Indiana.......
Kentucky...
Iowa
1852-4.
718,650
50,880
601.820
502.925
48,060
18S4-S.
571,166
6,000
606,880
837,799
102,181
Illinois
Missouri
Wisconsin .......
Detroit, Mich. ..
Buffalo, N. Y. . .
1851-4.
844,047
130,025
69,900
7,500
8,000
1854-i.
418,916
128,261
89,272
5,000
15,000
2,124,404
Grand total 2,478,807
Showing a deficiency in 1854-5 of 468,066 hogs.
In Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana, hogs fell considerably short in weight
This deficiency we estimated, in publishing a partial statement a few weeks since, at
8 per cent, lliis is rather a low but upon the whole a fair estimate. The total num-
ber of hogs packed in those States, as above, is 1,4*20,794; and 8 per cent deficiency
on this number is 118.668. Adding this to the decrease in number, the total falling
off is 468,066, as follows: —
Komber 849,408 | Decrease in weight equal to.. . . . 118,668
Total deficiency 468,066
In Iowa, Illinois, Miseouri, and Wisconsin the hogs averaged about the same as last
year. In some portions there was a falling ofl^ but in others an increase, thus Uingiog
op the average.
In our statement made at the close of the season of 1858-4, we estimated the av-
VOL. zxxin. — NO. II. 16
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lenige weight of hog^s packed in Ohio, indifma, Kentnckj, ftsd Tennenee at SOS Ibr
J)«auciu)g 8 per cent from this, the average for the pftf>t peasoo would be 192^ Ibe.
Id other States the average last year was 218 lbs , and this year we estimate it at
the sRme. Taking these figures as the average, the crop, reduced to pounds, compares
4U follows : —
18SM. 185M.
Ohio, EentiKkj, Indiana, and Tenneuee 891.926,200 2t 8,602,645
Other State* 128,515,796 163,486,980
520,445,996 426,989,826
Showing a deficiency of 103,457,171 Ibe^ being a trifle over 20 per cent The in-
crease in pounds last year over the preceding year*s crop was 22^ per cent The prod-
act of this season is, therefore, 20 per cent less than tluit of 1853-4, and 2^ per oent
greater than that of 1862-8.
THE FRESH AND SALT MEAT TRADE OF FRA5CE.
The Department of State at Washington has received a letter from the IToited
States Consul in Paris, relating to the meat trade of France. The letter of the ood-
sol contains an extract, as will be seen, from the ** Echo d^Agricol^ showing the usoal
mode of importmg salt meats, which is of importance to those engaged in the export
of provisions from the United States: —
"The increase in the price of meats in France has been very great since 1848— ao
much so that general complaint exults on the subject From 1852 to 1854 there has
been an increase of price from 40 to 45 per cent. The attention of the govemmeofc
of France having been called to this fact, its efibrts have been not only to prevent a
further increase, but to effect a diminution from present prices. To this end the tarifib
have been revised, and very great reductions have been made upon the importation of
foreign cattle, to wit: from $10 28 to 74 cents a head on beef, dkc. Not only so, bat
the direct attention of the people of France has been called to the use of salt meat,
and the experiment of opening the market is being made with much success. The
duty on this article has been successively reduced from $5 58 to $3 72, ($1 86,) and
in the month of October last to 9^ cents the 226 pounds, or 100 kilogrammes. Un-
der this reduction there ^as been an astonishing development in its importatioit In
1864, the importation of meats, fresh and salt, reached only 8,527 quintaux — or
777,844.58 pounds; while in the first month of the present year the importation has
reached 8,720 quintaux— ^eiog more than in the whole year of 1852 by 208 quintaux,
or 44,769.62 pounds.
** I transmit herewith an extract from the ' Echo d^Agricol^ showing the usual
mode of importing salt meats, with the respective values of the several quantities : —
**' Prhne pork is the most common kind in brine of gray salt, barrels of 881 ^ lbs.
gross, or 198.90 lbs. net; value from $14 80 to $15 81 the barrel.
" * Mess pork is little imported, and do^s not find a sale, being too fat Prime mess,
first quality, preserved in brine with white salt from lean hogs, is held at from $18 60
to $19 63 per barrel
** * Hams, salted, sugared, and smoked, sustain a comparison with the beet we have
in Europe, and find a ready sale. <
" * Shoulders, dry-salted, find a good deal of favor in France. They come in dry
barrels of 994.40 lbs. net; value from $18 60 to 19 68 per 221 lbs., or 100 kilo-
grammes.
** ' Lard comes in barrels of 265.20 lbs., or in firkins of 46.62 lbs. net; value, $18
per 110| lbs., or 50 kilogrammes.'
" The foregoing extract will indicate the kinds, manner of importation, and value,
for Uie benefit of importers. By a decree of the 10th of March, the rates of dutiea
on salt meats into the French colonies have been reduced as follows : —
" Into Martinique, Guadaloupe, Guiana, and Reunion, salt meats of foreign make,
from whatsoever country imported, and under whatM>ever flag, will pay a duty of 60
centimes (9| cents) per 100 kilogrammes, or 221 pounds. The same duty is reqcired
at St Louis, Senegal, but only when imported in French bottoms, either directly from
abroad or by extraction from the entrepot Sonee. Those imported into Senegal under
a foreign ffiig are charged the duty enforced before this decree."
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COMMEBCIAL PftOSPEAITT OF THE OSBEKS.
Commerce and navigation which had been given up to them, as mercenary occa-
pations, by the pride of the Ottomans, had abo eoncentrated in their hands the whole
wealth of the empire. Municipal liberty, and the governments of towns and islands
by elective councils, chosen from among the respective populations, and paying only
the tributes or exactions to the pachas, constituted these islands and these Greek
provinces into a species of federation, very apt to revolt against the common oppres-
sor, aod to combine together in the cause of freedom. Finally, the law which only
permitted the Ottoman armies to be recruited from among the conquering race, di
minished that source from year to year, and allowed the conquered race to increase
and multiply. All these causes together had lessened the masters and magnified the
•laves, so that the number of Christians in the empire very much surpassed the nuii-
ber of MahomeCaosw The Turks still reigned, it U true, but they were nothing more
than an armed aristocracy in the midst of a di^rmed multitude. The Greeks, how-
ever, had long felt their strength, and looked out for allies in Europe, to give them
the signal, the opportunity, and support Tney had found these natural allies in
the Russians, attached to them by two causes, which did not reqotre preconcerting to
be onderKtood : identity of religion aod community of hatred against the Turks. The
first Greek insurrection had been fomented and sustained by a Russian fleet, in the
Morea, in 1790, under the reign of Catherine II. Though it miscarried, in consequence
of the French revolution, which bad recalled the attention of the empress to the side
of QermAOjr. and had made her defer the ambitious views of Russia oo the side of
Aeia, this insurrection in the Morea had left souveairs, hopes, and seeds of liberty, ia
the minds of the Greeks, who reckoued, if not upon auxiliaries at least upon sympa-
thy at Petersburgh. The triumph of the Russians on the Danube, and the arrival of
a Russian fleet, from the Black Sea, before Constantinople, combined with an insur-
rection in the Peloponnesus and the islands, would leave nothing for the Turks bnl
flight into Asia. The reign of the Russians over the Bosphorus would be the reign of
the Greeks, re-establishing the empire of the East in its capital, so long usurped by
others. This idea, or this dream, kept hope alive in the Morea and in the islands.
Greece was going to make the attempt, and Europe was going to assist her ; but
never did fatality, that urges nations on to results which they see the best and dread
the most, exhibit itself more distinctly in human aflfairs. Russia once mistress of the
Bosphorus, of Constantin(»ple, aod of Greece, this was universal monarchy over Europe,
over Asia, and the Mediterranean. Bat never mind, the cry of freedom resounded
tipoa the mountains of Epirus, and Europe was about to echo it, and to precipitate
Itself bodily, against her own interest, down the declivity on which hung the world.
Religion was to serve as a pretext for liberty; aod whde modern philosopbf was
sapping or reforming Christianity in Europe, European liberalism was upholding
the cause of Christianity in Greece, and preaching a crusade in the name of the Rev
olution.-> J^M/ory of the Rettoration of Monarchy in France.
Wins VAULTS OP THE LONDON DOCKS.
The Newark Advtrtieer gives an account of a recent visit to the London Docks, and
especially to the vaults in which Port wine is stored. It says : —
** You have a guide, without whom you would run a great risk of being lost, and,
each taking a light, commence your rambles through the vault On either side are the
pipes of wine, on tramways, which extend in all twenty-six miles ; overhead hang fes>
toons of fungus, a sure sign of the good condition of the vaults, since if the roof ieiUced,
the fungus would be destroyed ; and around you is the heavy odor of alcohol, which,
if breaOied too long, will be pretty sure to create a heaoache. We had a tasting
order, which, however, we declined to use, thinking that we had taken in by the lunge
§B much spirits as would suffice without tlie assistance of the stomach. We left with
the iuipre<(sion thit Portugal could scarcely produce much else except wine, and that
if the Ei)glii>h drank all we saw, they would deserve the reputation of particularly af-
fecting this beverage."
NAVIGiTION AT THE POET OF QUEBEC.
The arrivals and tonnage at the port of Quebec for the undermentioned years were-—
I8i0. 18)1. 1832. ISai. im.
Veseela 1,078 1,186 1.055 1,183 1,316
Tons. 436,879 606,034 454,102 681,648 680,828
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228 Jtmrnahof Intnmmci,
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.
THE CAUSES OF FIRES, WITH SUG6ESTI0JV8 FOR PRETEJITIOIV.
The London Quarterly Review caotloiM pereoDB against leaving "wax locifer matches
where they are accessible to rats and mice, stating that these vermin convey them to
their holes, and eat the wax until tLej reach the photphorue, which is ignited by the
friction of their teetk
The same authority enggests that fires are much more frequently caused by heating
buildings with hot water, hot air, and steam-pipes, than 13 commonly imagined. Mr
Braidwood, the Superintendent of the London Fire Brigade, in his evidence before a
committee of the House of Lords, expressed the opinion, founded on wide and carefol
observation, that by long exposure to beat not much exceeding that of boiling water
—212° — timber is rendered liable to spontaneous combustion, which he thinks would
ensue in eight or ten years. It is a common thiog for some parts of the Bur&ce of
partition walls to become so heated that one can hardly bear the hand upon it ; and
it seems probable, where that is the case, that the laths or wood work nearer to tiie
source of heat, may be subjected to the temperature indicated as dangerous. In a
large city there is more or less insecurity from fire, whatever degree of caution one
may adopt ; and we become gradually reconciled to risking the chances of losing pro-
perty through the carelessness of those whose actions we cannot control, in the rea-
sonable expectation that if the block in which we live is ignited outside of our own
houses, we shall at least have sufiicient warning to escape personal injury. There are
no doubt hundreds of families living in the insecurity resulting from the heating-pipes
of their houses not being sufiiciently isolated for safety. It is true this is not the sea-
son of danger. But it is the season when precautions may be taken with some con-
venience to avert the danger ; and it is the season when more building is in progress
than in any other, and when, therefore, those engaged in it may be addressed with the
expectation that a matter so deeply involving their own interests and the safety of
their tenants, will meet with the attention it merits.
It is suggested that ingenuity has a field for its exercise still left in deviling some
more effective plan than the mixed structure of iron and brick of stone for rendering
those buildings fire-proof which are used in storing a large quantity of combustible
material If their inflammable contents become once thoroughly ignited, it ia seldom
that the buildings themselves can be saved from destruction. " Iron columns in such
instances melt before the white heat like sticks of sealing-wax; stone flies into a thou-
sand pieces with the celerity of a Prince Rupert's drop ; slate becomes transformed
into a pumice, light enough to float upon water ; the iron girders and beams, by rea-
son of tbeir lateral expansion, thrust out the walls ; and the very elements which
seem calculated, under ordinary circumstances, to give an almost exhaustless durability
to the structure, produce its most rapid destruction." The danger ia diminished by
dividing the warehouse into compartments, separated by substantial brick walls, ao as
to confine the fire within' manageable limits. In private dwellings and offices not
used for storage there is little danger from the fusibility or expansion of iron ; for or-
dinarily the combustion of their contents would not produce sufficient heat to involve
such a catastrophe. On the other hand, the use of iron and stone or brick in the out-
side structure, generally affords a leliable protection against extraneous danger.
For the interior structure of dwellings, the plan in vogue in Paris, of making the
party-walls to rooms and the floors solid, is found efficacious to prevent the spread of
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Journal of In$ura$kce, 220
fire. Few wide cooflagimtioDs oocur in tb« Froich eapiUl, DoiwithsUadiDg the im-
meose height of its hoases, and the meignificance of its fire depertment This is at-
tributed to the care with which the partitions and floors are filled in with rabble and
plaflter of Paris. To support this packing, of course something else is requisite than
flimsy laths, and thick oak boards are uailed firmly on to the framing, and then cot-
ei«d with a thick coating of plaster of Paris. A room thus finished, demoted to do*
mestic nses, is essentially fire proof. The under-side of the stairs is protected in the
same way, which is of the greatest importance, as being the part of the house most
imperiled by fire, which always seeks an unobstructed ascent, and also the part from
which danger of destruction should be most carefully averted, that it may afibrd an
avenue of retreat for the inmates.
The Superintendent of the London Fire Brigade has devised the following very ju-
diciooa directions for aiding persona to escape from premises on fire i-^
1. Be careful to acquaint yourself with the best means of exit from the house, both
at the top and bottom.
2. On the first alarm reflect before you act If in bed at the time, wrap yourself
in a blanket or bedside carpet; open no more doors or windows than are absolutely
necessary, and shut every door after you.
3. There is always from eight to twelve inches of pure air close to the ground ; if
yoQ cannot, therefore, walk upright through the smoke, drop on yoar hands and kneesL
and thus progress. A wetted silk handkerchief, a piece of flannel, or a worsted
stocking drawn over the face permits breathing, and, to a great extent, excludes tlie
smoke.
4. If you can neither make your way upwards or downwards, get into a front-room ;
if there is a family, see that they are all collected here, and keep the door closed as
much as possible, for remember that smoke always follows a draught, and fire always
rushes after smoke.
5. On no account throw yourself, or allow others to throw themselves, from the win-
dow. If no assistance is at hand, and you are in extremity, tie the sheets together,
and having fastened one end to some heavy piece of furniture, let down the women
and children one by one, by tying the end of the line of sheets around the waist and
lowering them through the wmdow that is over the door, rather than through one that
is over the area. You can easily let yourself down after tbe helpless are saved.
6. If a woman's clothes should catch fire, let her instantly roll herself over and over
on the ground ; if a man be present, let him tbi*ow her down and do the like, and then
wrap her in a rug, coat^ or the first woolen thing that is at band.
THB CHARTER OF A9 INSURAITCE COfilPANY i CONTRiCT.
The following decision was recently delivered in the Circuit Court of Alabama by
Ub Honor Judge Rapier : —
THB ALABAMA LIFE IN6UEANCB AND TBU8T COMPANV VS. JAMES H. DAUGHDBILL.
The company was incorporated in 1886. The 25ih section of the act of incorpora-
tion provides ** that this act shall continue and be in force unalterable by the General
Assembly, without the consent of the trustees of said company, for and during the
term of twenty years."
Tbe 22d section reads, *^ that as a fall commutation for all taxes, impositions, or as-
teaaments on the capital stock of the said company during the continuance of its char-
ter, it shall pay annimlly on the first Monday m December in each year, to the treas-
urer of the State for the use df the people thereof, the sum of |2,000.'*
Section 891 of the Code adopted in February, 1852, provides ** that there shall he
•seeesed in each county, on all corporations created under any law of this State, and
not exempt from taxation under section 890, on each hundred dollars of their capital
stock actually paid in and belonging to persons not exempt from taxation, twenty-
fivveentsi"
By eeotioD 776 of the Code it is further provided, " that the Court of County Com-
nissionera must in each year levy a tax for county purposes not exceeding 100 per
cent on the amount of the State assessments."
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380 Journal of Jnauremce,
In 185S, purfeuant to the provisionfl of th6 God?, thert wm a^cseed on the oompaoj
$600 for State tax. and 80 per cent oo the amount of the State tax iur ooooty por-
poses. The defendant, ae tax collector for the couoty of Mobile, demanded the
amount assessed for the county, which (he company refused to pay. A levy was then
made to enforce payment as provided by law in such cases.
The question presented for tbe court is, whether the company, in view of the Iketa
above stated and the acts of (he Legislature referred to, is exempt from taxation for
county purposes. If it be held exempt, judgment' by agreement of parties is to be
rendered against the defendant for a trespass in making the levy. If it be not ex-
empt, then judgment is to be rendered for the defendant
It is contended on the part of the defendant — 1st That the exemption eoDtained in
the charter of the company does not, under a proper construction of it, extend to
county taxes. 2d. That if it did, the exemption would be unconstitutional and void.
The language of exemption is explicit and compreheosive, and there is but little
room left for construction. The words '* all taxes are certainly withro themselves
sufficiently broad to include county as well as State taxes, and the one kind being as
much dependent upon the legislative power as the other, there is no room fgr except-
ing from the meaning of the general terms employed the one kind more than the
other, unless such reason be funii^hed by the context or by words of limitation else-
where in the act There are no words of limitation, nor does the context, on any cor-
rect principle of exposition, narrow the exemption. The bonus, it is true, is required
to be paid into the State treasury for the use of the people thereof, and this may af-
ford some ground for supposing that inasmuch as this oonus is to be appropriated as
State taxes are, fur the benefit of the State at large, in the use of the words ^all
taxes," State taxes only were intended by the Legislature. If such was the inteotioo,
the words go beyond it
But in the construction of statutes, as a primary rule, courts are to collect the in-
tention from the words, and it is safer to adopt what the Legislature have said tbao
to suppose what they meant to say. " Where," says Dwarris, *' the Legislature has
used words of a plain and definite import it would be very dangerous to put upon
them a construction which would amount to holding that the Legislature did not mean
what it expressed."*
Inter; rettng, then, the act to have intended to exempt the capital stock of the com-
pany from taxation for county and all other purposes, then comes the other question^
whether tbe act was constitutional.
And here it may be premised that the courts regard the question of constitutionality
of a law as one of great delicacy, and which ought seldom if ever to be decided affir-
matively in a doubtful case. In the Dartmouth College cafe, (4 Wheat 125,) the
Supreme Court of tbe United States says—*' On more than one occasion the court
has expressed the cautious circumspection with which it approaches the consideration
of such questions, and has declared that in no doubtful case would it pronounce a legis-
lative act to bo contrary to the ooDstitatioo."
That it was within legislative authority to surrender in part the sovereign power
to tax, may be now regarded as a settled question. In the case of Providence Bank
vs. Boiling & Pittman, (4 Peters, 661,) the Supreme Court of the United Staten, Chief
Justice Marshall delivering the opinion, say — ** that the taxing power is of vital im-
portance ', that it is essential to tne existence of government, are truths which it can-
not be necessary to reaffirm. They are acknowledged and ascribed by all It would
seem the relinquishment of such a power is never to be assumed. We will not say
that a slave may not relinquish it, tnat a consideration sufficiently valuable to induce
a partial release of it may not exist" But subsequently, in the case of Gordon vs.
tbe Appeal Tax Court, (8 How. 188,) the same tribunal held the affirmative of the
proposition in maintaining that the charter of a bank is a franchise which is not taxa-
ble as such, if a price has beeo paid for it which tbe Legislature accepted. But the
first section of the Bill of Rights in the Code of Alabama is referred to, and it is said
that the charter of plaintiffs is repuffoant to this section. The objection ni^t apply
as well to any licensed business wni<m is authorised to be carried on for a price. Im
franchise of this* company can hardly be said to confer an exclusive privifqge ; nor is
it granted without the consideration of public benefit
It must be held, therefore, in the case under consideration, that the act was inieiMlad
to exempt the company, during the continuation of its charter, from taxation for eoooty
as well as for State purposes, and that this exemption was within the power of the
Legislature, and not contrary to the constitution. What, then, is the effect of the sub-
sequent act adopted in 1862 ?
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That ilie chMier of tb« pUintiis k a cootraot, and suoh a ooe as canooi be impaired
hj ftobeequeot legislatiuD without a violation of the conetitulion, is amplj shown bj
manj adjudications in similar cases. In Providence Bank vs. Bolltnfr A Pittman, (4
Peters, 614 ;) Bank of Pennsylvania vs. the Coromonwealtli. (19 Penn. State Rep. 144 ;)
Logwood et al vs. the Planters* and MercbinU' Bank of Huntsville, (A. R. 28.)
It remains, then, but to faj that the levj made by the defendant was a trespasa^
and to give judgment pursuant to the agreement.
Messrs. Chandler, Smith, and Herndon for the company ; Messrs. Dargan <fe Hall,
and Messrs. Hamilton, for Mr. DaughdrilL
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
NOTICES TO HARINERS AND Bf AVIG ATORS.
FLA6HIKO UOHT AT TRAPANI, 8ICILT.
The Sicilian government has given notice that on and after the evening of the 8th
of Febnmry, 1866, in place of the old beacon on the Colombeja at Trapani there would
be exhibited a fiied light, with flushes every three minutes.
The apparatus is catadioptric, of the fourth order of the system of Fre^nel. Tba
light is elevated 189 feet above the level of the sea, and will be vidble 14 miles in
clear weather.
ISOLA DI VULCANO.
Also, that on Teola di Vulcano, at Puota del Rosario, there would be exhibited on
the evening of March 8th, 1866, a similar fixed light, with flashes at intervals of three
mmutes.
This light is elevated 468 feet above the level of the rea, and will be visible 14
miles in clear weather.
JOHN WASHINGTON, Hydrogrspber.
BTDBOoaApHic Orncs, Admiralty, Lokdon, Juoe 13, 1855.
This notice affects the following Admiralty Charts ^Trapani Anchorage, No. 189 ;
Sicily W. Coast. No. 187 ; Lipari Islands, No. 172 ; Sicily N. Coast, No. 167 ; Medit-
erranean General, No. 2,168; Sicily Island, No. 166; also, Lighthouse Book of tha
Mediterranean, Noe. 96 and 97.
REVOLYING LIGHT ON THE MORRO DB SAN PAOLO, BRAZIL.
The Provincial Government of Bahia has civen notice that on the 8d day of May
next, 1866, a revolving light will be exhibited on the Morro de San Paolo, brazil.
The light- house stands on the summit of the Morro, or hill, at the entrance of the
harbor of San Paolo, in lat 13® 21' 40" south, long. 88° 64' 48" west of Greenwich ;
the tower is 80 feet high, and painted white.
^ The light is revolving^ completing a revolution in ooe minute, and showing a bright
light for 1 6 seconds, followed by an eclipse of 46 seconds. It is dioptric, or refracting,
and of the first order of Fresnel ; it is placed at an elevation of 276 feet above the
mean level of the sea, and is visible 20 miles in clear weather. At a less distance
than 12 miles the eclipse is not total, but a faint light is seen.
This light must not be mistaken for the revolving light of San Antonio at the Bif
of Bahia, which lies 80 miles to the north-east, and revolves once in four mhiutes,
showing a red, a faint, and a bright light in succession.
Vessels approaching this part of the coast of Braxil are cautioned not to stand in to
a less depth than 11 fisthoms without a pilot
JOHN WASHINGTON, HTdrogrspher.
llvi»aoaBAPBTo Orrtar, Adhibaltv, Lokdok, 91it April, 1855.
This notice affects the Admiralty Charts -.—Brazil, sheet 6, Pema^ibuco to Victoria,
No. 1,079, and the South American Lights List, Na 16.
COAST OP SPAIN ON THE ATLANTIC ALTERATION OF LIGHT AT CADIZ.
The Spanish government have given notice that on the Ist of June next the present
revolving light on the Castle of San Sabastian, at Cadiz, will be changed to a fixed
bright light, with red flashes at intervals of two minutes.
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9d2 StatMei (^PojmlaMmi,ete.
The new flhunhatiag apparatat is catadtoptrte, of the eeeood orto of Fresnel.
The light will be elevated 148 feet above the level of the sea, and be visible la osUes
in clear weather from the deck of a ship.
There has been do chaoge in the position of the light
JOHN WASHINCrrOU, Bydrographec
BvaaooEAPHio Orrtos, AvmiealtT) Loirsoif, SSd May, 185i.
This notice affects the following Admiralty Charts :~MediteiTanean, Na 2,158;
Approaches to Qibraltar, Na 92 ; Cadiz Harbor, No. 86; aUo^ Spanish Light-house
Lbt, No. 180.
UGflT OJV CAPE SiBT A5T0NI0, PR0FI5C£ OF AUCAHTfi.
HTDSoeaAPBic OmcK, Admisaltt, London^ December 36, 18S4.
The Spanish ffovemment has given notice that on the 1st of January, 1855, a re-
volving light will be exhibited od the old tower of San Antonio, in the province of
Alicante, in 88« 48' 80" N., and 0« 48" E. of Greenwich.
This light will revolve every half minute, and, being 580 feet above the level of
the sea, will be visible in clear weadier from the deck of a* moderate-sized vessel at
the distance of 19 miles.
Admiralty Charts affected bv this notice: Na 2,158, General Chart of the Mediter-
ranean; No. 1,187, S. Coast of Spain, Alicante to Palmos; and Mediterranean Lits
Xiighthouse, No. 8 a. '
CHA56E OF LIGHT AT COVE POINT, NORTH OF PATUKET BITER.
By order of the United States Lighthouse Board, A. M. Pennock, Lighthouse In-
spector Fifth Dbtrict, under date Norfolk, Va., May 10, 1855, publishes the following
notice to mariners : —
Notice is hereby given that the present fixed light at Cove Point will be changed
on or about the 15th of June next, to a fixed light varied by flashes. The light wil
be produced by a fifth order catadioptric apparatus ; will be of the natural color, fixed
witn a bright flash at intervals of oneanda-half minute.
STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c.
RESULTS OF THE CENSUS OF GREAT BRITAIN.
KCXBSa vu.
TBRIUTOEIAL SITB DfVIBIONS.
The Report here investigates, at great length, the territorial distribution of Britain
from the earliest timea, including the divisions made by the Romans and Saxons suc-
cessively, and the state of things under the Heptarchy. It traces the division of the
country into shires, hundreds, and tithings, to Alfred the Great ; and the circuits to
Henry IL (a. a 1179.) The counties in each circuit were enumerated in the anoals
of the times, and the names of all the existing counties appear, except &v^
The shire is an important sub-di vision of the kingdom ; each has a lord lieutenant,
who is also keeper ot the archives; a sheriff^ an under-sheriff, and justices of the peace,
all appointed by the crown ; each shire has also a county treasurer and a clerk of the
peace, eaeh appointed by the lord lieutenant; and a county coroner, elected by the
freeholders. The revenue of the shires is chie^f derived from rates struck by the
justices of peace in counties at quarter sessions, and is for the most part appropriated
m maintaining bridges, lunatic asylums, jails, prisoners, and police.
The terms ** hundreds'* and ** tithings*'^ had theur origin in a system of numeratioo,
but whether they represented persons, families, or holdings, is. difficult to determine,
In process of time, what was once a number became a name, and for a looff period
Ihe terms have ceased to measure either area or population, as is evidenced by the
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SkLtMe9 of PopulaU&ti^ €te. 2$S
ftMi thai the htmdreda ia the sonrey aAer the Cooqdest and the hnodreds tCill retnaia-
ing, differ widely in both eIemeDt^ and, moreover, the present hundred b different ia
extent in tha varinns ooonties ; for bstaoce, in GloaceeterBhire, the hnndred oontaiaa
on an average 20,000 acres; in Herefordshire, 49,000; and in Shropshire, 68,000.
The hide was the lot or share of the first settler.
The sessiooal divisioiis existing in all the counties of England and Wales, for the
purposes of special sessions, are in general based on the hundreds and other ancient
county sub-divisions. The justices have power to alter these divisions for the conve-
nience of holding sessions, bot they have no authority to alter the ancient hundreds.
There are <M)9 sessiunal divisions in England and Wales, and, for the purpoMS of assise
and jail delivery, eight circuits, besides the jurisdiction of the central criminal court. .
A Saxon burgh, or borough, was a hundred, or an assemblage of hundreds, sur-
rounded by a moat or wall. As ancient borough? fell into decay, new ones sprung
up, and many towns not formerly boroughs, have been created boroughs for purposes
not very intelligible. The affairs of municipal boroughs are administered by a mayor,
alderman, and other functionaries.
The 196 reformed boroughs in England and Wales contain a total population of
4,946,269 inhabitants: the population of 64 range under 6,000; 48 from 8,000 to
10,000; 68 from 10,000 to 60,000; 14 from 60.000 to 100,000; 4 from 100,000 to
200,000 ; and three above 200,000. The cit}f of London is still unreformed, and there-
fore not included in these. If inserted in the list, it would stand below Sheffield, as
haying a population of only 127,869 inhabitants, a one-nineteenth portion of the popu-
lation of London ; and yet, forsooth, the Corporation claim to represent the metropolb.
Scotland contains 88 royal and municipal burghs, having a total population of
762,777 inhabitants; 66 have a popuUtion under 6,000; 16 from 6,000 to 10,000;
11 firom 10,000 to 70,000; and 1, 148,000.
The minor subdivisions of townships, parishes, and manors, were re-distrihuted by
William the Conqueror, after the battle of Hastings, and apportioned amon^ the
chieftains in his army ; but we must pass over these divisions for a slight notice of
ecclesiastical districts and dioceses.
The Act for the census of 1851 required the population of ** ecclesiastical districts '
to be eoumerated.
** The task," states the Report, ''of obtaming accoAtely the population of tiie db-
tricta was one of great difficulty. Designed exclusively for spiritual purposes, their
boundaries are ^uite ignored by the general public, and rarely known by any secular
officers ; while, in many cases, even the clergy themselves, unprovided with maps or
plans, are uncertain as to the limits of their respective cures. Formed, too, in many
cases, without reference to any exbting boundaries— often by imaginary lioee, which
the progress of building speedily obliterates, and liable, as circumstances alter, to re-
peated^ reconstruction — it was sometimes almost impossible, with any confidence, to
ascertain 'the real present limits of these dbtricts. No labor, however, was spared, in
order to overcome the obstacles and secure a trustworthy statement The registrars,
when apportioning theur districts among the enumerators, were directed to procure as
much information upon the boundariee of these new dbtricts, as the incumnent might
he able and willing to supply ; and very important aid was in this manner readily
afforded ; and subsequently the accouots of population which resulted from these in-
quiries were forwarded from the census office to the various incumbents, for their in-
spection and revision.'*
The division of the country ecclesiastically, in Dioceses, Arch-deaconries, and Dean-
eries, took place at a very early period. Most of the present bishoprics were founded
in Saxon times. The dioceses, on their first formation, had their limits coextensive
with the boundaries of the kingdoms of the sovereigns who formed them ; but sub-
divbions were soon discovered to be necessary, and various princes subsequently made
repeated alterations, until at length the whole arrangement settled into its exbting
shape.
The census here enters into an elaborate hbtory of the changes in the ancient
boundaries of counties, parlbmentary divbions of counties and boroughs. Most of the
exbtinff snbdivbions were made at an early period. Alfred has been named as the
great divider of the country, and the progress and modifications of the subdivisions
throw light on the progress of the population. At thb point we appear to be peru-
sing some deep antiquarian treatise. At length we arrive at the discussion ox the
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Ul
SUiU^ik9 9f Populaiiomy He.
recent territorial subdivmoiw of tlie country for tbe adminbtratkin of the poor law,
and for pnrpoeet of registration ; and, after reciting tbe inconyenieoces and perplexities
ubich tbe variety of ecclesiastical, military and civil, fiscal and judicial, ancient and
modem, mantcipal and parliamentary subdivisions ot the country occasions, the Report
urges tbe adoption of a uniform system of territ4irial divisions in Great Britain, and
ooodudes witn a summary of tbe contents and general results of tbe oeosos.
EMIGRATIOV TO THE USITED STATES.
[Tbe letter referred to in tbe foDowiDg circular from tbe Hon. WnxiAM L. Habct,
Secretary of State, was publbbed in a former number of the Merchant^ Magojune,
Tbe act of 1819, as suggested by tbe Secretary, should be amended so as to embrace
emigrants entering the United States by land.]~^{f. Met, Mag.
DKPABTiiKifT or Btat«, Waibiivotor, Febnufj 10, 18S5.
In tbe letter which accompanied tbe last annual statement of passengers arrivii^
from foreign countries, it was remarked, with a view to obviate tbe absence of unifor-
mity in tbe returns from tbe collectors on which that statement is based, and to whidi
is attributed a considerable degree of inaccuracy during a period of many years, a cir>
cular bad been addressed to those officers, accompanied by a schedule for their gen-
eral guidance. Tbe effect of this measure has been favorable. Greater uniformity
has characterized the returns ; and tbe country of which the passengers intend to be-
come inhabitants, and the number of passengers who hive died on tbe voyage, have
for the first time been furnished. A tabular statement has also been added of all
passengers arriving in tbe United States during tbe last eleven years from September
80, 1848 — the earliest period when any recapitulations were appended to the annual
statement furnishing the necessary data — to December 81, 1854.
Tbe information conveyed under the heads of ''occupation" and " comitry " still
continues, to some extent, vague and indefinite ; and it is expected that tbe collectora
will hereafter cause their returns to conform, in this regard, to the recapitulation of
the statement now transmitted, a copy of which will be sent to each of them with that
view. It is, moreover, desirable, as was suggested in my last letter on this subject,
that the attention of collectors at frontier custom-houses, especially on tbe northero
border, should be directed to immigrants entering the country by land. The act of
1819, by which immigration returns are now controlled, seems to contemplate only
those passengers '* arriving by eea." If this construction is deemed correct, an amend'
ment of that act is demanded.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
W. L. MABCr.
8TATXMENT OF TBX KUMBEE OF FA8SXNGE£8 ARRIVING IN TBI tTNITKD 8TATBS BT SEA
FROM FOREIOM COUNTRIES FROM SEPT. 30, 1848, TO DEC. 81, 1854.
SflXBOt
" From
Sept 30, 1848, to Sept 80, 1 844 . . .
1844 1846...
Uh 1846...
1846 1847...,
1847 1848...
1848 1849...
1849 to Dec 81, 1849...
Dec 81, 1849 1860...
1860 1861...
1861 1862...
1862 1868...
1868 1864....
Total .... 1,664,874 1,106,492 404,029 8,nM*ft
Males.
Femsks.
slated.
TotaL
48,897
86,867
....
84,764
69,188
49.290
1,400
119,804
90,798
66,778
897
168.648
184,760
96,747
1,067
:f82,554
136,128
92,888
472
229.848
179,268
119,915
442
809,610
88,282
27.107
181
66.570
200,908
118,892
1,088
816,888
245,017
168,745
66
408.828
898,470
898,470
286,696
164.181
....
400.777
284.887
176.687
....
460.474
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8tmti$Ue$ of PopulaHon, He.
285
POPfJLATIOlf OF ARKANSAS IN I860 AUD 1854.
The result of the cenaot of the State of Arkansas for 1854, ^hkb has just been
completed, as compared with I860, will be seen in the following table: —
Population
Whites
Slaves
Free colored.
Lands cuUirated , acres
Cotton produced ^ . .bales
Com (1868) bushels
Wheat «..
Oats
18S0. •
209,887
162.189
47.100
606
781.630
66.844
8,898.989
199,689
666,288
18H.
268.117
199.224
60,279
614
857,180
160,779
11,686,969
882,686
1,040,206
TH8 PKE cniirrAoi op incbeask in 1864 ovxa 1860, was as follows: —
21 1 Of cotton produced 160
Of populatbn
Of whites
Of slaves
Of lands cultivated
20
27
10
Of cotton produced.
Of wheat
Of oats
Of corn
ISO
60
60
It appears evident from this that the State of Arkansas is growing with great rapid-
ity ; but as the extent of lands cultivated does not correspond with the amount pro-
duced, (in income,) it is also plain that the land is better cultivated, more labor put
upon it, and this also appears from the increase of slaves being greater than the in-
crease of whites.
The State of Arkansas has nearly 6,000,000 of acres of swamp land^ which the
Oovemor proposes to give partly to levee the liississippi and Red rivers, and partly
to railways.
He commends the interests of the Fulton and Cairo Railroad Company to the Legis-
lature. This company has a huge grant of land from the government of the United
States, and has ahready had the route surveyed.
BTATITB AHD FOREIGN POPULATIOIV OF THE SOUTHERBT STATES.
The Union has turned to the last census returns and made out the following table,
which shows the native, the foreign, and Catholic population in each Southern State
in 1860. It would seem from this table that ** Know-Nothingism ** has not, in for-
eigners or Roman Catholics, a very powerful enemy, numerically, to combat : —
ForeigiL Native. B,Catbolfo.
1. Alabama 7,498 426,614 6.200
2. Arkansas 1,468 162.189 1.600
8. Florida 2,740 47,208 1.860
4. Georgia 6,462 621,672 4,250
6. Kentucky 81,401 761.418 24,240
6. Louisiana 67,808 266,491 87,780
7. Maryland 61,011 417.943 87,100
8. Mississippi 4,788 296,718 8,260
9. Missouri ^.... 76,670 692,004 88,960
10. North Carolina 2,665 668,028 1,400
11. South Carolina 8,608 274.568 6.030
12. Tennessee 6,688 766,836 1,400
18. Texas 17,629 164,084 6,760
14. Virginia 22,968 894,800 7,980'
806,614 6,998,308 172,740
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%B^ SkUiMticB cf AgrwaUmrt^ eU.
STATISTICS OP AGRICULTURE. &c.
BRIEF flISTORT OF KENTUCKT CATTLE.
BT BRUTUS J. OLAT.
The PattoD etoclr, bo called from the person who first introduced them into Ken-
tacky, were brought from Virginia about the jear 1786 by two of the sons of Matthew
Patton, Sr., then a resident of Virginia, and Mr. Gay, his son-inlaw— a bull and sev-
eral heifers, (half blooded English cattle, so called at that day,) being from the stock
of Mr. Patton, Sr., the product of a bull purchased by him of a Mr. Gough, of Mary-
land, importer of English cattle. This bull was very large and rough, with very long
horns. In 1790 Mr. Patton, Sr., moved to Kentucky, and brought with him six more
cows, calves of this same bull They were large, somewhat coarse and rough, with
very long horns, wide between the points and turning up considerably ; the bags and '
t^ts very large ; good milkers, differing very much from what was called the Long-
horns of 1817, so says Mr. R Harrison, of Woodford county, Kentucky, (see Franklin
Farmer, p. 196, vol. 2.)
About the year 1795 Mr. Patton, Sr., also introduced a bull and heifer purchaaed of
thb same Mr. Gough, said to have been imported ; the bull a deep-red with heavy
horns — the heifer white, the horns turned down. From the above-mentioned caUl0»
all the Patton stock of Kentucky has sprung ; being generally large but coarse, boroi
turned up, good milkers, bad handlers, and difficult to fatten early. These, at this
day, have been so mixed with the Durham and other breeds, that I suppose there are
none to be found anywhere of the pure blood.
In 1808 Daniel Harrison brought to Kentucky a two-year old bull, called Plato,
purchased of Mr. Miller, of Virginia, (an importer of English cattle,) said to have
been out of an imported bull, dark-red or brindle, very large, small head and neck,
light, short horns, and heavy fleshed. He was bred mostly to Patton cows, and pro-
duced some fine milkers. He was taken to Ohio about 1812.
In 1810 Captain Smith, of Fayette, purchased of this same Mr. Miller, of Virginia,
a bull called Buzzard, a brindle, large and coarse, sired by the same boU as Plato, oat
of a different cow, being of Longbom stock, purchased of Matthew Patton, Sr.
In 1818 Mr. loskip came to Kentucky and brought with him a large bull called the
Inskip, brindle, a mixture of the Miller and Patton stock, left in Virginia by Patton
when he came to Kentucky.
In 1814 Daniel Harrison purchased of Mr. Ringgold, of Virginia or Maryland, a bull
and heifsr called the Gary cattle, white pied and red, bad feeders, and not in very
high repute in Kentucky as fine cattle.
In 1814 the Messrs. Hutchcraft, of Bourbon county, brought from Ohio the bull
called Shaker, purchased from the society of Shakers, and said to have been descended
from the Miller stock.
In 1817 Mr. James Prentice, of Lexington, Kentucky, imported from England two
bulls — John Bull and Prince Regent— one of the celebrated Durham improved breed,
and the other of the improved milk breed. John Bull was a deep-red, fine size and
form, delicate, down-pointed horns. Prince Regent was pied, white, with red spots.
They were purchased of Nat Hart, of Woodford county, and John Fayette, for
$1,800, and have produced some good stock.
lb 1817 the Hon. H. Clay imported from England three head of Hereforda-^a bull
cow, and heifer, and placed them with Isaac Cunningham, of Clarke, one of the best
cattle raisers in Kentucky at that time. I have never seen one in the State.
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SiatkHet <^ AgrkuXUirt^ etc 237
BAST II9U5 AW AMUICAI COTTOV.
Recent inTestigatioin in EngUnd appear to have established the fact that oar
plantera haTe nothing to fear from the riyalrj of the pknters io India. It would
gntifj the people of England to be able to supply their own loooqs with the produce
of their own poseeeeions, but nature seems to bare interposed insuperable obstacles.
Hio investigations to which we refer were set on foot by a committee of the House of
Oommoos* before whom the leading men of Manchester were minutely examined ^
Without troubling our readers with details, we may sum up the results as follows: —
1. India is five months* sail from Liverpool ; America, one month's.
2. The consumption of cotton in India is so enormous as to render the planters
comparatively indifferent to a foreign market India is a country of 160,000.000 cf
inhabitants. " In India," said one gentleman, "cotton is used for all ihe purposes that
hemp and flax, and hair and wool, are used in this country. The home consumption
is something enormous. I exhibited at the Asiatic Society the cloth of a man's dress
and a female's dress, and the weight of those two was five pounds ; the average dress
of each inhabitant, therefore, was two-and-a-half pounds ; and if we multiply that by
the population, assumbg it to be 150,000,000 over the whole of India, it wiU amount
to 875,000,000 of pounds. But it is used for beds, pillow?, cushions, awnings, cano-
pies, and ceilings, draperies and hangings, carpets, screens, curtains, quilting and pad-
ding of every description, both for padding clothes and for saddles, for tents, ropes for
teots, halters for horses — and, in fact, applied to all the purposes that hemp and wool
are used for m this country. I assumed at that time, without any correct data, Uiat
it would require as much more annually for such purposes, which would make an
amount of 750,000,000 pounds."
8. The India cotton is, for the purposes of the English manufacturer, 20 per cent
inferior in quality to the American. Mr. Basley, a noted manufacturer, in reply to
questions, stated that it was found by experience that the waste in using Surat cotton
is 25 per cent, while from the American the loss is 12^ per cent; that is, from every
100 lbs. of Surat cotton which the spinner takes into his mill, he produces 75 lbs. of
yam ; and that from every 100 lbs. of American cotton, be produces 87i lbs.; also
that the same machinery produces a larger quantity of yam from the American cot-
ton than from the Surat cotton. And when asked whether that does not arise from
the smaller number of breakages, he replied : —
'^ Yes ; and from the American cotton requiring fewer turns from the spindle, and
for the quantity of yam coming through the rollers, less twist per inch."
4. Much of the Indian cotton comes to market so badly cleaned that the waste is
excessive.
THB 8BA ISUID COTTOV OF FLORIDA.
Sea Island cotton is one of the grand productions of Florida. From her insular
position, quality of soil, and blandness of climate, this delicate and valuable crop is
very successfully cultivated. According to the Florida Keios, this crop is produced
the best where the soil is composed of clay, strongly mixed with vegetable decom
posiUoa As a manure for cotton lands, sea-weeds and marsh-mud are found to be
excellent, increasing the quantity of the crop without injunng the fineness and glossi-
ness of the staple.
The cotton seed is planted in rows from six to eight feet apart, and the plant kept
free from weeds by the use of the hoe and plow. The shrub grows rapidly, lyid
throws out a profusion of rich, yellow blosEoms, and at length the pods appear.
These, bursting open about September, reyeal their snowy treasures to the p1auter*s
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Si8 SiaUsUcs of A^friaiUure^ 0ku
gaze. The field mast now be picked, as ezposare to the weather injares the fine
glo68 of the oottoa. The down is collected, exposed on a scaffold to dry, and is then
passed through the gin, whose thousand fingers quickly {*eparate it from the f*eed,
after which it is packed in bales and is ready for the market As the pode do not
open all at a time, several pickings are necessary to clean the field. The cotton afamb
grows very luxuriantly in Florida ; the writer has ;een a specimen produced in Marioa
county, which more resembled a tree than a shrub, the lower branches being sufficieot
' to sustain the weight of a man. The cotton crop is liable to many aocidenta ; tke
caterpillar sometimes destroys whole fields of it; the red-bug pierces the pod and
discolors the cotton, and a heavy wind sometimes entirely destroys the pod. Good
cotton lauds will yield three or four hundred pounds to the acre, and it is said that
one hand may cultivate about three acres. The price of the article varies acccrding
to the quality and state of the market, from fifteen to twenty cents per pound.
To every hundred pounds of cotton produced, there are about ten bushels of seed,
weighing forty pounds to the bushel Experiments have been made in turning the
seed to account, by extracting oil from it ; and we believe the result has proved that
about half a gallon of crude oil may be obtained from a bushel The oil cake may be
also used for cattle and horses. It is thought by some that the seed used In this
way would pay one-half of the labor required for the cultivation of the crop.
THE IVINE DISEASE AT OPORTO^ PORTUGAL.
It is a well known fact, that more port wine, or the article of that name, is consumed
in the city of London, than the entire product of the Oporto wine district. * But very
little of the wine consumed in the United States has a particle of the juice of the
grape in it A letter recently received at the State Department, Washington, from
Oporto, Portugal, says, that the produce of the wine district, in 1854, has been about
19,000 pipes, although there have been sent to the judges at Regoa samples of 49,000
pipes for approval More than one-half of this wine is that which was refused in l8St
as being unsound, and unfit for transportation. It has since been treated with gtro-
friza and boja^ and in all probability much of this noxious stuff found its way down
the Douro in the Spring, and was exported to different parts of the world. The Oporto
correspondent thinks there have not been three thousand pipes of good wholeeome
wine made in the Douro this last vintage. The wine known as the green wbe, the
principal drink of the native Portuguese, has been almost totally destroyed ; and ia
the Vienna district not a pipe has been made. In the Spring of 1854 the vines put
forth their shoots and leaves with great vigor, and the growth was very rapid. The
show of fruit was greater than ever known in that country before. The dinners anti
cipated a good vintage, but as the season advanced their hopes were blasted. Through-
out the kingdom the vines began to show symptoms of the fatal " odium ;" by the
middle of June the leaves had the autumnal tints, began to curl, and the berries in-
dicated a sickly appearance. Many vineyards bad the appearance they usually have
in the month of November. In the early part of July, many vines put forth a second
crop of lekves and fruit, and the berries nearly ripened before they were attacked
with the ** odium."
THE FRUIT TRADE.
Some thirty vessels are engaged in the fruit trade between New York and the
West Indies. A much larger trade in fruits is carried on with ports in the Medtter-
rafiean, which supply annually something like seventy or eighty cargoes — principally
oranges. The West Indian importations of last year are estimated as follows : —
8eventy*fiye thousand bunches of bananas from Baraooa, sold here at finom $1 25
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a(ati§iie$ ef Affrictdtwt^ He. t8f
lo |1 60 per ^mum^— 1*8,760 to $112^00; S.000»000 Baracoa coeoanats, sotd at from
$25 to |30 per 100—1600,000 to $600,000 ; 20 cargoes of pineapples from Matansas
aod Havana, aeveraging 80,000 dozen per cargo, and sold at from $8 to $12 per 100
—$128,000 to $192,000 ; 20,000 doien St Barts pines, sold at from $7 60 to $8 per
100— $18,000 to $19,200; 200,000 dozen from the Bahama Islands— $1 6,000 to
$16,000 ; 10 cargoes of Havana oranges, averaging 850,000, at S cents each — $10,600 ;
have been received thus far the present season, the crop being more abundant than
at anj time during the last fifteen years. West Indian oranges arrive in October,
and are most abundant in January and February. Bananas and pineapples begin to
arrivti about the first of April, and are most plentiful during the succeeding three
months. Cocoa nuts arrive all the year round. Mediterranean oranges, which come
in boxes, and are most extensively shipped to different parts of the United States, be-
gin to be received in January, but not extensively until April or May.
The above list comprises but few of the foreign fruits imported — and these only
from the West Indies. A few minutes' calculaiion will show -the sum paid for the
articles enumerated in the list amount to not less than $850,000. The total amount
paid for foreign fruit last year was not less than $20,000,000.
Our exports are comparatively trifling. With the very best soil and climate in the
world for growing fruit, embracing twenty- three degrees of latitude, we pay oot an-
nually to foreign countries cash enough to stock a Territory with the choicest varieties
of fruit trees. Besides, fruit grown in our own soil and climate is better adapted to
our people, and far more healthful than that which is imported firom other climates.
PfflUDELPHIA CATTLE MARKET.
The following tabular statement presents the number of cattle received in Phila-
delphia during each of the last eleven years, with the exception of the large number
brought in by butchers, of which no account can be obtained :—
Beeves. Cows. SwIdb. Sheep. Totals.
1864 73,400 15,850 78.000 61,0u0 227.760
1858... 71,900 15,100 68,800 72,800 212,600
1862 71,200 14,420 49,200 81.200 216,020
1861 69,100 15.400 46,700 88,000 214,200
1860. 68.750 15,120 46,900 82,500 218,270
1849 68,120 14.820 46,700 77,110 206,250
1848 67,211 14,108 47,690 7'5,820 205,829
1847 60,270 16,700 22.460 67,800 147,220
1846 47,500 14,480 18.670 66.810 186.460
1845 61,298 18.805 26,456 66,948 158.506
1844 46,782 18.519 25,420 61,056 148,727
CULTITATIOff OF HOPS IN ENOLAITD.
In June nomber of the Merchant^ MagoMine we published a brief sketch of the
history with some statistics of hops in the United States, derived from the excellent
report of 0. L. Flint, Esq., the Secretary of the Massachxisetts Board of Agriculture.
From a recent English authority we learn that the gross total number of statute acres
of laod under cultivation for hops in England in the year 1864 amounted to 68,828
acres, of which 11;490| were in the district of Canterbury, 2,060 in Hants, 4,648i in
Hereford, 1,408} in the Isle of Wight, 10,887f in the district of Rochester, l,877f in
the district of Stourbridge, 1,224 in that of Worcester, and 11,690 acres in Sussex.
The total amount of duty charged on the hops in the various collections of England,
the growth of the year 1864, was £86,422 against £47,827 under the old duty of
1 12 20d. per lb, £84,981 under the new duty of f 8 20d. per lb, and £4,118 forihe
additional duty of 6 per cent The average amount of duty per acre is stated to be
£1 ISs. Id.
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240
BaUrotd, Ctmal, md Sidomkoai SUUMct.
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
a)ST OF P1SSE56EK A99 FREIGHT TimrSPOItTATIOir BT SAfLWlT.
BorroB, Jane lit, ISSS.
FEEDf AH Hunt, Eeq., Editor of the Merehant^ Magazine^ He : —
Dbab Sis : — Inclosed joa will find a table ezbibithig the eoet of poiacngn ind
freight traosportalioo upon the priocipal railways of New York aod Manacfaoaetts,
submitted for insertioii in the pages of joor Taloable jonnaL The statement is com-
piled from the legal rettinis made by the companies of eadi State to the Legislatnre
thereot In the returns of the New York companies, the expenses of each departaient
are divided by the companies, and the division stated in eadi report Bat in the re-
turn from the Haasacbnsetts companies the division is not made, hot on the other hand
a large amount of expenses are designated as * miscellaneons.**
Yours, truly, DAVID M. BALPOrs.
PASSKKOnt DEPAanCEKT.
Lenfftb Maxi- Miles Vmm,
lo mile* mam mn by Pibwiw«» Fmetmgtn cw^i
Names of railways. includiDg grade paseDger carried a earned eaek
braocbea. p. m. trains, tbe cars. one mile, m* nu.
New York Central 682 .. 2,117,088 2,666,874 163,874,478 77
New York and Erie 464 . . 1,496,661 1,125,123 96,668,709 66
Hudson River 144 . . 604,443 1,689,086 76.830.660 127
Harlem. 188 .. 744,809 8,209.402 21,726,866 29
Ogdensburg 119 .. 147,845 102.868 4,80r»,666 29
BuffiOo, Coming <l N.York. 100 .. 120,640 112.146 2,676.962 21
Watertown and Rome 97 .. 162,874 186,398 6.611,400 8t
Buffiilo and New York City. 92 .. 258,240 179.637 6,447,140 25
Boston and Worcester 69 80 386,244 1,608,602 26,408,267 79
Western , 155 83 828,256 697,559 28,684.662 87
Boston and Providence ... . 65 84 219,429 85i,270 11,995,218 65
Boston and Lowell 28 10 160.395 604,706 9,221,761 57
Old Colony aod Fall River. 87 45 285,095 1,282,610 27,949.995 68
Fitchburg. 68 40 282,661 1,251,600 17,812,208 61
Boston and Haine 88 47 410,759 1,969,462 28,473,879 69
Eastern. 98 40 808,480 1,181,514 16,029.880 62
Total 2,879 •. 7,978.269 18,869,804 684,107,016 67
Receipts rASSBRGsa kxpkksbs.
from Repairs of Proportloa
MasMS of raHwaTS. psnengera, Salaries, passenger of other
mails, ^4:. wages, &«. cars. expenses. ToUL
New York Central 13,488,614 |904,321 f 347,698 |686,848 $1,787,862
New York and Erie 1,990,869 498,44 1 229.680 222.429 960,600
Hudsoo River 1,289,841 671,184 111,717 141,642 824,643
Harlem. 605,084 243,742 62,922 117,000 418,666
Ogdensburg 149,980 41.074 29,275 60,647 120,896
Buffalo, Coming A N.York. 67,981 21.837 7,297 9,192 88,826
Watertown and Rome 168,181 61,848 10,381 26,618 88,847
Bnffiik) «>d New York City 137,917 60,088 19,684 22,666 102^87
Boston and Worcester 647,397 69,38u 16,722 167,716 248,826
Western 838,971 66,735 26,226 178.265 265.225
Boston and Providence 329,156 86,<^68 1,3,490 85,875 134.438
Boston and Lowell 176,240 24,798 21,607 89,287 186,692
Old Cokny and Fall River. 427,187 60,887 27,118 169,878 287,828
Fitchburg. 818,754 60,645 12,088 106,847 168,076
Boston and Maine 660,936 63,345 11,250 101,257 175.852
Eastern. 478,763 65,669 20,612 92,846 178,927
Total 111,614,200 $2,807,921 $966,461 $2,101,406 f6,8<6, 778
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Bailroad^ dmal^ and Steamboat StatUtie$*
241
I of Net in-
pMeenger come from
Names of nilwagri. expenses paaMogere,
percent mails, Ice.
New York Central |62 00 11,660,662
New York Rod Erie 47 76 1,089,869
HndeoQ River 68 98 465,298
Harlem 68 86 191,420
Ogdeoaburg 80 61 29,084
Buffalo, CoroiDg <fe N. York. 66 89 29,646
WatertowD aod Rome. ... 62 63 79,884
Bu£^o and New York Oity. 74 16 86,680
Boston and Worcester 44 64 808.67 1
Western 81 61 678.746
Boston and Providence .... 40 84 194,728
Boston and Lowell 77 48 89,648
Old Colony and Fall River. 66 66 189,814
Pitchburg / 68 67 146,679
Boston and Maine 81 86 886,083
Eastern 87 77 294,826
Total $60 94 16,648,422
Net in-
eome from
passeDKora,
mails, &o.,
Names of mUwayB. per mile
run.
New York Central |0 77
New York and Erie 0 69
Hudson River 0 77
Harlem. 0 25
Ogdensburg 0 19
BufiE&lo, Corning and New York 0 24
Watertown and Rome 0 62
Buffiilo and New York City 0 13
Boeton and Worcester 0 90
Western 176
Boeton and Providence. 0 89
Boeton and Lowell 0 24
Old Colony and Fall River 0 67
Fitchburg 0 62
Boeton and Maine 0 94
Eastern 0 96
Total $0 70
FEKIOHT DBFARTMXNT.
Miles run Tons of
by freight freight
Names of railways. and other carried in
trains. the cars.
New York Central 1,200,240 649,806
New York and Erie. 1,466,828 748,260
Hudson River 278,982 166,716
Harlem 265,684 1 14,180
Ogdensburg 269,167 219,260
Buffiilo, Coming <fe N.York.. 66,820 44,460
Watertown and Rome 97,665 182,859
BulEalo and New York City. 66,480 61,430
Boston and Worcester 216,608 824,990
Westera 661,176 855,063
Boston and Providence 111,161 149,540
Boeton and Lowell 126,068 825,960
Old Colony and Fall River.. 104,108 236,297
Fitchburg 222,478 478,606
Boston and Maine 168,430 884,784
Eastern 82,080 118,013
Total 6,370,146 4,886,192
TOL, xzxin. — NO. n. 16
Rates of
net Income
from
psawngers,
mails, ttCy
per cent.
|48 00
62 26
86 07
81 64
19 39
43 61
47 47
26 84
66 46
68 39
59 16
22 67
44 44
46 48
68 66
62 23
$49 06
Receipts
from
passengers.
malls, &.Cf
carried
one mile.
2 098
2.069
1.691
2.786
8.487
2.688
2.997
2.139
2.073
2.924
2.744
1.900
2.880
1.812
1.970
2.965
2.156
Recetpto
Expensss
from
ofpss-
passen-
sengert,
gers, malls,
mails,
fccper
Ac per
mile run.
m.run.
$1 62
10 86
1 88
0 64
2 18
1 85
0 81
0 66
1 01
0 66
1 10
0 62
1 63
2 66
1 60
1 09
1 60
1 11
1 87
1 64
II 44
Expenses
oi^ pas-
sengers,
raaik, &c..
carried
•ne mile.
1.091
0.988
1.086
1.904
2.811
1.487
1.674
1.686
0.923
0.924
1.121
1.471
1.822
0.971
0.618
1.116
89
32
68
40
78
81
61
85
88
69
48
68
Tons of
freight
carried
one mile.
81,168,080
130,808,034
18,141,620
9,988,096
19,684,832
1,825,768
8,200.288
4,113,687
12,057,832
32,284,823
6,176,144
8,223,586
8,885,233
11,869,692
9,165,196
2,896,771
859,488,882
10 74
Net In-
come from
passengers,
, mailSf&c,
carried
one rolls.
1.007
1.076
0.606
0.881
0.676
1.161
1.428
0.668
1 160
2 000
1.628
0.429
1.068
0.841
1.862
1.889
1.098 1.06&
Tons
freight
carried Receipts
each m. ft-om
run. freight.
68 12,479.821
89 3,369,690
66 464,146
39 887,811
74 440,144
33 65,176
86 222,796
62 116,868
66 406,499
49 924,978
47 214,594
66 267,262
37 222,619
63 390,886
68 297,446
86 106,446
67 $10,814,449
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242
Bailroady Oanalj and Steamboat SiaUities.
Names of raUwayi.
New York Central
Kew York ancLErie
Hudson River
Harlem
OgdeDsburg
Buffalo. Coming <fe N. York.
Watertown and Rome
BufEulo and New York City
Boston and Worcester
Western.....
Boeton and Providence. . • .
Boston and Lowell
Old Colony and Fall River .
Fitchburg
Boston and Maine
Eastern
Total.
PBKIOBT BXPKMitt. BsteS 0(
Repiiirs of Proponiun fretglit
Salaries, ft^fgbt ofotber expeosat
wages, 4co. ears. expeiifes. TotaL p. cent.
1084,990 1811.899 fS08,7 90 $1,800,179 $62 48
976,799 880.951 880,868 1,687,108 60 07
284,680 64,480 87.108 886.208 72 44
117,849 27,860 68,864 204.063 60 50
188,663 64,022 92,808 296,879 67 11
19,411 6.487 8,171 84,069 61 76
78,896 28,692 28.928 181,411 68 98
67,788 20,060 22.666 100,468 86 97
109,129 20,494 221,080 860,708 86 48
148,866 98,898 682,762 780,016 84 3S
89,696 10,621 146.816 197,082 91 82
68,193 22,790 111,862 187,886 70 10
68,786 21,676 177,686 252,947
81,409 118,478 272,479 472.866
69,641 9.248 240.488 809,877
20,948 6,228 98,480 120.661
$2,874,874 $1,166,668 $2,728,264 $6,769,296 $66 68
Net
Names of railways. Income
from
freight
New York Central $1,179,642
New York and Erie.
Hudson River
Harlem
Ogdensburg
Buffalo, Cornine and New York.
Watertown and Rome
Baffiilo and New York City . . . .
Boeton and Worcer^ter
Wet<tem
Boston and Providence
Boston and Lowell
Old Colony and Fall River.
Fitchburg
Boston and Maine
Eastern
1,682.482
127,987
188.248
144,766
21,107
91,886
16,400
64,796
144,967
17.662
79,917
Total,
Names of raUwaya.
New York Central
New York and Erie
Hudson River
Harlem
Ogdensburg
Bufidlo, Cominff and New York.
Watertown and Rome
Buffalo and New York City
Boston and Worcester
Western
Boston and Providence
Boston and Lowell
Old Colony and Fall River
Fitchburg
Boeton and Maine
Eastern
$8,666,168
Net
Income
from
freight
eaoh
mile ran.
$0 99
1 16
0 46
0 62
64
88
94
26
26
22
16
68
Rates of
net Income
from
freight
per cent.
$47 67
49 98
27 66
89 60
82 89
88 25
41 02
14 08
18 62
16 67
8 18
29 90
Receipts Expense
from offre%ht
(Veigbt each
each mile mile
run.
$2 07
2 80
$1 08
1 16
67
82
64
00
29
76
88
40
98
12
14
76
1 88
1 28
21
80
10
62
85
61
63
18
77
49
48
12
95
Total.
$0 66
$34 47
Receipts
from
freight
per ton
carried
one mile.
cents.
8.066
2.676
2.668
8.877
2.286
8.022
2.717
2.841
8.868
2.865
4.146
8.260
6.727
8.293
8.245
8.640
2.870
1 47
$1 92 $1 26
Net In-
come fk^m
freight
per too
otrrtad
one mile.
Expenses
of freight
per ton
carried
one
mile,
cents.
1.602
1.290
1.868
2.042
1.601
1.866
1.608
2.442
2.909
2.416
8.807
2.278
6.610
8.979
8.8«2
4.165
1.880 0.990
1.468
1.286
0.706
1.884
0.786
1.166
1.114
0.399
0.464
0.449
0.889
0.972
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Baiiroad, Canal, and Steamboat StatisHes. 243
0CBA9 AID IILAID 8TBAHBR8 OUT OF THE PORT OF HEW YORK.
MVIIBSB m.
"THE METROPOLIS."
In the Jane (1855) number of our magazine we commenced a new leriee of descrip-
tions of the first class steamers out of New York. In that number we spoke of the
** Commonwealth " and of the Norwich route to Boeton, Worcester, and Northern and
Eastern New England, to which that elegant steamer belongs. In the last (Julj)
number we described the beautiful ** Plymouth Rock,** of the Stonington line to Bos-
ton, and briefly referred to the history of that route.
Early in June the proprietors of the Bay State Line between New York and
Boston, by way of Newport and Fall River, brought out their queenly boat, the
** Metropolis," which had been for some time announced, and of which partial descrip-
tions had been given.
This is certainly a most remarkable steamer, and is entitled to special notice at our
hands. She ia undoubtedly the largest boat now running; her machinery is the most
masaive and powerful ever made. In the construction of her hull and boilers she
differs materially from all others, and in some respects has no equal For strength,
speed, safety, and in the extent and convenience, as well as elegance of her accom-
modations, she is not surpassed. The utmost care and most liberal expenditure of
money has been bestowed upon her. The cost, which was about three hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, is a sufiicient proof that no expense has been spared to make
her everything that is desirable in a steamboat
She has now been nmning for several weeks, and her qualities have been fully
tested, and in no respect has she failed to satisfy the most sanguine expectations
Her hull was built by Mr. Samuel Sneeden at Qreenpoint, and is much admired for
its beautiful proportions and graceful lines. She is 2,108 tons burden; 847 feet in
length ; 16 feet depth of hold ; 47 feet breadth of beam ; and 82 feet over the guards.
She has 7 kelsons of immense size. Her saloon deck extends over her whole sise, and
the side timbers, which are canied up to meet it, are braced in the same manner as
the first class seagoing steamers, with upwards of 60 tons of iron bars. These cross
each other diagonally, and are bolted together, giving her great strength, and dis-
pensing with the unsightly hog-frame which disfigures most other steamboats. She
has 98 state rooms, many of them with wide berths, and doors communicating for the
convenience of families ; they are arranged two tiers deep on each side, leaving be-
tween them a spacious and elegant saloon, richly and tastefully decorated and fur-
nished ; comfortable sleeping accommodations for 800 persons can be supplied. The
engine was made by Messrs. Stillman, Allen <fe Co., at the Novelty Works, and is con-
sidered their master-piece. It is a beam engine of 200 horse- power, and works with the
most perfect ease.
The cylinder is 105 inches in diameter, with a twelve-feet stroke. Before it was
placed in her, a horse and buggy were driven through it; a party of twenty-two per-
sons dined in it ; one hundred and ^ve men stood in it at one time. Its great sise
gives it a large increase of power, with a low pressure of steam. Twenty-five pounds
to the square inch being the full working pressure, this is twenty pounds less than is
carried on the usual plan.
The wheels are of wrought-iron, 42 feet in diameter ; the working beam weighs 24
tons, and the shafU 25 tons each. She has 4 separate boilers, with 8 furnaces, and
b fitted with vertical brass tubes like the Collins steamers— the only river or Sound
boat upon this plan. With such extraordinary motive powers, it was of course ex-
pected she would be Cut, and in this respect she has surpassed all expectation, having
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244 RaUroad^ Canal^ and Steamboat StatuHce.
made the pMsage from New York to ?^ BiTer (188 miles) in 8 bonra and 46 min-
ntes — ^ayeraging over 20 miles an hour for the whole distance. Such steamboat traT-
eling has rarely been equaled, and almost comes up to railroad speed
Id regard to safety, every precaution has been taken to guard against accident ; she
has a full supply of anchors, cables, the most apim)ved pumps, fire engines and hose^
and buckets of water distributed throughout the boat. She carries ten of Francis's
Patent Metallic Lifeboats of large size, and so arranged that they can all be launched
with safety in fifteen minutes. In addition to these, tin life-preservers are placed in
every state-room and berth.
Of her commander, Captain Brown, it is unnecessary to speak. Twenty years of
experience on Long Island Sound, and for the last seven in the Bay State, have estab-
lished his reputation with the public All the officers and eng^eers are men of
great experience and the highest capability for their duties. In the steward's de-
partment, the high character of the line is fully sustained. All her linens, damask
table-cloths, and napkins, sheets, pillow-cases, dbc^ were made at the new American
Linen Manufactory, at Fall River — (of this establishment we shall speak hereafter.)
In her entire construction, and in all her arrangements and appomtments, it is be-
lieved she is as nearly perfect and complete as she can be.
To the enterprise and liberality of the owners of this line — among whom the presi-
dent, Col. Richard Borden, Jefferson Borden, Esq., and Dr. Durfee, are the most prom-
inent, and especially to the great experience, large views, sound judgment, and devoted
attention of the former, the public are greatly indebted for this splendid specimen of
naval architecture, so creditable to our country. It is but a few years since the Fall
River line was first established and under circumstances calculated to discourage leea
enterprising and far-seeing parties than its proprietors. There were already several
lines k>etween New York and Boston of long standing and high reputation, and to
compete with them was deemed so rash that but few would engage in it ; but by
building and placing upon it such splendid boats as the Bay State and Empire State»
under such commanders as Cometock and Brown, its advantages soon became known,
its popularity was established, and has been most successfully sustained.
To the Boston traveler, or those going further East, this line is a great convenience,
as it afibrds them a comfortable night's rest, and enables them to arrive in Boston in
time for an early breakfast, or to take the morning cars on the Eastern railroads. New
Bedford, Nantucket, Fall River, and all the numerous thriving towns in the southeast-
em part of Massachusetts, have been benefited by this line, as it gives them a direct
and easy communication with New York and the South. But to Newport it has been
of incalcq^able advantage, by the facility of reaching it whidi has been given to the
wealthy citizens of New York and Boston, and which has induced them to build sum-
mer residences at this delightful watering place, thus increasing many-fold the valoe
of its real estate.
AGRICULTURE AND RAILROADS.
From an address before the North Carolina Agricultural Society, recently delivered
by the Hon. Kenneth Ratner, we select the following remarks : —
** One of the most striking manifestations of the industrial enterprise of the age is the
struggle man is now engaged in, with the obstacles presented by nature — in opening
diannels of communication, in laying down the pathways of trade and Commerce, in
fioneering the way for the iron rail and steam-engine. The vast stores of the Incae of
'eru dwindled into insignificance compared with the hundred of millions that hav«
been expended in these monuments of human industry in the United States, in Ei^^-
land, in France ; and their march is onward toward the steppes of Asia. In their ooo-
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Bailroadj Oanaly and Steamboat Statistics, 246
■tnicUoD mao bas achieved ▼ictories over the elements, of which Archimedes never
dhreamt It was the boast of Napoleon, that while Hannibal had scaled the Alps, he
had tmned them — but the engineer has done more than either of these great cooqaer^
ors ; he has tunneled them — not for the march of desolating armies, but for the tran-
sit of the products of the pursuits of peace— for the conveyance of the traveler in
comfort and safety, beneath the roaring avalanche above his head. And what are rail-
roads, but the veins and arteries through which the products of agriculture, either in
their crude state or as fashioned in the workshop, circulate, in seeking the markets of
Commerce. While railroads are dependent upon the products of agriculture, yet the
two are inseparably identified in mterest They act and react on each other. It is
upon the productions of the field and the workshop the railroad must rely for the ma-
terials of freight, the yery means of subsistence. But then again, the construction of
the railroad, by the benefits conferred, in contiguity to market, cheapening the cost of
transportation, increased convenience in procuring the comforts and luxuries of life,
afibros a stimulus to the landowner to improve his land to the highest capability of
production ; and as the products of the land are increased, the railroad finds increased
employment, and enhanced profits. This is no mere theory. Experience has every
where proven it to be true. It is a mistake then to suppose — a mistake in which the
farmers of South Carolina indulged for many years, to an almost fatal extent— that
it is the speculator and the capitalist^ who are principally interested in the construc-
tion of railroads and the advancement of internal improvement. Until within a
very few years, the farmers of ^is State supposed, and aemagognes found it to their
interest to foster the delusion, that the only inUrett the farmer had in works of inter-
nal improvement^ was the interett on the 3tate debt caused by their constructioo.
But the diffusion of intelligence, and the teachings of experience, have proven that
productive labor, after suppTviog the producer's immediate wants, are valueless with-
oat markets in which to sell ; and that markets are valueless without the means of
reaching them."
THE ST. CLAIR FLATS AND LAKE NAVIOATfOIV.
A committee of the Buffalo Board of Trade, appointed to inquire into the amount
of looses sustained by owners of vessels whidi have been detained on the St. Olair
Plats during the last season of navigation, have recently made a report, from which
we gather the following facts : —
The number of steamers engaged in the carrying trade of the Upper Lakes,
and passing the St Olair Flats, having a total tannage of tons 6,880
Komber of propellers, forty-four, of 21,789
Total steam tonnage. 28,649
The vessels have paid for lighterage, including expenses of same during
time detained, and for damages by collisions whUe aground on the Flats,
the sum of $208,000.
There are also of sail vessels engaged in the same trade :—
Thirty-two barks of tons 12,284
Eighty-four brigs of 21,757
O^ hundred and ninety-eight schooners of 48,828
Total sail 82,824
These vessels, the committee estimate, have paid out, during the season of
1864, for—
Towing and lighterage • • • $168,686 66
Time detained, 6,6«6 days 220,640 00
Damage for repairs by collisions, Ac 62,800 00
Total sail damage $462,126 66
Total steam 208,000 00
Total damage $660,126 66
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246 Baiiroc^, Ccmal^amd Steamboat StatUticB.
OPERATIONS OF THE MASSACflUSETTS RAILROADS.
We publiebed io the Merchantt' Magazine for April, 1855, (voL zxxii., pages 608-4,)
our ueual tabular statement of the operations of the railroads of Massachusetts in
1854, carefully compiled from teturos of the diiFerent corporations. The roads, how-
ever, embraced in our tables, were only those actually running, and the totals and av-
erages, therefore, do not apply to the entire railway system of the State. The returns
of the different companies to the Legislature in 1853 and 1864 show the following
facts:—
ISiJ. ISM.
Number of companies 68 54
Aggregate length of roads in miles 1,416.92 1,458.27
Aggregate capital $60,779,900 $61,605,100
Anoount paid in 48,025,870 50,285,277
The aggregate cost 61,778,696 65,601,766
The total eammge 8,976,441 9,978,877
Funded and floating debts 17.718.244 21,246,849
Surplus earnings on hand 1,686,295 1,406,256
We give below a few of the leading items for 1854, of the thirty-nine roads in ac-
tual operation, so that a comparison may be made with the operation of the three
preceeding years : —
I8U. 18a 18St. 18M.
Number of railways 86 86 40 89
Miles of road and branches . 1,160 1,150 1,192 1,262
Of douUe track and sidings.. 884 407 626 439
Gross cost $62,695,288 $68,076,018 $66,848,652 $69,080,460
Average cost per mile 46,666 46,158 46,488 46,783
Gross receipts 6,690,670 6,886,517 7,994,088 8,696,261
Gross expenses 8,888,906 8,078,410 4,882,769 6,485,767
Net income 8,860,671 8,212,107 8,661,277 8,260,494
Aver, net income p. c on cost 6 20 6 06 6 61 6 62
Gross number of miles run. • 4,898,870 4,786,768 6,260,892 6,681,014
Aver, receipts per mile run . 1 60 1 44 1 62 1 57
Aver, expenses per mile run . 0 76 0 77 0 82 0 90
Aver, net income per mile run 0 74 0 67 0 70 0 59
Gross receipts per mile. 6,780 07 6,987 82 6,706 40 6,890 86
No.of passengers carried... 9,510,858 9,810,066 11,668,992 12,892,708
Bo. carried one mile 152,916,188 161,694,556 186,216,718 194,158,802
Tons of merchandise carried. 2,260,846 2,568,277 8,041,782 8,767,630
Do. carried one mile 70,205,310 77,639,247 95,986,832 104,683,043
TRANSPORTATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAIL BT OCEAN STEAMERS.
The following is an abstract of the bill for the transportation of the U. S. Mail by
Ocean Steamships, and otherwise, during the fiscal year, 1866-66, which passed at the
Second Session of the Thirty-third Congress :
The bill appropriates for the transportation of the mails from New York to Liver-
pool and back, $858,000; and the proviso contained in the first section of an Act en-
titled ** An Act to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the fiscal
jear ending 30th of June, 1862," is repealed, provided that Edward E. Collins and his
associates shall proceed with all due diligence to build another steamship in accord-
ance with the terms of the contract, and have the same ready for mail service in two
years from and after the passage of this bill ; and if the said steamship be not ready
within the time above mentioned, by reason of any neglect or want of diligence on
their part, then the said Edward fe. Collins and his associates shall carry the
United States mails between New York and Liverpool, from the expiration of the
said two years, every fortnight firee of any charge to the Government, until the new
steamship shall have commenced the said mail service. The bill also appropriates kit
transporUtion of the mails from New York to New Orleans, Charleston, Savannah,
Havana, and Chagres and back, $261,000 ; for transportation of the mails firom Pana-
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JRaUrocd, Ccmal, and Steamboai StaiUHes. 24Y
HM to Oaliibniia, and Oregon and back, $828,860 ; and for carrying out the contract
entered into bj the Poet Office Department under the provieton of the act approved
on the 80tb of August, 1852, establishing a tri-monthly mail hj steam vessels between
New Orleans and vera Cruz yia Tampico, $69,760 ; and it uirther appropriates for
the trtinsportation of the mails in two steamships from New York by Oowes and
Havre, and back, at $75,000 for each ship, under the contract with the Ocean Steam
Navigation Company of New York, $850,000. For transportation of the mails be-
tween Charleston and Havana, a sum not exceeding $50,000 ; and for the transporta-
tion of the maila across the Isthmus of Panama, $150,000.
BAILROAD AID STEAMBOAT ACCIDENTS III THE UNITED STATES.
ftAILEOAD ACOIDKNTS.
The following table shows the number of accidents, together with the number of
killed and wounded, which have occurred on the various railroads in the United States
during the past year, together with a comparative table of the number during 1858.
The table contains a record of no accident which was not attended with loss of life
or injury to individuals ; neither does it embrace the great number of persons who
have been killed and maimed by jumping from moving trains, attempting to get oo
cars while in motion, being run over, dtc. : —
, 18SI. , , 18§| ,
Aeeldents. Killed. Woonded. Ace. Killed. Winded.
January 12 26 40 20 12 25
February 6 6 11 19 11 87
March U 24 62 18 18 99
April 4 25 64 18 5 87
May 8 54 49 9 6 48
June 5 6 19 14 18 84
July 11 8 22 11 44 66
August 14 86 96 27 28 25
Sfptember 18 14 40 9 8 51
October 19 18 41 16 12 41
NoTember 19 11 82 21 29 96
December 8 7 89 14 11 87
ToUl 188 284 496 198 186 589
BTBAMBOAT ACCIDENTS.
The following table embraces the number of steamboat accidents which have oc-
curred oo the rivers, lakes, and bays of this country, and which have been attended
with loss of life and injury to persons during the year 1864, together with the num-
ber of killed and wounded. We also give a comparative table of like accidents which
hsppened in 1858: —
^ 185J. , , 18H. s
Aooidents. Killed. Woanded. Aec Killed. Wnded.
January 4 26 88 8 180 20
February 1 120 .. 6 67 26
March 8 80 17 6 165 26
April 8 58 21 6 56 69
May None. .. .. 8 24 4
June 4 19 17 1 1 1
July «..• 17 2 None.
August 2 2 5 4 22 18
8«-ptember 8 8 14 4 28 6
Oitober 4 18 23 8 48 5
November «.. 8 18 ' 10 6 26 65
December 8 18 16 2 27
Total 81 819 158 48 587 225
This shows a frightful increase of all our figures, and admonishes us to ask where
and when will it stop. The idea of five hundred and eighty-seven human beings be-
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248 CommercUil EegulaHoM.
ing sent prematarely io their long home, in ooe year, by oolliiioD and exploaon, oa
oar inland waters, is too heart-rending to contemplate. We will leave it for those
most interested to think of, and if they can to provide a remedy.
COMMERCIAL REGULAlTIONS.
THE CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS IBT STEAAISfllPS AND OTHER VESSELS.
We publish below, an act passed at the Second Session of the Thirty-third Oongresa
of the United States, and approved March 8d, 1855 :
AN ACT TO RVGULATB THE OABRIAGE OP PASSENGICaS IN STEAMSHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representaihea of the United Statea of
America in Congress assembled, That no master of any vessel owned in whole or in
part by a citizen of the United States, or by a citizen of any foreign country, shall
take on board such vessel, at any foreign port or place, other than foreign contiguous
territory of the United States, a greater number of passengers than in proportion of
one to every two tons of such vessel, not including children under the age of one year
in the computation, and computing two children over one and under eight years of age
as one passenger. That the spaces appropriated for the use of such passengers, and
which shall not be occupied by stores or other goods not the personal baggage of such
passengers, shall be in the following proportions, viz : On the main and poop decks or
platforms and in the deck houses, if tbere be any, one passenger for each sixteen clear
superficial feet of deck, if the height or distance between the decks or platform shall
not be less than six feet ; and on the lowest deck, (not bein^ an orlop deck) if any,
one passenger for eighteen such clear superficial feet, if the height or distance between
the decks or platforms shall not be less than six feet, but so as that no passenger shall
be carried on anv other deck or platform, nor upon any deck where the height or dis-
tance between the decks is less than six feet, with intent to brin? such passengers to
the United States, and shall leave such port or place and bring the same, or any num-
ber thereof, within the jurisdiction of the United States ; or if any such master of any
vessel shall take on board his vessel, at any port or place within the jurisdiction of the
United States, any greater number of passengers tnan in the proportion aforesaid to
the space aforesaid, or to the tonnage aforesaid, with intent to carry the same to any
foreign port or place other than foreign contiguous territory fis aforesaid, every such
master shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, before
any circuit or district court of the United States, shall, for each passenger taken on
board beyond the linut aforesaid, or the space aforesaid, be fined in the sum of fifty
dollars, and may also be imprisoned, at the discretion of the judge before whom tho
penalty shall be recovered, not exceeding six months ; but should it be necessary for
the safety or convenience of the vessel, that any portion of her cargo or any other ar-
ticles, or article, should be placed on, or stored in any of the decks, cabins, or other
places appropriated to the use of passengers, the same may be placed in lockers or
mdosures prepared for the purpose, on an exterior surface impervious to the wave,
capable of bemg cleansed in like manner as the decks or platforms of the vesseL In
no case, however, shall the places thus provided be deemed to be a part of the space
allowable for the use of passengers, but the same shall be deducted therefrom, and in
all cases where prepared or^used, the upper surface of said lockers or inclosed spaces
shall be deemed and taken to be the deck or platform fi^m which measurement shidi
be made for all the purposes of this act It is also provided that ooe hospital in the
spaces appropriated to passengers, and separate therefrom by an appropriate parti-
tion, and furnished as its purposes require, may be prepared, and wImu used, may be
included in the space allowable for passengers, but the same shall not occupy more
than one hundred superficial feet of deck or platform : Provided, That on board two
deck ships, where the height between the decks is 7^* feet or more,- fourteen clear
superficial feet of deck shidl be the proportion required for each passenger.
Sxa 2. And be it further enacted, That no such vessel shall have more than two
tiers of berths, and the interval between the lowest part thereof and the deck or plat-
form beneath shall not be less than nine inches, and the berths shall be well constroot-
ed, parallel with the sides of the vessel, and separated from each other by partitions,
as berths ordinarily are separated, and shall be at least six feet io length and at least
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two fieet m width, and each berth Bhall be ooeopied bj do more than one passenger ;
bat double berths of twice the abore width may be constnicted, each berth to be oo-
eopied by no more, and by no other, than two women, or bj one woman and two chil-
dren nnder the age of eiffnt years, or by husband and wire, or by a man and two of
hU own ■children under uie age of eight years, or by two men members of the same
fiunOy ; and if there sliall be any Tiolation of this section In any of its provisions, then
the master of the vessel and the owners thereof shall severally forfeit and pay the
com of fiv^ dollars for each passenger oo board of said vessel on snch voyage, to be
recovered hy the United States in any port where such vessel may arrive or depart
8aa 8. And he it fwriher enacted. That all vessels, whether of the United States
or any foreign country, having sufficient capacity or space according to law for fifty
or more passengers (other than cabin passengers) shall, when employed in transport-
ing such passengers between the Unit«Ki States and Europe, have, on the upper aeok,
for the use of such passengers, a house over the passage way leading to the apart-
ments allotted to such passengers below deck, firmly secured to the deck or combings
of the hatch, with two doors, the silb of which shall be at least one foot above the
deck, so constructed that one door or window in such house may at all times be left
open for ventilation ; and all vessels so employed, and havinc^ the capacity to carry one
hundred and fifty passengers or more, shall have two such nouses ; and the stairs or
ladder leading down to the aforesaid appartment shall be furnished with a hand-rail
of wood or strong rope ; but booby hatcnes may be substituted for such houses.
8aa 4. And be it further enacted. That every such vessel so employed, and having
the legal capacity for more than one hundred such passengers, shall have at least two
ventilators to purify the apartment or apartments occupied by such passengers ; one
of which shall be inserted in the after part of the apartment or apartments, and the
other shall be placed in the forward portion of the apartment or apartments, and one
of them shall nave an exhausting cap to carry off the foul air, and the other a receiving
cap to carry down the fresh air ; which said ventilators shall have a capacity propor-
tioned to the size of the apartment or apartments to be purified, namely : if the apart-
ment or apartments will lawfully authorize the reception of two hundred such passen-
gers, the cafMicity of such ventilators shall each be equal to a tube of twelve inches
diameter in the clear, and in proportion for larger or smaller apartments; and all said
ventilators shall rise at least four feet six inches above the upper deck of any such
vessel, and be of the most approved form and construction ; but if it shall appear,
from the report to be made and approved, as hereinafter provided, that such vessel is
equally well ventilated by any other means, such other means of ventilation shall be
deemed and held to be a compliance with the provisions of this section.
Sxa 6. And be it further enacted. That every vessel carrying mora than fifty
such passengers shall have for their use on deck, housed and conveniently arrans^ed, at
least one camboose or cooking range, the dimensions of which shall be equal to four
feet long and one foot six in(mee wide for every two hundred passengers ; and provis-
ions shall be made in the manner aforesaid, in this ratio, for a greater or less number
of paaseogers ; but nothing herein contained shall take away the right to make such
arrangements for cooking between decks, if that shall be deemed desirable.
Sea 6. And be it further enacted, That all vesseb employed as aforesaid shall
have on board, for the use of such passtsn^ers, at the time of leaving the last port
whence such vessel shall sail, well secured under deck, for each passenger, at least
twenty pounds of good navy breafl, fifteen pounds of rice, fifteen pounds of oatmeal,
ten pounds of wheat flour, fifteen pounds of peas and beans, twenty pounds of potatoes,
one pint of vinegar, sixty gallons of fresh water, ten pounds of salt beef, free of bone,
all to be of good Quality ; but at places where either rice, oatmeal, wheat fiour, or peas
and beans cannot be procured, of good quality, and on reasonable terms, the quantity
of either or any of the other last named articles may be increased and substituted
therefor ; and, in case potatoes cannot be procured on reasonable terms, one pound of
either of said articles may be substituted in lieu of five pounds of potatoes ; and the
captains of such vessels shall deliver to each passenger at least one-tenth part of the
aforesaid provisions weekljr, commenorog on the day of sailing, and at least three
quarts of watei daily ; and if the passengers on board of any such vessel in which the
provisions, and water herein required shall not have been provided as aforesaid, shall
at any time be put on short allowance during any voyage, the master or owner of any
such vessel shall pay to each and every passenger who shall have been put on short
allowance, the sum of three dollars for each and ever^r day they may have been put on
slort aUowanee, to be recovered in the circuit or district court of the United States ;
and it shall be the duty of the captain or master of every such ship or vessel, to cause
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250 Commercial BeguiatuMi.
the food and proTisioDs of all the paseengera to be well aad properly cooked daily aad
to be eerved out and distributed to them at regular and Ktated hours by messes, or io
such other manner as shall be deemed best and most conducive to the health and com-
fort, of ench passengers, of which hours and manner of distribution, due and sufficienl
notice shall be given. If the captain or master of any such ship or vessel shall will-
fully fail to fumi(h and distribute such provie>ions cooked as aforesaid, he fhall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof before any circuit or dis-
trict court of the United States, shall be fined not more than one thou!>and dollars and
shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year : Providedt That the enforce-
ment of this penalty shall not affect the civil responsibility of the captain or master
and owners, to such passengers as may have suffered from said de&uli
Sec 7. And be it further enacted. That the captain of any such vessel so employed
is hereby authoriaed to maintain good discipline and such habits of cleanliness anoong
such passengers as will tend to the preservation and promotion of health ; and to that
end he shall cau^e such regulations as he may adopt for this purpose to be posted up,
before sailing, on board such vessel, in a place accessible to such passengers, and shall
keep the same so posted up during the voysee ; and it is hereby made the duty of
said captain to cause the apartments occupied by such passengers to be kept at all
times in a clean, healthy state, and the owners of every such vessel so employed are
required to construct the decks, and all parts of said apartment, so that it can be
thoroughly cleansed ; and they shall also provide a safe, convenient privy or water-
closet for the exclusive use of every one hundred such passengers. And when the
weather is such that said passengers cannot be mustered on deck with their bedding,
it (hall be the duty of the captain of every such vessel to cause the deck occupied by
such passengers to be cleansed with chloride of lime, or some other equally efficient
dlsiufeciiog agent, and also at such other times as said captain may deem necessary.
Sec 8. And be it further enacted. That the master and owner or owners of any
such vessel eo employed, which shall not be provided with the bouse or houses over
the pasffige-ways, as prescribed in the third section of this chapter, or with ventila*
tors, as prescribed in the fourth section of this chapter, or with the cambooses or cook-
ing ranges, with the houses over them, as prescribed in the fifth section of this chap-
ter, shall Feverally forfeit and pay to the United States the sum of two hundred dollars
for each and every violation of, or neglect to conform to, the provisions of each of said
sections ; and fifty dollars for each and every neglect or violation of any of the pro-
visions of the seventh section of this chapter, to be recovered by suit in any circuit or
district court of the United States, within the jurisdiction of which the said vessel
may arrive, or from which she may be about to depart, or at an^ place within the ju-
risdiction of such courts, wherever the owner or owners or captam of such vessel ooay
be found.
Sic. 9. And be it further enacted. That the collector of the customs at any port of
the United States at which any vessel so employed shall arrive, or from which any
such vessel shall be about to depart, shall appoint and direct one or more of the in>
spectors of the customs for such port to examine such vessel, and report, in writing,
to such collector, whether the requirements of law have been complied with in respect
to such vessel ; and if such report shall state .such compliance, and shall be approved
by such collector, it shall be deemed and held ab prima facie evidence thereof.
Seo. 10. And be it further enacted, That the provisions, requisitions, penalties, and
liens of this act, relatmg to the space in vessels appropriated to the use of passengers,
are hereby extended and made applicable to all spaces appropHriated to the use of
steerage passengers in vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and navigating
from, to, and between the ports, and in manner as in this act named, and to sudi ves-
sels aud to the masters thereof; and so much of the act entitled, ** An act to amend
an act entitled ' An act to provide for the better security of the lives of passengers
on board of vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and for other purposes,*"
approved August thirtieth, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, as conflicts with this act,
b hereby repealed ; and the space appropriated to the use of steerage passengers in
vessels so as above propelled and navigated, is hereby subject to the supervision and
inspection of the collector of the customs at any port of the United States at which
any such vessel shall arrive, or from which she shall be about to depart ; and the sanoe
shall be examined and reported in the same manner, and by the same officers, by the
next preceding section directed to examine and report.
Sxo. U. And be it further enacted, That the vessels botmd from any port in the
United States to any port or place in the Pacific Ocean, or on its tributaries, or from
toy such port or place to any port in the United States on the Atlantic or its tribu-
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Cmnmereial B^ulaUom, t51
taries, shsll be Bobject io the ibregoing provisiotis reguktiDir the carriage of pameo-
gera in merchaot vessels, except so much as relates to proTisioos and water; bat the
owners and masters of all sucb vessels shall in all cases foroUb to earh passenger the
daily supply of water therein mentioned; and the^ shall furnish a sufficient supply of
good and wholesome food, properly cooked ; and m case they shall fail so to do, or
aball provide unwholesome or unsuitable provisions, they shall be subject to the pen-
alty provided in the sixth section of this chapter, io case the passengers are put on
ehort allowance of water or provisions.
Sac. 12. And he U further enacted. That the captain or master of any phip or vessel
arriving in the United States, or any of the territories thereof, from any foreign place
whatever, at the same time that he delivers a manifest of the cargo, and if there be
no cargo, then at the time of making report or entry of the ship or vessel, pursuant
to law, shall also deliver and report to the collector of the district io which such ship
or vessel shall arrive a list or manifest of all the paMcngere taken on board of the
aaid ship or vessel at any foreign port or place; in which list or manifest it shall be
the duty of the said master to de-<<ignate, particularly, the age, sex. and occupation of
the said passengers, respectivelv, the part of the vessel occupied by each during the
voyage, the country to which they severally belong, and of that of which it is their
mtention to become inhabitants ; and shall further set forth whether any, and what
number, have died on the voyage ; which list or manifest shall be sworn to by the
aaid master, in the same manner as directed by law in relation to the manifest of the
cajgo, and the refusal or neglect of the master aforesaid to comply with the provii^ions
of this section, or any part thereof, shall incur the same penalties, disabilities, and for-
feitures as are provided for a refusal or neglect to report and deliver a manifest of the
cargo aforesaid.
Saa 18. And be it further enacted. That each and every collector of the customs,
to whom such manifest or list of pa&sengers as aforesaid shall be^elivered, shall quar-
ter-yearly return copies thereof to the Secretary of SUte of the United States, by
whom statements of the same shall be laid before Congress at each and every session.
Sxa 14. And be it further enacted. That in case there shall have occurred on baird
any ship or vessel arriving at any port or place wiUiin Ihe United States or its terri-
tones, any death pr deaths among the passengers, (other than cabin passengers,) the
the master, or captain, or owner, or consignee, of such ship or vessel, shall within
twenty-four hours after the time within which the report and list or manifest of pas-
sengers, mentioned in section twelve of -this act, is required to be delivered to the col-
lector of the customs, pay to the said collector the sum of ten dollars for each and
every passenger above the age of eight jears who shall have died on the voyage by
natural disease ; and the said collector shall pay the money thus received at such
times and in sucb manner as the Secretary of the Treasury by general rules shall di-
rect, to any board or commission appointed by and acting under the authority of the
State within which the port where such ship or vessel arrived is situated, for the care
and protection of sick, indigent, or destitute emigrants, to be applied to the objects of
(heir appointment, and if there be more than one board or commission who shall claim
such payment, the Secretary of the Treasury, for the time being, shall dietermine
which is entitled to receive the same, and his decision in the premises shall be final
and without appeal Provided, that the payment shall in no case be awarded or made
to any board, or commission, or association formed for the protection or advancement
of any particular class of immigranta, or emigrants of anv particular nation or creed,
and if the master, captain, owner, or consignee of any ship or vessel refuse or neglect
to pay to the collector the sum and fums of money required, and within the time pre-
scribed by this section, he or they shall severally forfeit and pay the sum of fifty dol-
lars in addition to such sum of ten dollars for each and every passenger upon wboee
death the same has become payable, to be recovered by the United States in any cir-
cuit or district court of the United States where soch vessel may arrive, or such mas-
ter, captain, owner, or consignee may reside ; and when recovered, the said money
shall be disposed of in the same manner as is directed with respect to the sum and
sums required to be paid to the collector of customs.
Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That the amonnt of the several penalties im-
posed by the foregoing provisions regulating the carriage of passengers in merchant
vessels, shall be liens on the vessel or vessek violating those provisions, and such ves-
sel or vessels shall be libeled therefor in any circuit or district court of the United
States where such vessel or vessels shall arrive.
Bso. 16. And be it further enacted. That all and every vessel or vessels which shall
or may be employed by the American Colonization Society, or the Colonisation Socio-
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953 Commercial Eegulatums.
t J of any State, to traDsport, and which shall actually transport, from any port or
ports of the United States to any colony or colonies on the west coast of Africa, col-
ored emigrants to reside (here, shall be and the same are hereby subjected to the ope-
ration of the foregoing proyisions regolating the carriage of passengers in merchant
vessels.
Sec. 17. And he it further enacted^ That the collector of the customs shall examine
each emigrant ship or vessel on its arrival at \A^ port, and ascertain and report to the
Secretary of the Treasury at the time of sailing, the length of the voyage, the ven-
tilation, the number of passengers, their space on board, their food, the native country
of the emigrants, the number of deaths, the age and sex of those who died during the
voyage, together with his opinion of the cause of the mortality, if any, on board, and
if none, what precautionary measures, arrangements, or habits, are supposed to have
had any, and what, agency in caueins the exemptioa
Sec. 18. And he it further enacted. That Uiis act shall take effect, with respect to
vessels sailing from ports in the United States on the eastern side of the continent,
within thirty days from the time of its approval ; and with respect to vessels sailing
from ports m the United States on the western side of the continent, and from ports
in Europe, within sixty days from the time of its approval ; and with respect to ves-
sels saihng from ports in other parts of the world, within six months from the time of
its approval.
And it is hereby made the duty of the Secretary of State to give notice, in the
ports of Europe and elsewhere, of this act, in such manner as he shall deem proper.
Sec. 19. And he it further enacted. That from and after the time that this act shall
take effect with respect to any vessels, then in respect to such vessels, the act of 2d
March, eighteen hundred and nineteen, entitled ** An act regulatinff passenger ships
and vessels;*' the act of twenty second of February, eighteen hundred and forty-seren,
entitled ** An act to regulated the carriage of passengers in merchant vessels ; the act
of second March, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, entitled " An act to amend an act
entitled * An act to regulate the carriage of passengers in merchant vessels/ and to
determine the time when said act shall take effect ;" the act of thirty-first January,
eighteen hundred and fortyei^hi, entitled **An act exempting vessels employed t^
the American Colonization Society in transporting colored emigrants from the United
States to the coast of Africa fVora the provisions of the acts of the twenty-second Feb-
ruary and second of March, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, regulating the carriage
of passengers in merchant vessels ;** the act of seventeenth May, eighteen hundred and
forty-eight, entitled ** An act to provide for the ventillation of passengers vessels, and
for other purposes; and the act of third March, eighteen hundred and forty-nine, en-
titled " An act to extend the provisions of all laws now in force relating to the carriage
of passengers in merchant vessels, and the regulation thereof," are hereby repealed ;
but nothing in this act contained shall in any wise obstruct or prevent the prosecution,
recovery, distribution, or remission of any fines, penalties, or forfeitures which may
have been incurred in respect to any vessels prior to the d^ this act goes into effect,
in respect to such vessels, under the laws hereby repealed, for which purpose the said
laws shall continue in force.
But the Secretary of the Treasury may, in his discretion, and upon such conditions
as he shall think proper, discontinue any such prosecutions, or remit or modify such
penalties.
OF THE SALE OF PRODUCTS OF THE UJHTED STATES IfiT NEW ORLEANS.
At the last session of the Legislature of Looiaiana the following act was passed
relative to the sale of agricultural products of the United States sold in the city of
New Orleans. This act, repealing all acts contrary to its provisions, was approved
March 16th, 1856, and is now in force: —
AN ACT BKLATIVB TO PRIVILSaES.
Sia 1. That any person who may sell the agricultural products of the United
States in the city of Jnew Orleans, snail be entitled to a special lien and privilege
thereon, to secure the payment of the purchase money, for and during the space of
five days only, after the day of delivery ; within which time the vendor shall be enti-
tled to seize the same, in whatsoever hands or place it may be found, and his claim
lor the purchase money shall have preference over all others. If the vendor gives a
written order for the ((elivery of any such produce, and shall say therein that it is to
be delivered without vendors privilege, then no lien shall attach thereto.
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Journal of Bankin^f Cumncy^ and Finance,
25$
PURGB18E OF MUIGBBSHT SHIPS BT HEUTRALS.
1. Acfordiog to the law of nations, neutrals bare the mht to purchase during war,
the property of bellij^rents, whether ships or anything eke ; and any regulation of a
particular State which contravenes this doctrine is against public law, and in mere
derogation of the sovereign authority of all other independent States.
2. A citisen of the United States may at this time lawfully purchase a Russian
merchant ship, of either of the belligerents, Turkey, Russia, Great Britain, France, or
Sardinia ; if purchased bonafidf, such ship becomes American property, and entitled
as ■nob to the protection and the flaff of the United States; and although she cannot
take out a rec^tster by our law, yet wat is because she is foreign built, not because she
ii belligerent built; and she can obtain a register by special act of Congress.
JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE.
OPERATIONS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BRANCH MINT.
We give below the first annual (official) report of the San Francisco Branch United
States Mint operations, giving an accurate statement of gold and silver deposits,
number of assays, amount of coinat^e, kc
The San Francisco branch of the United States Hint commenced operations April
Sd, 1854. The following table exhibits the total operations for the first year, ending
March SI, 1865 ; the coinage of silver was commenced in the month of March, 1855 : —
Gold deposits No. 6,748
Silver deposits 146
Weight of gold deposits 02. 795,931 26
Weight of silver deposits . . . .*. 48,026 90
Value of gold depoeits 114,655,847 22
Value of silver deposits .
Silver parted from gold deposits oz.
Qold parted from silver deposits
Value of silver from gold deposits
Value of gold from silver deposits /.
Mint per centage for refining.. . • .
Mint per centage for coinage
Mint charges on bars
Gold assays No.
Silver assays
GOLD OOniAGX.
Double eagles..
Eaeles
Half eagles . . .
Quarter eagles
Gold dollars . .
Pieces.
818,018
128,826
268
246
14,632
Total gold coinage 466,990
8ILYXB ooiirAOi.
HalfdoUars 59.800
Quarter dollars 1 22,000
Total silver coinage.
Total gold and silver coinage. . .
Unparted bars
Benned bars
151,800
2,504
8
Total
Total coinage.
51,601 28
48,158 67
259 88
156,080 47
4.825 78
52,280 50
41,862 41
20.218 94
20,229
488
Vtflae.
16,860,860
1,288,260
1,840
615
14,632
17,615,207
$14,900
80,500
$46,400
17,660,607
6,428,201
5,865
2,602 $6,424,065
$14,094,672
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264 JouttmI of Bunking^ CStrrtney^ and Fhumce,
OF BILLS OF BXCHAVGE AID PR0MI8S0RT N0TB8 IIT LOOISUVA.
The following act, relative to bills of exchange and promidsory Dotes, was passed at
the last sessioD of the Legislature of LoaLsiaiia, approved March 9, 1866, and U now
in force : —
▲N ACT RELATIVE TO BILLS OF BXCHAKGE AND PROMISSOaT NOTES.
Section 1. That no bill of exchange, promissory note, or other obligatioo for tfaa
payment of money, made within this State, ^hall be received as evidence of a debl,
when the whole sum shall be expressed ia figures, unless the same shall be acoompsr
Died by proof that it was given for the sum therein expressed ; the ceots or fractiooal
parts of a dollar may be in figures.
Sxo. 2. That the rate of damsges to be allowed and paid upon the usual protest for
non-acceptance or non- payment of bills of exchange drawn or negotiated within this
State tmW be as follows: On all bills drawn on and payable in foreign countries, tea
dollars upon the hundred upon the principal :«um specified in such bills ; on all bills
drawn on and payable in any other State in the United States, five dollars upon the
hundred upon the principal sum specified in such bill.
Ssa 8. 1'hat damages shall be in lien of interest, charges of protest, and all other
charges incurred previously to and at the lime of giving notice of non acceptance or
non-payment, but the holder shall be entitled to demand and recover lawful interest
upon the aggregate of the principal sum, and of the damages thereon from the time
at which notice of protest for non-acceptance or non-payment shall have been gtren,
and payment of such principal sum shall have been demanded.
Sxa 4. That if the contents of the bill be expressed in the money of account of the
United States, the amount of the principal and of the damages shall be ascertained
and determined without any reference to the rate of exchange existing between this
State and the place on which such bill shall have been drawn at the time of the de-
mand of payment or notice of non-acceptance or non-payment
Sec. 6. That if the contents of such bill be expressed in any money of account or
currency of any foreign country, then the principal as well as the damages payable
thereon shall be ascertained and determined by the rate of exchange ; but whenever
the value of such foreign coin is fixed by the laws of the United States, then the yalae
thus fixed shall prevail
Sec 6. That the following shall be considered as days of public rest In thb State,
vix.: The first of January, the eighth of January, the twenty-second of February, the
fourth of July, twenty-fifth of December, Sundays and Gk>nd Friday ; and all promis-
sory notes and bills of exchange t^hall be due and payable on the second day of grace,
when the third is a day of public rest ; and on the first day of grace, when both the
second and third are days of public rest, and in computing the delay allowed for giv-
ing notice of non acceptance or non-payment of a bill of exchange or promissory note,
the days of public rest shall not be counted ; and if the day or two days next succeed-
ing the protest for non-acceptance or non-payment shall be days of public rest, then
the day next following shall be computed as the first day after the protest.
Ssa ^. That notaries and parish recorders shall keep a separate book in which they
shall transcribe and record by order of date, all the protests by them made, with
mention made of the notices which they shall have i^iven of the same to the drawers
and indorsers thereof, together with the names of the drawers or indorsers, the date
of the notices, and the manner in which they were served or forwarded, which decla-
ration, duly recorded under the signature of the notary public or parish recorder and
two witnesses, shall be considered and received in all courts of this State as a legal
proof of the notices.
Sbo. 8. That all notaries or persons acting as such are authorized in their protests
of bills of exchange, promissory notes, or orders for the payment of money, to make
mention of the demand made upon the drawer, acceptor, or person on whom snoh
order or bill of exchange is ilrawn or given, and of the manner and circomstanoes of
such demand, snd by certificate add^ to such protest, to state the manner in which
any notices of protest were served or forwarded ; and whenever they shall have so
done, a certified copy of such protest and certificate shall be evidence of all the mat-
ters therein stated.
Sxa 9. That whenever the drawer, acceptor, indorser, or others shall not reside in
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Jm$mal of Banking^ Ourrtney, and Fina$i€0. 255
ilie town or cify where protest shall be made, it shall be the duty of such notaries or
others actiog as socb, to put into the nearcH podt-office where the protest is made a
notice of the protest to such drawer, acceptor, iodorser, or others, addressed to them at
their domicil or usual place of residence.
Sbo. 10. That whenever the resideuce of aoy drawer, acceptor, indorse r, or others
shall be unknown to the notary or other person actinsc as such ; and whenever, after
using all due diligence to obtain the necessary ioformation thereon, the residence shall
not have been found, then it shall be the duly of the notary or other person acting as
euch to put the notices of such protest in the nearest post-office where the protest was
made, addre^ed to the drawer, acceptor, iodorser, or others, at the place where, as it
shall appear by the face thereof, such bill of exchange or promissory note was drawn ;
and the same shall be dimmed and considered legal notice of such protest
Sia 11. That notaries public in the city of New Orleans are empowered to protest
bQls of exchange, notes, and other negotiable effects throughout the parish of Orleans,
and in default of notaries and p^ish recorders in the country, any justice of the peace
may protest promissory notes and bills of exchange in the presence of two persons
residing in the parish, who shall certify and subscribe the same as witnesses
Sxa 12. That whenever promissory notes are indorsed for the benefit of the drawer
or drawers thereof, and the same is mentioned on the notes, if the drawer or drawers
cause the notes to be discounted in any bank in operation within this State, or obtain
any snm of money in consideration of the notes from any person, the indorsers shall by
law be bound towards the bearers of the notes, as if they had been discounted or ne-
gotiated for their own account and benefit.
Sea 18. That upon all bills of exchange and promissory notes made negotiable by
law, or by the usage and custom of merchants in this State, three days of grace shall
be allowed.
Ssa 14. That all laws or parts of laws conflicting with Uie provisions of this act
and all laws on the same subject matter, except what b contained in the Civil Oode of
Practice, be repealed.
IS GOLD DEPRECIATING 7
This question is cleverly discussed in a recent number of the Aktionare, in an arti-
de dated Zurich. The following statement is translated from that journal : —
** Since some years there has been much interesting matter written in relation to the
value of the noble metals. The majority of estimates in relation to the quantity ex-
isting at the time of the discovery of Oalifi>rnia make the total nearly £1,200,000,000 ;
some place it at over £2,000,000,000. We do not place the figures so high. But it
is to be considered abo about what is tlie total of those things which require the func-
tions of money ?
** We will attempt a general estimate, placing the quantity of coined gold and silver,
including ingots.
Which are not in bank at £500,000,000
Bank notes in circulation in the world 250,000,000
Inland exchange of all countries, estimated on the British stamps for
1854 600.000,000
Private debts and credits not represented by excliaoge. 1,500,000,000
Government stocks and shares on the various stock markets. 150,000,000
Total £8,000,000,000
**This may be considered a very moderate estimate of all those things which in all
countries require the services of the metals. If now the gold countries discovered
since 1848 produce together £30,000,000 annually, the result b 1 per cent of the above
snm. Population, necessities, and prosperity, however, increase, irrespective of higher
prices ana wars, more than 1 per cent. The rest of the world, not speaking exclu-
sively of wholesale trade, u served with metallic money as well as credit^^f corned
money there is always about the same quantity, but credit is very elastic The peri-
ods of eo-oUled money scarcity, that b, contraction of credit, and money abundance,
that 19, expansion of credit, are taken for each other reciprocally.
'* What may be the annual exchanges of the world f
''The Jomnal de$ JDebtUt for January 15, 1851, pats the anniial interchange* of
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2d<( Journal of Bankinffj Currmeyj and /Snance.
kBOTVD countries at £1,200,000,000, balf of that is exports sod half imports. Vow,
every article before it is exported \9ill, on an ayerage, oe exchanged twice ; and eyety
article imported will likewise be exchanged twice,
Making an exchange of £3,400,000,000
The population of the money>usiog world maj be taken at
600,000,000, and every individual buys of domestic produce |26
worth, not included in tlie above estimate, and after these pur-
chases piass through two hands, the result is 6,000,000,000
The quantity of stocks, shares, Ac^ of all descriptions of companies
in the world, which is annually bought and sold, is taken at. . . • • 8,000,000,000
Annual sales, houses, lands, Ac» 600,000,000
Total £18,000,000,000
^ Of what importance, in comparison with thb sum, is an annual production of
8p,000,000 of gold t It is about i of 1 per cent
** But the above estimates are far too small If we take the productive value of
all lands at only £6,000,000,000 per annum, and allow these to oe twice exchanged,
we have alone £12,000,000,000, exclusive of the operations in stocks, houses, lands,
Ac The chances that more gold countries will be discovered are less than that the
present production of California and Australia will not be sustained. If we do not
regard the present production as likely to depreciate the metals, we are far from
thinking the yield will be without influence. On the contrary, we expect from it a
very important stimulus to enterprise and speculation. It is just possible that a pro*
duction of 80,000,000 will be as great a stimulus as one of 60,000,000. The conse-
quence will be the contrary of a depreciation of gold,
** Many believe that the present high prices of things are to be attributed to gold :
but in the case of food and all relatives to it we have direct reasons, apart from gold
influence, and of other articles we can see none of which the stocks are not dispropor-
tioned to the consumption, as compared with the reasons of lower prices.
*'From 1847 to 1868, when the English crisis and European disorders had subsided,
low rates of food, attended with unusual prosperity and great power of consumption,
enhanced by the restored feeling of political security, the progress of free trade, the
increase of means of communication, and the indirect influence of the gold receipts,
were all causes of higher prices.
" Tlose wbcse views are like our own will not expect a reduction of the value of
gold in respect to silver. If pnor to 1847 there existed 1,200,0(0,000 of ihe metals,
88 per cent gold and 66 per cent silver, and gold has been produced at the rate of
80,000,000 annually, the proportion increase is only 1^ per cent But the increase of
business has been in those countries, England, France, and the United States, that
have f[o1d standards, far greater. France has used a silver standard, but designs
adoptmg sold. Since I7V5 she has coined £178,000,000, but the coinage has now
ceased. It has been estimated that within a few years France possessed £80,000,000
of silver, of which the larger portion has been exchanged for gold, and thrown upon
the markets of the world. Other countries also, Germany and Switzerland, absorb
more or les^ gold. The use of silver for mechanical purposes has been If ss than it
was. The production of silver through the abundance of mercury is enhanced.
** In conclusion it is to remark, that if the population of this money-using world is
600,000,000, an annual production of £30,000,000 is about one shilling per head."
WHERE SILVER COMES FROM.
The production of the silver mines of Mexico for the year 1860, exceeded that of
the rest of the world by one million dollars, the total yield being thirty-three millioD&
When we reflect that this immense sum is dug out of the earth by a population cooi-
paratively destitute of science, or capital, or comprehensive system, it will readily be
perceived how vast the yield would be if these mines of wealth were in the hands of
a vigorous and energetic people. Until the cession of California to the United States,
and the rush of Americans thither, the rich gold deposits of the plaeera remained un-
known to its semi-civilized inhabitants. What the efiect would be as regarde the
product of silver in Mexico under similar cireomatances may be estimated.
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Journal of Mining and Manufactures. 257
BOW A CASHIER COMPROMISED WITH THE DIRECTORS OF A BANK.
The Evening Pott relates the following anecdote of a defaulting cashier: —
**The cashier of a hank found himself short in his account about $200,000, at a time
when he foresaw an inevitable disclosure from an examination of accounts, which was
ordered to take place within a short time. Not seeing any escape, he consulted %
friend of hii who was an attorney, asking for his advice. The attorney, on ascertain-
ing that the cashier had no property that was available to convert into cash to cover
the deficiency, recommended him to take $200,000 more, and then, when the discov-
ery took place, he would have something to negotiate with, so as to induce the direct-
ors to refrain from making a public exposure. The cashier took his advice, abstracted
the additional sum, and when the discovery took place, confessed his error, and told
the directors that he would get friends to make some amends, provided they would
not punish him. After some negotiation, he compromised with them for $100,000;
and he retired from his situation with a fortune of $100,U00. The cashier iu question
was consequently respected, and he died, we believe, within the current year. The
directors never made known their loss^ and neither the stockholders of the bank nor
the public knew anything about it."
JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
THE PARIS PAUCE OF INDDSTRT FOR THE GREAT EXHIBITION.
We are indebted to an American in Paris for the following account of the French
Palace of Industry. It will interest many of the readers of the Merchants' Magazine :
The Palace of Industry is not to be merely a temporair structure, but a permanent
hall of exhibition, in which will be held the displays of Industrial Art which take
place every fifth year, and of painting and sculpture which occur every third year.
It is of an oblong form, being about 700 feet in length, by 860 feet m width, with a
doable row of windows, and an entrance in the center of each of its four fronts. Its
greatest length runs parallel with the avenue of the Champs Elysees, and the entrance
upon the side of the avenue is a sort of triumphal tower, very rich and splendid, 8ur>
mounted by a female figure crowned with stars, and holdmg a wreath of laurel in each
hand. Other figures recline upon the steps beneath her feet; and a great abundance
of shields, wreaths, has reliefs, eagles, and the perpetually recurring ** N " are intro-
duced over this tower, and also over the rest of the building. The names of eminent
mveotors are carved upon the walls — also ornamented with profiles in bas-relief.
The interior consists of a grand central nave, 700 feet in length, 190 feet in width,
and 130 feet in height, roofed with a lofty dome of glass. On each side of the nave is
a gallery 85 feet in width.
Alx>ve this ground floor gallery is another, on the second story, which runs com-
pletely round the building ; it is 2,400 feet long, and is roofed like the nave, but rather
lower. Both galleries are surrounded by pillars ; those which spring from the upper
gallery and support the doine being rather lighter than those which serve to support
the second floor. Friezes of iron openwork run along both galleries, decorated wiUi
escutcheons, in the center of which are emblazoned shields, alternating with a golden
crescent or star. Delicate moldings run round both galleries, and an elegant bronzed
balustrade surrounds the upper gallery. With the exception of the moldings —
which are white — and the shields — which are richlv colored or gilded— the whole of
the interior surfaces are of a pale, soft gray. Opinion is much divided as to the effect
of this coloring, some considering it to be cold and foggy, while others consider it as a
?reat improvement upon the somewhat obtrusive red and blue of the palace in Hyde
ark, and the fairv-like fabric at Sydenham. This question is one which cannot really
be decided until the objects to be exhibited are in their places.
The French, so methodical and exact in their doings for the most part, have made
rather a me?s of it in their preparations for the Exhibition. In the first place the
building, when half completed was found to be coming down. It has been built on an
ansteady soit — the ground sunk away at one end, and the whole concern threatened
to come down together. An immense sum has been expended in strengthening it, and
it now appears to be perfectly safe.
VOL, XXXIII. NO. II. 17
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Journal of Mining and Manufacturei,
Id the next place the exhibiting surface tonied oat to be only 500,000 square feet—
rather lees than half that afforded by the Crystal Palace of 1851 ; and another building
was erected on a quay of the Seine near the Palace, 4,000 feet in length, which will b«
devoted almost exclusively to machinery. This gallery is called the " Annexe."
By-and by it was founcf that this accommodation was still deficient, and another
lar&^e building, called the Palace of the Fine Arts, and devoted to sculpture, painting,
and engraving, was built in another part of these beautiful groves.
Next, a " Supplement" to the Palace of Industry was erected opposite to the west-
em entrance of that building. After this, as space was still wanting, it was deter-
mined to join the Supplement to the Palace by a covered gallery, which would abo
contain a portion of the Exhibition ; and now within the last few days it has been de-
termined to connect all four of the large buildings by covered galleries, in order both
to facilitate the passage from one to the other, and also to afford room for the placing
of objects which otherwise must have been excluded for want of space.
All these changes and additions have led to a great loss of time and have matly
increased the cost of the undertaking. With regard to the latter point noSiing is
known, but the outlay must have been enormous, as the principal building is exceed-
ingly massive, and lavishly ornamented.
Gardens will be laid out round all the structures, and the trees, though they will
intercept the view of the principal buildmg, will add much to the general beauty of
the scene.
THE MANUFACTURE OF IROBT IN THE UNITED STATES.
The censQB returns of the manufacture of iron castings give the following &ct8 m
relation to this important branch of American industry : —
XAMUrACTVRB OF IRON 0A8TING8, I860.
Viiliieorraw
EstaUtsh- Tons materlfti.
States, AbC. menta. Cspltal. plg-irun. fueU&o. ProdaeCa.
Alabama 10 $216,625 2,848 |102,085 $271,126
California 1 5,000 75 8,580 20,740
Columbia District 2 14,000 545 18,100 41,696
Connecticut 60 580,800 11,896 851,869 981,400
Delaware 18 878,500 4,440 153,852 267,462
Georgia 4 85,000 440 11,950 46.200
Illinois 29 260,400 4,418 172.380 441,186
Indiana 14 82,900 1,968 66,918 149,480
Iowa 8 6,500 81 2,524 8,600
Kentucky 20 602,200 9,781 296,583 744.816
Louisiana 8 255,000 1,660 75,800 812,500
Maine 25 160,100 8,591 112,670 265.000
Maryland 16 8^9,100 7,220 269,190 685,000
Massachusette 68 1,499,050 81,184 1,057,904 2,885,685
Michigan ^l 68 195,460 2,494 91,866 279,697
Mississippi 8 100,000 1,197 50,870 117.400
Missouri 6 187,000 5,100 183,114 886,496
New Hampshire 26 232,700 5.678 177,060 871.710
Kew Jersey 45 698,250 10,666 801,048 686,480
New York 828 4,622,482 108,945 ^,898,768 6,921.980
North Carolina 5 11.600 192 8,841 12.861
Ohio 188 2,068,650. '87.565 1,199,700 8.069.860
Pennsylvania 820 8,422,924 69,501 2,872,467 5,864,481
Rhode Island 20 428,800 8,918 258,267 728,706
South Carolina 6 186,700 169 29,128 87.688
Tennessee 16 189,600 1,682 90.086 264.825
Texas 2 16,000 250 8,400 65,000
Vermont 26 290,720 6,279 160.603 460,881
Virginia 64 471.160 7,114 297,014 674.416
Wisconsb 15 116,850 1,871 86,980 216.196
Total 1,891 $17,416,861 845,658 ♦$10,846,265 $25,108,156
* Tons of mineral coal vaed, 190,801 ; boshela of eoke and charcoal, 3,413,750 ; toaa of caatk^
made, 33K,746.
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Journal qf Mining and Manufaeturet,
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In the speciAl report by Profeator Wilson, we find a corioos table, ebowing the
Bomber of blast fomaoee and bloomeriee pat in operation in this country from tbe
year 1780 to 1850. In this tabular view he states that there were no fiulares during
the long period of 1780 to 1840, (over one hundred years;) but from 1840 to 1850,
the fiulures were numerous, involving a large loss of capital. We insert the main
featnree of this summary : —
IROir WORKS BUILT IN THE UNFTBD 8TATX8 IN XACH PERIOD OF TEN TKAR8 FROM 1880
TO 1840, AND IN KAOH TSAR THEEEAPTBR TO 1860.
To
1780.
1740.
1760.
1760.
1770.
1780.
1790.
1800.
1810.
1820.
1880.
1886.
1840.
1841.
1842.
1848.
1844.
1846.
1846.
1847.
1848.
1849.
1860.
BLAST FURNACES.
BL00XBRIE8.
CosL Ofaareoal.
BoUU Total boUt. Failed.
1 • • •
1
• •
2
, ,
8
« •
7
• •
• • . •
• • •
• •
, ^
6
6
6
, ,
16
26
* *
11
19
80
• •
14
16
80
, ,
1 18
20
49
, .
6 72
46
128
, ,
8 8
12
•
1 8
6
2
6 8
20
20
J
6
7
7
4 18
21
n
14 16
11
40
8
11 80
12
68
4
8 12
26
24
6 6
17
87
8 2
10
41
8 1
18
22
ToUl 68 280 106 604 177
The impetus after 1840 is attributed to the discovery of the successful application
of anthracite coal for iron-makmg purposes.
One singular feature in the history of this subject is the fiict that in the early days
of iron making, Qreat Britain imported from this country considerable quantities of
iron, vis.: from 1740 to 1760 the imports were 2,860 tons per annum. This increased
ontil in 1770 they reached 7,625 tons, being more than one-sixth of all the iron im-
ported bto Great Britain from all quarters.
IMERICAJT HARDWARE AND MfiCHAHICAL SULL
The following, from the JSeonomittt will open the eyes of thousands of our people
to the growing importance of certain kmds of manufiftcture, made at home, and which
the gre^i minority of our people suppose are made in England : —
** The manufacture of many articles of hardware has lately been faitroduced into this
country, and firmlv established. Forty years ago not more than half a dosen leading
articles of the trade were of our own manufacture, the rest were all imported ; now«
by fiur the greatest part of the trade is in articles made by our own artisans. The im-
ported articles, too^ are, one after another, yielding the palm of superiority to those of
American manufkcture. American enterprise, inachinery, skill, and ingenuity, are
more than a match for European fogyism.
**The English manufiicturers aim at producing a cheap article, strong enoogfa to
avoid being blown to pieces by the wmd ; the American manufacturers ami at ^txln-
eing, and in nine cases oat of ten succeed in producing an article as cheap as ttutt im-
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260 Journal of Mining and Manufactures,
ported, and posseesiog, at the same time, the qualities of simplict^, streng^ and
dorability. Tbie ia especially the case with regard to the lighter articuM, such as door
latches, looks, d^ Many of oar heavy articles are unapproachable by the EngKeb im-
ported goods. For instance, our Eagle anvil, with its cast- steel Mce, is finner and
more durable than the English anvil of wrought iron. The Ameripan chain vice is an
improvemeot unknown there. The augers made here are far in advance of the Eng-
lish ideas of progress, and so of many articles. Five years ago mason's troweb were
imported ; now, $30,000 worth of trowels, confessedly superior to the English, are
made by one manufacturer — Mr. Bisbee, in South Oanton — and his bnsioess doubles
annually. Even the celebrated Oongreas penknives are now reproduced by our own
workmen, with all the elegance and excellence of the English knife, and we might ex-
tend the list indefinitely. Again, the American goods are generally warranted, an
advantage not possessed in onr home market by those which are imported.
** The exportation of American hardware has sprung up, almost entirely, within the
last few years, and is rapidly becoming a very extensive business. Already have
American goods found their way into the British provinces, and are there preferred to
their own (English) home manufactures, thus competing successfully with English
g|oods in their own markets. The exportation to Canada especially is rapidly increa-
sing, and almost doubles annually. The Douglas axes are sold even in Loodoo. Large
quantities of goods are also sent to the West Indies, South America, and to all parts
of the world.**
SOUTHERU MANUFACTURES.
Our cotemporary of the New Orleans Commercial Bulletin^ says :—
''Georgia was the first Southern State that essayed the experiment of divertiiig
capital from agricultural pursuits to the establishment of manufactures. We remem-
ber the time well. Cotton had fallen to its lowest mark, far below a remunerating
price. The planters en maH$e^ as a supposed remedy for the existing evil, and being
the most hopeful people in the world, always beguiUng themselves with the idea that
' a better time b coming,* began planting more cotton. The lower cotton went down
the more they grew, and the larger their crops ; by this means increasing the very
mischief Uiey were contending with, and thus impoverishing themselves. There were
a few exceptionable instances ; men * to the manor bom,* and who had not the benefit
of experience, travel and observation, but who, governed by good hard sense, and the
deductions of simple reasoning, arrived at the conclusion that money could be more
profitably employed in something else than pbnting cotton, with Urgely increasing
crops, and selling it at five and six cents a pound. Cotton fabrics do not fall in price
in a corresponding ratio with the decline in 'the raw material. This was the clue to
their future action ; and upon this hint they commenced building manufactories for
themselves. It was a small beginning, for it was ' the day of small things.* There
were no railroads, or only one at most in those times. Qeorgia had not evolved from
her chrysalb state — she hnd not then by her enterprise and energy won wealth and
influence, and the proud distinction of being the empire state of the South."
** 1'he attempt at manufactures succeeded wonderfully ; the example was followed
in different parts of the State; and there are now in Georgia between fifty and sixty
cotton factories in the full tide of successful experiment, llie decree of success they
have attained may be inferred from the following statement of 3ie condition of the
Macon Bianufacturing Company. During the last six months its clear profits have
been at the rate of seventeen per cent per annum on the amount of the stock. It has
declared a dividend of ten per cent, and has accumulated during the last eighteen
months, over the dividends, a reserve fund of thirty-seven thousand dollars.**
HOW TO EXTRACT GLASS STOPPLES.
When the glass will not come out, pass a strip of woolen cloth around it» and thcB
" see- saw" backwards and forwards, so that the friction may heat the neck of the bot-
tle. Thb will cause it to expand, become larger than the stopple, and the latter will
drop out, or may be easily withdrawn. A tight screw may be easily loosened from a
metal socket, by heating the latter by means of a cloth wet with boiling water, or ia
any other way — oo the simple principle of expaoaioD by heat
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Journal of Mining cmd Manufactures. 261
AMERICAN SBWIIIG MACHIIES II FRANCS.
A Paris oorrespondeDt, ODder a recent date says : —
" Three companies have sold their patents for sewing machines in France at yerj
high prices. 3 ne compsny of Avery, North <b Co., first sold to the Emperor for the nse
of the army, at 106,000 francs; Grover, Baker &. Qo^ of Boston, sold to a French com-
pany at a much higher rate ; and more recently Singer it Co., of New York, have sold
to a company for $100,000 francsi These useful machines are also being rapidly in-
troduced into the other States of Europe. I should mention, however, ^that much
difficulty is found in France in nsing these machines, for the want of mechanical ipg^
Duity in the people, and it is curious to see with what wonder and astonishment they
watch the machine in the hands of Miss Ames, who is here from New York in the em-
ploy of the French Government, and who is celebrated in her dexterity with these ma-
, chines. This lady, who made at the war office, in the space of six hours, one hundred
pairs of soldiers' pantaloons, and who has worked the madiine in the f)resenee of the
Emperor at the Tuileries, is regarded by the French as a great curiosity from the
New World, and wherever the Government Agent, Mr. Dusatory, carries her and her
fiivorite machine, she is the center of astonished crowds of officers and dignitaries, who
make her presents without numben She receives a salary of 760 francs a month from
the Government to superintend the manufacture of the machines, to put them into op-
eration, and to oversee the soldiers who are trjfing to work them. The difficulty, not
only of making the machines perfect in France, but of finding persons cipable of work-
ing them, has been found so great that it is now in contemplaiion to send to New York
for machines, as well as for girls to work them."
THE COAL LA5D8 OF GREAT BRITAIH AND OHIO.
According the Hon. Benjamin Seaver, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales con-
tain 11,869 square miles of coal lands; Ohio contains 11,900 square miles. The can-
Del coal of the Tunnel Tract, in Ohio, is superior to the English cannel usually shipped
to this country ; and the bituminous coal of Straitsyille is equal to the splint coal of
Scotland, or to the coal of England, both of which are used now in the manufacture of
pigmetaL
The coal trade of Great Britain in 486S, was as follows : the capital invested was,
$50,000,000; annual production, 87,000,000 tons; value at pit's mouth, $60,000,000;
value at the place of consumption, $100,000,000. London alone cciisumed 8,600,000
In 1850, 180,489 tons of coal were shipped to this country from England and the
British provinces; in 1868, 281,608 tons; in 1864 the demand could not be supplied.
Manufacturiog has made this great demand for bituminous coal ; raihroads, steam
ttigines and steam-vessels, will rapidly increase the enormous oonsomption.
MINING AT GEORGETOWN, CAUFORNIA.
From California papers we give a brief synopsis of the mining operations in the
vicinity of Georgetown, as follows :-^
The hill or cayote diggings are considered the best in that re^on. At Jones's Hill
sevei^ companies have struck the paying dirt The Columbia Companv have fin-
ished SOO feet of tunnel through hara rock, at a cost of $8,000, and found a paying
lead of five feet in depth. Some of the dirt taken out jMys as high as $200 to the
pan. Its Glares are valued at from $4,000 to $6,000. The Union Tunnel Company
have made SOO feet of tnnnel, at a cost of $16,000, which the dirt paid for as they
went along. They find 21 feet of pay dirt, averaging half an ounce a day to the
hand. The company took out the sum of $10,000 in the circumference of six feet
square. The Flying Cloud Company have a tunnel of 260 feet, at a cost of $8,000.
They have struck pay dirt, and tne shares, which consist of 12, have sold at $4,600
ead). Summit Tunnel Company have run into the bill 860 feet, at a cost of $10 per
ibot. They have struck ^ rich lead, having prospected as high as $86 to the pan.
Their shares are held high.
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262 Mercantile Miseellanies.
MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
THE <(PflILADELPflU MERCHANT."
We are glad to leani that our e&teemed ootemporary, the ** Philadelphia Merchant
and .American ManafacCurers* Journal" circulates extenaivelj. We have fireqnentlj
had occasion to cut from its columns choice matter for our department of " Mercantile
Miscellanies.'' We see that some thirty-six of the merchants and manufacturers of
our sister citj of Philadelphia have commended the Merchant to the support of the
business men of their city as an advertising medium. This list of firms comprises
sncfa as David S. Brown it Co., Caleb Cope & Co^ and other highly respectable and
sterling names. The paper is a large- sized weekly, handsomely printed, and contains
brief and able editorials, and presents many facts and statistics interesting to the
mercantile and manufiicturing community. It appears from the affidavit of the
mailing clerk, that the Merchant is sent in regular succession to 55,765 business men
in twenty-one States and in the District of Columbia. The scattering list in other
States, and copies distributed monthly in the city, amount to 5,000, showing a total
circulation of 60,755 copies. The circulation out of Pennsylvania is chiefly in the
South and West.
We presume that most of our Philadelphia readers are also readers of the Merchant
The labors of Messrs. Torrey & Pickett to promote the interest and reputation of Phil-
adelphia, should be properly appreciated by their fellow citizens.
<f BELL'S COMMERCIAL COLLEGE" OF CHICAGO.
In thb age of Commerce, any legitimate enterprise calculated to promote its inter-
ests, should certainly be esteemed a benefaction. Commercial academies or colleges,
in which are afforded the means of obtaining a thorough business education, may
therefore justly hp ranked among the real improvements of the age, dispensing, as
they do, benefits of practical value and of ready availability.
Foremost among these institutions stands '* Bell's Commercial College " of Chicago.
Established only about four years ago, it has already acquired a reputation unsur-
passed, if equaled, in the thoroughness and efficiency of its course of instruction, in-
volving the science of accounts.
The school is formed into a counting-room, and Uie student is at once introduced to
the practical workings of business, and the discharge of an accountant's duties; and
the results are flatteringly attested by the many business houses employing its nu-
merous graduates.
The collegiate course embraces four principal departments, viz.: book-keeping,
practical or business, penmanship, commercial calculations, and commercial law ; to
which is added instruction in the art of detecting counterfeit and altered bank-notes^
and much other knowledge of great value to the business man.
A reading-room and library of over 1,000 volumes in all the departments of useful
knowledge and general literature, is a marked and novel feature in the oi^ganization
of this school, and one which must not only furnish its students with the means of
much valuable instruction, but be to them a source of entertainment and pleasure.
The college was chartered by the Legislature of Blinob in !868, and endowed with
** all the powers and privileges exercised and enjoyed by any institution of learning
in the State." Its faculty consists of a President, four Prolbssors, and four Assiltantr
Teachers in the various departments; with a Board of Trustees, and also a Board of
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Mercantile MUcellaniei, 263
EzamiDerei coneistiog of prmctical ftocoootaDte, before vbom candidates for gradoaiion
are ezamined.
The catalogue of the school shows it to be the recipient of a most liberal and et-
teosiye patronage, the names of stadents from most of the Western States and many
of the Eastern being there recorded. Its diplomas are a snre passport to lucratire
and responsible situations in business, and it deservedly enjoys the public confidence
and a high reputation for the completeness and excellence of its course of study.
The President, Judge Bbll, who is favorably known in New York, where he for-
merly resided, has for many years been identified with the interests of the West,
where he has held offices of the highest trust and responsibility. Engaged, during an
active and eventful life, for many years in business pursuits, he has acquired a tbor-
oogh commercial knowledge, which must constitute a valuable resource for the instruc-
tion of his students in the details of business transactions, and which, with bis scholastic
acquirements, must afford him superior ability in the management of this excellent
and useful institution, upon the possession of which we congratulate our young giant
dty of the West ,
TAB LONG CREDIT OF 50RTHfiRN CITIES.
A late number of the Oommereial BulUtinfOUB of the best mercantile journals pub-
lished in New Orleans, has some sensible remarks touching long credits in our northern
marts of trade; which we commend to the notice of the readers of the Merchants^
Magazine:' —
One reason why New Orleans has been deprived of a large amount of interior trade,
doe her on account of her commanding position, onequaled natural advantages and
splendid market, can be traced to the fact that the wholesale jobbers of the northern
cities could afford to extend to country merchants and small traders greater facilities
in the way of long credits than could our jobbers and wholesale dealers — not that
their markets were better, as convenient, or really cheaper than thii!, all things consid-
ered. The twelve- months credit system did the busmess, and attracted an immense
amount of Western and Southwestern trade to those cities, which would have other-
wise sought this port
The long-credit system is to the purchaser what the lighted candle is to the moth,
with this ezeeption— the moth gets scorched to death but the candle bums on untn-
jnred — while long credits very often destroy both wholesale jobber and country
merchant The country merchant finds it so easy to lay in his stock that he makes
large and imprudent purchases— goes beyond his means and the wants of the section
in which he residea With his large supplies he returns home highly elated ; and as
he bought on a credit he sells on a credit, and as fast as possible — in fact forces his
goods on the market In turn, his customers, having enjoyed unusual facilities, have
purchased more than they needed, are unable to settle when pay-day rolls round, and
the country merchant, consequently, cannot take up the notes he has given the jobber.
Multiply the instance we have hastily illustrated a hundred or a thousand fold — and
it is but one of an annual thousand — and the whole commercial world is, after a
while, startled by the news of the failure of laree jobbing houses supposed to be as
solid as the rock of Gibraltar, and which would have been so but for tne prevalence
of this pernicious long-credit system.
Let us carry out the parallel a little further : the customers of the country merchant
(ail to pay him promptly ; he cannot meet his engagements with the jobber in conse-
quence ; the jobber, owing to the bad faith or misfortunes of his correspondents, is
compelled to close — to break. He proceeds to collect his claims as speedily as possi*
ble. He sues the country merchant ; the country merchant sues his delinquent debt-
ors, and there is a general litigation all around, to which must be added the usual
amount of costs, fees, and interest, to say nothing of the bad feelings and the lax
morality engendered by the proceedings. The finale sums up usually in ^is wise :
the principal parties to the transaction are rubed in fortune ana credit ; the customers
of the country trader are harassed by lawsuits, have to pay costs, lawyers' fees, dec,
superadded to the original claim, if solvent — all of which would have been avoided if
the practice of long credits had never known existence. There never was a truer say-
ing thao that " short credits make prompt payments.
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264 Mercantile MieceUardeM,
And there are other evils iosepdrably connected with tJiis system, throwing out of
view altogether the objections alluded to above. We will refer to one of them mera-
]y. The jobber who sells on long time, is compelled, of coarse, to make frequent re-
newals, and he must, therefore, enjoy a larger rate of profit on the goods he sells, to
provide for future contingencies and losses, for there will be losses, no matter bow
cautiously and ably an extended business is conducted ; and there are contingencies
against which no human foresight can provide. As the small dealer has to pay for
the prolonged credit afforded to him, he must charge bis customers in proportion, to
make himsulf safe, and the consequence is, supposing all obligations promptly met at
maturity, that the masses of the people, the retail buyers from the interior traders,
have to pay higher prices for the goods they use than they would had the system of
protracted credits been repudiated from the commencement
\The New York jobbers are now moving to shorten the credits they have been in
the habit of extending to their customers. The shoe pinches too tight to be much
longer endured. By expanding the credit system to an unsafe and unnealthy extent,
they have sold an incalculable amount of merchandise, on a portion of which we
imagine they would be rejoiced to realize. And if they fail to collect folly, tbej
should recollect that the fault is partially their own. The inducements they held oat
were too strong for poor, sanguine human nature to resist, especially in a country like
ours, where there are so many who believe in "luck," and *' manifest destiny,'' and are
ready to " go it blind " whenever an opportunity presents itself.
In reference to the movement of the jobbers, a New York cotemporary . has the
following: ** There is a much needed and judicious movement among our jobben to
reduce Uie term of credit ^iven to country dealers. One of the leading silk booses in
Broadway has taken the mitiative step, and has adopted the rule of giving six and
eight months' credit, taking notes payable at bank. The evil of long credits has long
been felt by our jobbers as one of the most dangerous in the dry goods business.
Philadelphia and Boston have suffered severely from granting soch credits, in order to
attract trade from New York, and our jobbers appear now fully awake to the neceast-
ty of avoiding a like fate. If our sister cities like twelve-months trade, our opinion ia,
that the policy of New York is to let them enjoy it undisturbed."
For our part we are glad to see this movemeot, and hope it will go on till it em*
braces every commercial city in the North. As their long credits were the prime
cause of taking from as thousands of good costomera residing within the Valley of the
Mississippi and adjacent States, so wUl the withdrawal of that dangerously attractive
Ikcility brinff them back to os— at least many of them.
The Mobile THbune thinks ''that the best thing the Northern cities could do for the
Sooth would be to demand cash. We are boand to the North by credks. Destroy
tbeee and pet haps then there would be some chance for direct trade.'' The remark la
a suggestive one ; but we most become more energetic and public-spirited before we
can hope for direct communication with Europe. We most infuse a new life into oar
body politic
"HE IS A C0U5TRT MERCHANT— STICK HIM t^'
We are not about to indite an esaa^ on the mercantile axiom m Hudibrae, aaya our
clever cotemporary of the Philadelpbiia Merchant, that ** everything is worth as much
as it will bring ;" nor do we expect to offer anj^ new exposition of the morality of
trade. We simply purpose recording an illustration of the immorality of taking th«
advantage of a buyer's presumed ignorance.
In a certain citv which shall be nameless, and in a year which we shall not specify,
Mr. A established himself in business. Among the frequent visitors at bis store was
Mr. B, whose officioosness was never agreeable to the proprietor, and on one occasion
at least his advice was both insulting and disastrous. It happened on this wise : —
A gentleman came into the store and inqoired for aandry articles as to prices, Ac
In the midst of the interview, Mr. B called Mr. A to the door, and, taking him by the
button, whispered confidentially regarding the inquirer, ** He ia a country merchant-^
stick him I"
Mr. A turned away in disgust, and resumed his conversation with the new-comer.
But the whispered counsel had reached the ear of the latter, and he left the premises
wiUMut purchasing a single article Probably a valuable customer was lost — per-
haps many customers indirectly— by the wicked suggestion of an intermeddler, over-
heard.
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JferccaUiie Idtteeilaniei. 265
There ean be do doubt that he ottered the principle of his own bcuineM operatioD8»
the whole being reeolred into the reckless axiom —
^ThMi they sboald get who bare the power,
And ibey shoiild keep who e«n T'
Howeyer decent in the appearance of things, and however respectable as to social
position, a man who advises a neighbor to " stick a country merchant," has repeatedly
committed such crimes himself; and he who would do that^ would be a petty thief or
a highwayman were it not tor the danger of detection, and the grip of the law.
We may mention, continues the Merchant^ as an illustratiye commentary, that the
adviser alluded to had recently become a bankrupt shamelessly.
We do not announce this result as an event always certain in the ordinations of
Providence, else all who succeed in amassing wealth m!ght claim the issue as proof
of their integrity in trade ; but we affirm that riches cankered by fraud never pur-
diased seremt^ of mind, the highest form of prosperity. Generally, too, all deception
and overreachmg in mercantile affairs, break down the doer of the wrong, in bis estate
no less than in hit personal happiness, or is visited on his children in the direst forms
of retribution.
We can easily see how a double-dealing merchant must in time destroy his business
by establishing a suspicious reputation, and it is not difficult to see how the sins of
soch B man are transmitted to his off:<prin^, in respect of consequences. He who
seeks to accumulate money at all has urds, will pay little regard to the virtuous train-
ing of his children ; and sad indeed would be the fate of all such unfortunate ones,
were it not for the saving graces and wholesome home-instruction of the mothers of the
land.
No doubt there is a wide margin for " tricks in trade,** as also for ** tricks upon trav-
elers,'* and opportunity for operating may often be a sore temptation to such as are
Dot rooted and grounded in principle ; but we submit that all persons who ignore in-
tegrity in their transactions, whatever may be their calling, deny the righteous gov-
ernment of Ood, and are therefore among the practical atheists of the world.
SHORT BUSI5ESS VISITS-IDLERS IH STORRS.
A correspondent of the Phrenological Journal complains that some of his custom-
ers, who are very valuable to him, are nevertheless in the habit of lingering in his es-
tablishment for hours at a time, much to his annoyance. He cannot treat them with
discourtesy, and has no inclination so to do. But he thinks that a hint or two as to
the policy of short visits on business, especially when others require a fair degree of
attention, would not only prove serviceable in his case, but in a general sense.
The error alluded to is a serious one, aod it prevails to a very great extent. There
are some people who fancy that others have little or nothing to do. They stop them
in the street during business hours, and attempt to get up a long conversation on tri-
fliog matters — they visit their stores aod lounge on their desks and cocmters — they
repeat silly stories that have been told a dozen times beforehand still worse, they
pry into matters with which they have no concern, and thus not only annoy and vex,
but inflict absolute injury. A friend who keeps a leading store at one of our promi-
Deot comers, informs ua that he has lost quite a nimiber of customers in consequence
of the almost perpetual presence of idlers and loafers, who stare with rude impudeooe,
and who will not take any of the many gentlemanly hints that he has ventured to
give them. He does not like to turn them out absolutely, but he assures us that he
Dot oDly suffers Id hie feelings but his business. Some of them may mean no harm,
bot the effect is not the less pernicious. A roan of common sense, and a gentleman,
eould readily imagine the indelicacy of standing beside the counter of a book store,
with a lady making application for publications, either for herself or a member of her
family. Nay, we know of a case, in which a young man, who kept a store for th«
sale of works, was absolutely ruined in the manner described. He lacked the moral
courage to send away the idlers who infested his establishment, and the consequence
was that all his costomerB left him. But as a general rule, a visit of business should
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2M Mercantile MieeeUanies.
be brief^ ef pecially when other parties are to be ooosulted vith, or waited npoD.
When, too, any matter, private or confideDtial, is in progress, erery thing like corioeity
should be regarded as ill timed or impiertinent It is quite a common occurrence for
an idler to step into a room and exclaim — ** Are you engaged T — seeing, at the same
time, two or three persons busily occupied, and hence such a question being altogether
unnecessary. But even when an affirmative answer is given, he will take a seat
coolly, pick up a newspaper, and attempt to listen to all that is passing. Nay, he
vill venture ever and anon to throw in a remark, as if he were the party concerned,
and as if bis afikirs were the topic under consideration. But enough for the present.
The subject is a fruitful one, and we may return to its consideration again.
THE PHILADELPHIA MERCHANT ON MERCANTILE BIOGRAPHY.
Enough has not yet been made of mercantile biography. Eminence in some other
sphere has too often been made requisite in order to insure any notice, beyond an
ooituary, of many an eminent merchant And yet in what line of human action is
there more of telling incident, exhibiting the operations of all the springs of noble,
manly caaracter, than in that of mercantile life ? But Commerce is an every day
afikir ; it is mixed up with small matters, and there is an unromantic mass of details
that intrudes itself and drives away the historic muse. Just so, dear sir, it is with the
life of the statesman and military chieftain who occupy so much of biography. To
peep behind the curtain that hides the preparations for some great public performance,
la to behold quite uninteresting details, and to see what Burke wittily described wlieo
he said, ** Wbat is mojEsry deprived of its externals " (the first and fast letters) ** but
a je$t r We see how the statesman and the military chieftain wade through masses
of unromantic details to prepare for the striking dbplay; and the splendid oration
which sets the nation on fire with enthusiasm as it did the Senate, is not unaptly to
be compared to the merchant's ship to gather whtiee freight was no small labor, and
to load which was no very intert^ting performance, but once afloat with sail spread to
a favorable wind, is a majestic and ^autiful sight.
But the signs of the times are more favorable. Mercantile biography is command-
ing more and more attention. The various methods of obtaining a good likeness
wftbout the tedious process attendant on portrait painting, has given us fine speci-
mens of splendid men from the ranks of eminent merchants ; this has led to the pre-
paration of eome notice of their career to aooompany the portrait, and thus an ouUioe
has been furnished to be filled up in each case when the man becomes only a memory
and an influence. The discovery at length is made that business life, the vicissitudes
of Commerce and the vast range of commercial relations afford as good and fruitful a
field of materials for biography as any department of human operation. What exhi-
bitions of self reliance, of mdomitable energy, of persevering resolution, of triumph
over the frowns of fortune, of stem moral principle, of inflexible integrity, of individu-
al power and personal influence, are there given ! It is a good token for the future
that increased attention is now given to this range of examples, and young men look-
ing forward to a business career, will learn that true success is no hap-hasard thing,
but has its laws and conditions, and they will see t«fore them something worth achiev-
ing. A merchant's life will assume a higher dignity ; they will see the hollowness of
that success which sinks character ; and they will count loss gain when wealth goes
rather tiian the immortal riches of honor, integrity, and sound faith. They will serve,
they will stand and wait for the turn of fortune, they will fortify their *soul to bear
more and more of disaster, in the strength of that moral principle which gave such
dignity atfd excellency to some merchant's career whose character has won their love
and fixed their determination to imitate.
While dwelling on this theme we may remark, that in an article on Mercantile Lit-
eratore we expressed our opinion of the great good which would be done by the pub-
lication, in book form, of a compilation of biographies from *' IfurWt Merchant^ Ma-
gazine.** We are happy to see the announcement of such a volume now in prepara-
tion. It will doubtless contain the fine portraits which from time to time have ap-
rred in the Magazine, and will thus mase an exhibition of as splendid heads as can
selected from the Senate or the Bar — features glowing with energy and glorified
by the splendor of manly character. Such a volume will have great value, and we
trust it will be liberally circulated in our counting rooms. — Philaaelphia Merchant.
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THE BOOK TRADE.
1. — Population and Capital; being a Coaree of Lectures, delivered before the TJni-
Tereity of Oxford Id 1868-4. By Giobob K. Richards, M. A^ Professor of Poltt-
icjlI Eiconoiny. ISmou, pp. 269. LoodoD : Longman, Brown, Qreen, and Longman.
New York: John Wiley.
This volnme contains ten lectures delivered before the Uniyersity of Oxford, and
are now published in accordance with a statute, under which the professorship of po-
litical economy is founded. The lecture which stands first in the Tolume, **0n the Na-
ture and Functions of Capital." treats of matters which are elementary in their nature,
and familiar to all proficients in the science. In this lecture he successfully, as we
think, refutes the doctrine that ** private vices are public benefiu" — ably and clearly
exposing thet' allacv, which we have so often repeated, that extravagance and prodi-
gality furnish employment for labor, encourage trade, and benefit the community, by
potting money into active circulation. The remaining nine lectures are devoted mainly
to the subject of popuUtion, in which he attempts, amone other important questions,
to discriminate between the truth and the error contained in Mallhus's celebrated es-
say on the same subject — candidly and fairly giving credit for much that is sound in
the researches and reasonings of that clever economist The doctrine which Mr. Mal-
thas labored to inculcate, touching the constant tendency of all societies to over-popu-
lation, Professor Richards thinks untenable in principle, irreconcilable in facts, and
acquits him of any approach to impiety, or as oerogating from the Author of those
laws by which the economy of society is regulated. In discussing and illustrating the
Tftrious branches of the subject, Mr. Richards has availed himself of the labo^ of
other well-known writers on population, particularly our esteemed friend and corre-
spondent, Mr. Henry 0. Oarey, the eminent American economist, whose able and elab-
orate papers on " Money ** (published in recent numbers of the Jlerchant^ Magazine)
have attracted so much attention. Mr. Richards alludes also to a small tract by the
lata Alexander H. Everett, published in London in 1828, entitled ** New Ideas on
Population, with Remarks on the Theories of Malthus and Godwin.** '* This work of
Mr. Everett,** says Mr. R, **does not appear to have met with the attention or pro-
duced the efiect which the candor, ability, and judgment displayed in its few pages
deserved."
2. — The Lives and Timet of the Chief Juetieet of the Supreme Court of the United
Statee, By HxNar Flanders. First Series— John Jay, John Rutledge. 8vo., pp.
646.
The story of the Lives of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Oourt of the United
States, is, of course, v*^ry intimately associated with the history of their country. The
history of the early Justices is interwoven with the contest and the straggle for Inde-
pendence, the establishment and early days of our glorious Union. Such are the lives
of John Jay and John Rutledge, whose biographies are presented in the present hand-
some volume. The political and judicial career of these eminent men is traced by one
who has brought to the task much ability and profound research, and apparently an
impartial judgment id his delineation of character. This volume is one of those that
are peculiarly interesting to the student of history, and instructive to all American
cittzeDa.
Z,—The Two Guardians ; or Home in this World. By the author of " The Heir of
Reddiffe,** " Henrietta's wish,** Heartsease,** "The Castle Builder.** 12moji pp. 888.
D. Appleton <& Co., New York.
This is a good domestic story. We do not find such vivid pictures or startling inci-
dents as mark some of her other tales, yet there is much that u interesting and profit-
able. The story presents a picture of ordinary life with its small dail . event of joys,
Sleasares and trials, in the development of which we see the moral and beneftcJal ten-
eocy of the book. The characters personified, particulariy that of Marion, exhibit the
Talue and worth of true consistent Christian principle, in combating with the eiroum-
•taDoea of life, and the aid such stability affonis in meeting its discipline. We believe
these books, while they interest will leavo a salutary ensct upon the mind of the
reader.
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268 The Book Trade.
4. — The HUtory of NapoUon BonaparU, Bt Johh 8. 0. Abbott. S volt^ 8toi,
pp. 611 and 666. New York: Harper <k Brothers.
The aathor of this biography of Napoleon is an enthasiastic admirer of his charac-
ter. The name of that wonderful eeoius and great man has been assailed by hostile
historians, and he has been stigmatized as a usurper, a tyrant, a blood-thirsty monster,
uneatiably ambitions, and almost the entire phraseology which unmerited obloqoy
could heap upon his fame has been exhausted. In these volumes the character of
Napoleon is held up in the most favorable light in which it can be viewed. The wri-
ter admires him because, as he believes, he abhorred war, merited the position to which
he was elevated, and because his extraordinary energies were consecrated to the pro-
motion of his country's prosperity — because he was regardless of luxury, and endured
much to elevate and bless mankind. He attributes to him a high sense of honor — a
reverence for religion — a respect for the rights of conscience — and admires him for
his noble advocacy of equality of privileges and the universal brotherhood of man.
It is a most interesting narrative, oontaininffwell-authenticated anecdotes and remark-
able sayings, illustrative of his character. The work will be regarded by many as too
partial and eulogistic. We cannot consider the author's estimate of Napoleon, as a
great and noble man, placed hardly, if any, too high. The work contains two well*
engraved portraits of Napoleon at different a^es. There is also a large number of
beautiful illustrations, depicting scenes and inadents of his eventful life and time.
6. — The Life of General Lafayette, MarquU of France, General in the United*
JStates Army, etc., etc. By P. 0. Headlet, author of the Life of the Empress Joseph-
ine, etc 12 mo. pp. Auburn : Miller, Orton & Mulligan.
The philanthropic and heroic subject of this memoir. General Lafayette, should be
as well known to the American people as any of our native heroes, and the circulation
of an accurate biography should be. co-extensive with the limits of the Republic His
brilliant career, his devotion to our country in its youth make the theme a national one.
The volume before us seems to be the fullest record of his life ever published, and to
have been prepared with much labor and research. The part he took in the French
Revolution is discussed. The author's estimate of his character seems to us, for the
most part, a correct one. But the animadversions of his lack of theological religioQ
aeem unnecessary and uncalled for.
6. — St, Petersburg ; Its People ; Their Character and Institutions. By Eowaed Jxm-
MANif. Translated from the original German by Feeoerick Hardmakn. 12mo.,
pp. 284. New York : N. J. Barnes <k Co.
The author of these sketches of St Petersburg, is by profession an actor, and passed
three years in that city as manager of a German theatrical company. His success in
that capacity was not great, and he devoted his leisure to writing for the German jour-
nals. These writings were collected in boot form, owing to their very favorable recep-
tion. His impressions are more favorable than many travelers have brought away
with them from that country, and he is a warm admirer of the late Emperor Nicholas.
This narrative is vivacious and entertaining. ,
7. — Surgical Reports and Miscellaneous Papers on Medical subjects. By Gso. Hat-
ward, M. D., President of the Massadmsetts Medical Society, Fellow of the Amer-
ican Academy of Arts and Sciences, late Professor of Surgery in Harvard Uni-
versity, and one of the Oonsultiog Surgeons to the Massachuettts General Hospital.
12mo., pp. 452. Boston : Phillips, Sampson & Ca New York : J. C. Derby.
The contents of this volume will be interesting to medical students and young phys-
icians, as well as to the older members of the profession, whose time will not permit
an examination of more extended works on the subjects of which the work treats.
The papers on the ** Statistics of Consumption " and ** Some of the Diseases of a Lit-
eraiy Life," are such as will be interesting to other readers.
8. — Diary in Turkish and Cheek Waters, By the Earl or Oaruslk. Edited by
0. 0. FxLTON. Boston : Hickling, Swan <fe Brown. 1855. 12ma, pp. 299.
Prot Feltonhas p;reatly enhanced the value of this very readable book by his spier,
illustrative, entertaining notes and preface As Lord Morpeth, the author has a weil-
earnt reputation here and at home, and, though not very profound, is, as personal ex-
amination of the same ground enables us to say, a reliable authority besides being a
genial companion. His general conclusion is that the ** sick man " is nearly dead, and
that Greek Ohristianity may be vitalised enough to recover its ancient throne.
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The Book Trade. 269
^.-^The A Hat at Hmne: Prayers for the Family aod the Oloeei By clergymen in
and Dear Boeton. BostoD: American Unitarian Association. Nevr York: C. S.
Francis. 12 mo. pp., 850. 1865.
This sixth volume of a series poblishiog by the Liberal party in Boston, with the
" Book Fund " recently collecteo, is made up of the independent contributions of
twenty-five clei^men, whose names are not given, but who are among the bright'
lights of the church of progress. There is, of course, great variety, and ooccasional
failure ; but, as a whoie, familiar as we are with books of this stamp, we know of
Done so life-full, so suggestive, so charming, so sincere. Other denominations will miss
some things to which they are accustomed, but will not find a word to wound or dis-
turb. We like the brevity of most of the petitions, the well-adapted scripture selec-
tions, the Ancient Collects near the close. We are glad that the first edition was
taken up at once; and trust that this will be a favorite marriage-offering to many a
young home, the mother's parting gift to the only son, the traveler's bosom friend, the
uviting light upon that last journey taken cheerily from the Christian's sick bed.
10. — 77ie Primacy of the Apostolic See Vindicated, "By FaAtrois Patrick Eendeiok,
Archbishop of Baltimore. Svo., pp. 440. Baltimore: John Murphy A Co.
This work, as we learn from the erudite archbishop's preface, was originally pub-
lished in 1887, in the form of letters to the Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Vermont,
J. H. Hopkins, in reply to a work on the Church of Rome, addressed by him to the
Catholic Hierarchy. It was enlarged, 1846 and 1 848, and was republished with a new
and improved arrangement of the matters which it embraced. It has also been trans-
lated and published in the German language. The present edition has been farther
enlarged, and it now comes before the public in a permanent form. We confers to
have very little taste for all kinds of theological controversy, but there are minds dif-
ferently molded, who read such works with a zeal and a zest that would, if applied
to the advancement of ^ peace on earth and good will among men," produce results of
£ir greater importance to the human race. The author is an able writer and clever
controversalist.
11. — Our Countrymen ; or. Brief Memoirs of Eminent Americans. By Bensoit J. Los-
siNO, author of the Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution, etc. Illustrated by one
hundred and three portraits. By Lobsimo A BAaairr. 12mo., pp. 407. New York :
Ensign, Budgman A Fanning.
There are brief sketches of between three and four hundred Americans in this vol-
ume— statesmen, philosophers, scholars, philanthropists, divines, physicians, artists,
merchants, soldiors, mariners, mechanics, — men who have made their mark, who are
worthy of imitation as examples, or, as in tht) case of some, are to be admired for their
greatness, and to be studied as warnings on account of their faults. The prominent
points in the character, and the deeds of these men have been presented. Although
notices of some men which might appear in such a work, men who have made their
impression on their age, are omitted, yet the volume b a useful one.
12. — A Manual of Ancient History ^ firom the Remotest Times to the Overthrow of
the Western Empire, A. D. 476. By Dr. Lbonhabd Sohmitz, P. R. S. K, Rector of
the High Scliool of Edinburgh. 12mo^ pp. 466. Philadelphia: Lea <b Blanchard.
This work furnishes in a compendious form the ancient history of not only Greece
and Rome, but embraces an account of all nations of antiquity except the Jewish.
The work is divided into three parts, each part a distinct course in itself The first
comprises the Asiatic ; the second, Greece, Macedonia, and the Oreeco Macedonian ;
the third, Rome, Carthage, and the nations of Western Europe. Added to the history
are copious chronological tables, including a brief chronology of Jewish history, de-
signed to assist the biblical student. It is beyond all question one of the most com-
prehensive manuals of history extant
18. — The Mysterious Parchment ; or the Satanic License. Dedicated to Maine Law
Progress. By Rev. John Wakbman, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of
Almond, New York. 12mo., pp. 828. Boston : J. P. Jewett A Co.
A temperance tale of considerable power; increased by the fact that many of the
most horrible and shocking statements are true, or taken from actual life. The author
has succeeded, without embellishment or color, in transferring to bis pages the deplor-
able results of intemperance as they daily occur in real life. He regards the Maine
Law as the only sure remedy in the wide range of human instrumentality for the sup-
pressioQ of the eviL
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14.— 'Sermons of Rev. Iohabod 8. Sprnosb, D. D., UlU Pastor of the Second Presly-
terinn Church. L. I., author of " A Pastor'g Sketches.** With a sketch of his life.
By Rev. J. M. Sherwood. Id two volumes. 12mo., pp. 478 and 479. New York :
M. W. Dodd.
Dr. Spencer, who for nearly a quarter of a century was settled in Brooklyn, L. L,
|he '* City of Churches," was an eminent divine of the Presbyterian faith. He was
much respected by those who were accustomed to listen to his teachings, and was a
man of high repute for scholarly attainments. On more than one occasion during his
ministry he was called to the presidency of a college or university, which posts he
declined accepting. The editor of these volumes has arranged m one of them those
mainly of a doctrmal character, and in the other has placed together those which he
denominates as practical and experimental. The first volume contains a sketch of the
life and character of Dr. Spencer, and is illustrated by a well-executed engraving and
correct likeness of the subject of the memoir.
15. — A New System of Practical Penmanghip : Founded on Scienti6c Movemeots;
and the art of Pen- making explained, for the use of Teachers and Learners. Bj
James FafiMou. Boston : J. French <b Ca
The author of this treatise illustrates his theory of penmanphip with the most ele-
gant specimens of execution, which show him to be master of this branch of educatioo.
The great beauty of his method lies in the simplicity and ease with which it can be
made practically useful not only to schools, but to individuals who wish to improve
their own imperfect hand-writing. We cordially recommend to all who desire to ao-
quire a fair, legible, practical use of the pen, which may be speedily obtained br
faithfully following the rules which are presented with such simplicity in this excel-
lent and masterly system of penmanshipl
16. — Our World; or the Slaveholder's Daughter. 12mo., pp. 697. New York:
Miller, Orton <b Mulligan.
This story, like ** Uncle Tom's Cabin," is designed to show up the ** peculiar institii-
tion ** of the South. The writer disclaims the grave charges of misrepresenting socie-
ty and misconstruing facts, which he anticipates from his southein friends. He atp
tempts to give ** a true picture of southern society in its various aspects ; and details
various moral, social, and political evils, which he charges directly to the institution
of slavery." The book has merit as a story, but cannot well be read without prejodice
for or agsinst its inculcations. It will doubtless be admired by the anti-slavery, aod
denounced by the pro-slavery, party, North and South.
17. — TJie History of Switzerland, for the Swiss people. By Heinbioh ZocnosKB, with
a continuation to the } ear 1848. By Emil Zochokkb. Translated by Fbaxcis Qeo.
Shaw. 12mo.. pp. 406. New York : C. S. Francis <k Co.
The present translation of a work so popular in Switzerland, and which is used as
a text-book in many if not in all the confederate cantons of that country, is from the
ninth enlarged edition. The work is regarded as an impartial one, is concisely writ-
ten, f;nd Mr. Shaw seems to have preserved the beautiful simplicity of the authoi'a
style in his translation. The history of free Switzerland, the land of Tell, is an inter-
esting study to the American citizen.
18. — The EnglishvDoman in Pussia ; Impressions of the Society and Manners of the
Russians at Home. By A Ladt, ten years' resident in that country. ISmo., pp. 816.
New York : Charles Scrilmer.
The sketch of Russian manners and society, descriptions of scenery and plaoea
worth visiting, anecdotes embraced in this narrative, furnish an instructive and un-
commonly attractive work on a country which, from its warlike position at this time,
is exciting interest. The authoress has been a close observer; she has delineated the
Russian character, it seems to us, with discrimination, and has portrayed in an agree-
able style much of interest that she has seen or heard during ten years* residence.
19. — WoodwortfCs American Miscellany of Entertaining Knoteledge. By Fbancis R
WooDwoRTH, Author of Stories About Animals, Uncle Frank's Home Stories, Theo-
dore Thinker's Tales, etc., etc. 12 mo. Boston: Phillips, Sampson <fe Co.
The original matter of this volume before us (one of a series) is written in an enga^
ing style, which will render it attractive to youth, and the selections show care, and
generally, good taste. It is an instructive and entertaining volume for the young, and
contains much that will prove readable to thoae of maturer years.
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20. — We$ttoard JIo I The Yoyagea and Adventares of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight of
Burrough, io the * ounty of Devon, in the reigo of her Most Glorious Majesty Queen
Elizabeth. Rendered into Modem Enj;li»h. By Charlks Ei.noslkt, author of
" Alton Locke,** ** Uy patia," <fee. 1 2mo., pp. 688. Boston : Ticknor <b Fields.
This work has all the fascination of a romance, yet it is both biographical and his-
torical The events occur in the time of Queen Elisabeth, and with the adventured of
the hero of the story are interwoven the lives of many heroic men, to whom the au-
thor believes that England owes much of her naval and commercial glory. To give
these persons their just due ^eems to be the design of the writer. The l>ook is ably
written in commemoration of these men of Devon — ** Drakes and Hawkins, Gilberts
and Raleighfl, Grenvillee and Oxfnhams, their voyages and battles, their heroic lives
and heroic deaths." The self-sacrifice and heroism, the faith and valor depicted in
these pages, with the romance connected with it, invest the story with more than or-
dinary interest, for we consider it a work of uncommon vigor and power.
21. — A Burning and a Shining LigfU; being the Life and Discourses of Reverend
Thomas Spbnobr, of Liverpool By Rev. Thomas RArFLSs, D. D., LL.D., his suc-
cessor in the pastoral office, with an Introduction. 12 mo., pp. 280. New York:
Sheldon, Lamport A Blakeman. '
Rev. Thomas Spencer, a memoir of whose life, together with his discourses and some
of bis letters, are embraced in this volume, was a young man who displayed great tal-
ents as a pulpit orator. He preached a sermon before he was seventeen years of age,
and was cut off in the hey-day of life, being drowned while bathing in the river Mer-
sey, in August, 1811; then not twenty-one years of age. He had been for a time pre-
vious to £at attracting crowded congregations. The celebrated English preacher,
Robert Hall, in speaking of his abilities, says — " I entertain no doubt that his talents
in the pulpit were unrivalled, and that had his life been spared, he would, in all proba-
bility, have carried the art of preaching, if it may be so styled, to a greater peifection
than it ever attained, at least in this kingdom."
22. — Denpotism in America, An Inquiry into the Nature, Results, and Legal Basis
of the Slave-holding System in the United States. By RicHAan Hildbbth, author
of the "History of the United States," " Theory of Politics," •* White Slave," Ac.
12ma, pp. 807. Boston : John P. Jewett A Co.
Mr. Hildreth, to use a hackneyed expression, holds the pen of an able and ready
writer, and his History of the United States evinces great research and industry. The
present volume is roamly devoted to the subject of Negro slavery, and is divided into
five parts, in which he treats of the relation of master and slave ; the political, econ-
onaical, and personal results of the slave-holding system ; and concludes with the legal
basis of that system. With all Mr. Hildreth*s clearness of style and logical array of
historical data, he will not, wo apprehend, be able to make many converts to his
views, particularly among our Southern friends.
28. — A Vindication of the Calliolie Church, in a Series of Letters addressed to the
Rt Rev. John Henry Hopkins, Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Vermont. By
P&ANois pATaioK Kbmoeick, Archbishop of Baltimore. 12 mo., pp. 883. Baltimore :
John Murphy <k Co.
The pages of this volume are written in reply to a work of Bishop Hopkins' styled
•• The End of Controversy Controverted." The letters of which this latter book is
composed are addressed to Archbishop Kendrick, and contain what he calls a special
challenge to refute them addresi^ed to himself. The dogmas of the Romish Church
are ably defended in these letter:*, and they will be interesting to all who sympathize
with the author in religious belief, as well as to those opposed who read Bishop Hop-
kins' work, and to many others in opposition to such views who wish to hear the other
side.
24. — CoUon'a Atlas of the World: Illustrating Physical and Political Geography. By
Gbobob W. Colton. Accompanied by descriptipns, Geographical, Statistical, and
Historical By Richard L. Fisher, M. D.
We^ioticed in the January number of the Merchants* Magazine, Parts 1, 2, and 8
of these beautiful maps, and commended the work as a whole for its elegance of exe-
cntioD, elaborateness of design, and its apparent reliability. We have before us Parts
4, 5, 6, and 7 ; the maps are published in uniform style as regards size, finish, and
beaaty. We shall take occasion to refer to this invaluable atlas more in detail in a
ftiture number of the MerehanU* Magaxine,
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25. — A Journey to Central Africa ; or Life aD^L^ndieapes from Egypt to the Negro
Kingdoms of the White ^Ue. By Batabd Iaylok. New York: Oeoige P. Put-
nam k Co.
Having read everytbing published amooff us upon Egypt, and traveled over at
mach of that country as travelers usually visit, we are prepared to recognize this book
as the best yet written upon the subject, and one of the most instructive, reliable, and
fascinating books of travel in existt'nce. Mr. Taylor went far beyond the Second
Cataract, where Americans have hitherto stopped, with no little peril woikiog hia
way up the White Nile, till his boatmen refused to go any further, and reaching
within eight degrees and a half of the highest point ever attained by Europeans. Hb
descriptions are full of life, his spirit always buoyant, his love of aidventore bewitch-
ing, and his conclusions generally those which the intelligent will accept. No one^ of
our race will visit the true source of the Nile in our dHy ; intensity of heat, destitution
of food, hostility of natives, absence of means of travel, will keep the lips of this
sphynz sealed till the continent itself is somewhat civilized.
26. — Louit Fourteenth and the Writer b of hie Age : being a Course of Lectures de-
livered (in French) to a Select Audience in New York. By the Rev. J. f. Astik.
Introduction and translation by the Rev. G. N. Kerse. ISmo., pp. 418. Boston:
John P. Jewett k Co.
The course of lectures embodied in this volume are from the pen of a cultivated
Frenchman, who reviews an important period in his country's history — partially in its
political, chiefly in its literary features. Besides an introduction by the translator,
there are dissertations on the Age of Louis XIV., Pascal's Provincial Letters, Dor-
neille, Fenelon, La Fontame, Boileau, Racine, Moliere, Pascal's Thoughts. Mr. Aatie
considers the great elements that contributed to form the literary genius of the
Augustan epoch to have been the study of antiquity, the more or less sincere respect
for religion, and, above all, the monarchy of Louis XIV. The book is an interesting
contribution to historical science.
27. — Tlie Principlee of Metaphyeical and Ethical Science applied to the Evidences of
Religion, By Francis Bowen, A. M., Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral
Philosophy, and Civil Polity in Harvard College. 12mo., pp. 487. Boston : Hick-
ling, Swan A Brown.
The substance of this work was delivered in two courses of lectures by the Profes-
sor, before the Snell Institute in Boston, in the winters of 1848-9, and published io
that form. That edition was exhausted. The present, which has been revised and
recast, is used as a text-book of instruction by the students of Harvard College. It
treats of the leading doctrines of metaphysical and ethical philosophy, considered aa
bearing upon the evidences of religion ; and in its present form is much better adapted
to the object aimed at by the learned author.
28. — Sanders* Young Ladie^ Reader : Embracing a Comprehensive Course of Instruc-
tion in the Principles of Rhetorical Reading. With a choice Collection of Elxerdsei
in Reading, both in Prose and Poetry. For the use of the Higher Female Semi-
naries, as also the Higher Classes in Female Schools generally. By Charles W.
Sasdkrb, a. M., author of " A Series of School Readers," ** Speller, Definer, and
Analyzer," ** Elocutionary Chart," "Young Choir," ** Young Vocalist^" ^ 12mo,
pp. 600. New York : Ivison <& Phinney.
The selections of pieces for reading are from excellent authors, and the eentimenta
are high-toned. They are such frequently as abound in moral instruction or incidental
teaching. There is a due proportion of the gay with the grave.
29. — A Treatise on the Inflammatory and Organic Diseaeee of the Brain: Including
Irritation, Congestion, and Inflammation of the Brain and its Membranes — ^Tuber-
culous, Meoiogctis, Hydrocephaloid Disease, Hydrocephalus, Atrophy and Hyper-
trophy, Hydatiiis, and Cancer of the Brain. Based upon J. Rieckert's Clinical
Experience in Homeopathy. By John C. Pctxrs. Svu., pp. 186. New York :
William Radde.
This is a convenient manual on diseases of the brain, and will be interesting to physi-
cians of the homeopathic school Dr. Peters is the author and translator of nomerooi
medical treatises, and his works evince careful study and great industry.
i
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JACOB GHICKERING,
300 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON,
Haa receoUj inveDted new maehioes for maDafoctaring PI ANO-FO]^T£S, hy whieh
be b able to make tboae inatnuneots io tbe moet perfect maiuier, and witb hr greater
rapiditj tbao they bave been made beretofore. He baa spared neither labor nor ez-
penee m eetablismng one of tbe firtt 8T£AM-MILLS in tbe conntry for tiieir mana-
&ctare, tbe ateam used affording increased fedlitiea for tbe eeaaooing of atock, wbidi
is done in a moet tborongb manner. He is now able to supply orders at wbolesale or
retail Persona wisbinff for Piaoo-fortes of tbe ^rtt el€ts$, warranted to give entire
aatisfiiction, are myited to call and eyamine bis instrameots, or send vSnt orders,
wbiefa will be punctually attended ta
British Commercial Life Insurance Company,
LONDON AND AMERICA.
OFFICE No. 65 WALL STREET, NEW YORK.
ESTABI.ISHED 1880.
Capital $3,000,000, with a Largs Accumulated Surplus.
Jfew York Jiifsrees. — His Excelleiv^ Hamilton Fish, late Governor of the State of
New York ; Anthony Barclay, Esq^ K. B. M. Consul ; Stephen Whitney, Esq., James
Gallattn, Esq., Saxnnel Wetmore, £^., Henry Grinnell, Esq., Hon. Judge Oampbelly
John Cryder, Esq., J. Phillips Phentz, Esq., John H. Hicks, Esq.
Medical Examiners.— Jchn 0. Oheesinan, M. D., 478. Broadway *, F. U. Johnston
3L D., 28 East Poorteenth Street Gbo. M. Eifcvrrr,
General Agent for the United States.
Monarch Fire Insmance Co., of London,
established in 1885.
OFFICE No. 4 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK.
StJibBtnbtb Capital anlr Sinrplna ittnlr, $2,000,000,
SPECIAL FUSD» $150jOOO,
Hsld by (leir York Trustees to meet Losses. ».
I.OS8ES ADJUSTED IN NEUT YORK AND PJROMPTJLY PAID.
GEORGE ADLARD,
Resident Secretary and Genera] Agent. No. 4 Broad St, N. Y.
FIRE INSURANCE.
The Providence Washington Insurance Co,
AT PROVIDENCE, R. I.
Chartered, 178t. Capital, $200,000, all paid in (in cash) and securely invested.
Take risks against Fire on application at then: office in Providence ; and on MercBaa
dise and Buildings in tiie city of New York, on application at the office of
ASA BlGELiOW, Jr., 46 Flne-atreet, corner of William.
Pfomdewie, R. L ApHl 1 1847. SULLIVAN DCRB, FreHdtHt
HOME INSURANCE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.
CASH CAPITAL $500,000.
BuiUHNOS, Merchandise, and other Property, Insured against
Loss OR Damage by Fire, on Favorable Terms.
OFFICE NO. 4 WALL-8T.,
A. F. WILLMARTH, CHARLES J. MARTIN,
Secretary. Vioe-Preeident.
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HUNT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE.
EataMlabed JTalr, 1839,
BY FREEMAN HUJTT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
VOLUME XXXIIL SBPTEMBBR. Ift5S. NUMBER III.
CONTENTS OP NO. III., VOL. XXXIII.
ARTICLES.
AmT. rA«i.
1. OUR COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL RELATIONS WITH CHINA. By Edwabd
CDrtniNOHAM, Ehi , M«rehiuiU of China 87S
11. COMMERCE OF THE UNITRD STATES.-No. xvii. Progrpte In Peace- Indian T^ade
at the v%e^t— Extent uf Setileinent— OUima tif l^nitland and Pranoe—Ohfu Company —
CoUiBloo— DeporuUoa of the Acadians. Ry Ehoch HALc.Jr, Esq.^uf New York 983
III. STATldTltAL VIEW OP THE CO .\l MERC E OP THE UNITED STATES S90
IV. CO\IMKRClAL ANO INOUSTRIAL CITIE;* OP THE UNITED STATES.— No. xt.
THE TOWN OF QUINCY, IS MASdACHUaEIT.-*. By W. B. Duoah, M. D., of
Qtiincy* Mat-aaehueeua 303
V. THE »;OMMERCE OP THE LAKES: THE COUNTRY FROM WHICH IT COMES
AND IJ TU COME. By William Baofti, Esq , Editor of ihe Cbicagn Prew 314
Vf. FIRST REPORT OP THE MfittCANTlLB LIBKAKY ASSOiJlATiON OF DAN FRAN-
ci?h;<>. 317
VIf.COAI^ FOR WESTERN NEW YORK. By William S. Da Zbko, Etq., of Geneva, New
York 333
VIII. COMMERCE AND RESOURCES OP PINLA'^D. Ceographlcal Position— I la RelMilona
to the RiiKttan Etnpin*— PopulMtlon— Cuvernment — Trade and Commerce— ManuTiicturea
—Blockade of Ports— Port ol HeMngrorB, etc. 339
JODRNU np IRE^CANTILB LAW.
CollMon iH'tweeti aSIoop and the Steam boat Empire Slate 330
S»aii!«ury Notesi— Makt-rbaud liuiuraera 333
eCOm Trade -Failing or aStore- iJablhty of Owner. 33}
lliaiun — Hark PMltrmo and Steani'«hip reieicmph 334
ClMUterPartv— Claim lor uol Receiving a lull l^tfgo 334
Bttl vage-Riichi of Action for 335
8hip« MaMer trf— H.»rro«iiig Money -Pledging the Credit uf the Owner— When JuaUfled In 3.16
ITs'iry on Rnilmad BoitiK 336
Ba&fcmptcy In Irelaiid 337
GOiaMERGIAL CURONICLB AND RBTIBW:
XMBEAOUfa A PniAXOIAL AND OOlffMCECfAL RKVIVW OP THV OMrtlD STATES, STO., ILLUSTBA-
TKD WITH TABLB8. BTC. AS FOLLOWS:
Gert^ral Coodlllon of the Coantty— Dt-arr-'ptlon of th*» Incoming Cr«'pa -Prices of Provlsfona—
Mate of the .Money*Miirket-R}i)lri>Hd R^'ceipta for July aiM from Januiiry l«t— Foreign Ex*
ebauge— Kevi8u»u of ih« Turiif— MercniiUle Cri-dll— Kin- Proof Kuilliiiga— The B*«ik liiove*
SDunt— Re<:eipi8 of Gold aitd Ufp«>aiti» aithe New Vi>rk Ast«av Ofllce and PhtlHUttlphia Mint—
loiporta at NtiW York tor July and Hiiiue January Isi— lm|K»rts of Dry (jouda-Caah iMitien re-
ceived «tt New York— ExDiirtafri m NfW York for the Month of July and from Junnnry Isi—
£xpi*ru of Domeauc Prod ucu— The Place the Umted States are to lake in Feeding the World,
eic.«<-tc. ; 337*3tS
V#w York Cotton Market. By ULHoRNlt pRKDaaicKiiON, Brokers, New York. 345
TOL. XUUIi. — NO. IJU^ J 8
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274 00VTBNT8 or NO. m., vol. xxxin.
JOntNAL OF BANKING, CnRKENCT, AND FINANCI.
CoDdlUoiiorUieBaDkBliittMaiyor New York M7
CoDdltloirortheNttW Orleuis Banks 341
Beml-Anniial Dividends on 8toukt In Boston )S1
Asst«ssed Value of Property In Connectlcat 3S9
The San Franctsoo Mint S»
The Free and Chartered Bystfins of Banking Compared. By J. Tbompsom, Banker, New York. 3SS
The Mintofthe United (States »T
Tftxatiou oflMOurpomted Companies In New York.— The Bank of Charleston 3S8
City Finanoes of Han Francisco.— British BeTenue in 1854 and J8S5 3M
COHHEKCIAL RK6DIATI0N8.
The Rights of CoDsals and Commercial Agents 3M
BuslDess Hours ai the Custom-Houses of the United States M
Entry of Merchandise without Invoicew—Of unclaimed Goods by Owner or OonsigDee ... 3N
Costom-Uuuse Regulstlons In regard to Passengers* Bsggage.— Of the authentication of Sbipi'
Papers at Buenos .lyres 3B
Examination or Drugs by the Custom-Honse Authorities.— Of Psssengers in Vessels coming lo
the City of New York.— Cjf Selxures for Infraction or the Revenoe Laws 30
Ports of Entry, etc, on the Borders of Csnuda.— Of the Inspectiou of Flour, Beef; and Pork In
Jeflbison, La.— Custom* House Appraisement Office 3M
Sea Freight not a Dutiable Charge 9tt
GOlMKBCIAl STATISTICS.
Bhip-BulMIng iB Pbiladelpbla.— Commerce with Cuba MS
Commerce or Briush, Irish, and eioolch Ports^r— Importation of Guano into Great Britain ^
Mavlgation at Ssn Prancl8Co.—The British l-tsberles 9^
Prices of Flour in Philadelphia for Sixty Yearsw— Commerce of Kerteh.— Biport of Peeler tnm __
Dublin 3«
Brlmstons Trade of Sicily «— Sugar, CoOee, ind Indigo in Jam 39
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAHBOAT STATISTICS.
Tuable Value of Railroads In Ohio 30
Freight over the Pennsylvania Rnllroadtf— Earnings of Railroads In 1854 and 18U "1
The Contract System on the New York Canals.-Klngswood Funnel of the BalUmors apd Ohio
Railroad.— Merchandise In Bond to pass on the Great Western Railroad 3"
JOUKN&L OF 1N8URANCB.
Law of Insoranoe Companies In New Hampahirs 373
TlLxes on insurance Companies in Ohio —The Insurance Law of Kentucky tJi
STATISTICS OF POPULATION, fcc.
ResultsoftbeCeiisasof Great Britain— No. Tm. Genersl Results of the Census 33S
Emigration rrom Great Britain 377
Population, Dwellings, and Famtliea in New York 3)8
NAUTICAL INTBLLIQfiNCE.
Pubticatlon respecting the Marking of the Weser Channel 378
Princes Channel, Entrance to the 'I hemes. -Fixed Light at Gljon, North Coast of Spain 371
Fixed Light at Marseille, t<ouih Const of France 3i9
The Maritime Disasters of 1854 39
JODBNAL OF HlNlNfi AND MANDFACTCBES.
The Llfe^hlp- Proposed to be Patented M
The use of Lime-waier In maklttg Bread M
Tim Coal Plekls of Arkansas.— roe Growth and Manufkdure of Flax in Belgium 381
The American Verd Antique Marble.— Aluminum, or French Silver 381
STATISTICS OF AG BIC DLTU BE, &e.
The Varnish Tree of Texas 38*
Wheat Cn>pofeach County In the 8Ute of Ohio Jg
ThetiorghoBucre: a Rival of the dugaMSane 3W
POSTAL DEPABTHENT.
StatlsUcs of Postage in the Principal Cities of the United States.- Why Letters are not reesivsd. tfj
Compensation or Postmasters In the United States. — Rrgulstlons as to Foreign Letters ^
Corrected Proor-8heets.—Newspaper Postage in the United States 39
HEKCiNTlLK HISCELLANIBS.
Character: an Essay for Merehants 318
ConnUiig-Room Education 2*
fitick to a LeglUmate Business g
An Extensive Lhrerpool Merchant £
The Canadian Reciprocity Treaty .^-Copper Ors and Cotton : dangerous Freight £
Commercial Value of Girls in China.— The Merchant^ Clerk **
THB BOOI TBADB.
IMIoMofSSMW Books or B«wBditloBt ^^......^..^..•*«.« 3N^
• • ••••••«•«•!
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HUNT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE
AND
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
SEPTEMBER, 1855.
Irt. I.-^OUR COllERCIiL AND POLITICAl RELATIONS WITH CIIRL*
OaiKjL is of 80 much importance to the people of the United States,
both for the present trade between them and for their probable future
relations, that a few remarks upon the state of that empire, and the na-
ture of the present political convulsions, may not be out of place.
Situated as that country is with respect to the western coast of the
United States, and taking into view the European influences which now
govern the most fertile portions of the rest of Asia, it is apparent that a
close connection is roost desirable for us, while it would be equally bene-
ficial to her. By favor of their soil, climate, and patient industry, the
Chinese produce Uie two important articles of silk and tea at a cost which
will probably never he equaled in cheapness by any other country. There
are many olher products or manufactures which help to swell the trade,
and are important to the civilized world, all making together a Commerce
surpassing in value any other of Asia. The importance of tea especially
can scarcely be overrated. It is the most healthful beverage that the
world knows — invaluable in reducing the consumption of ardent spirits,
and promoting health and cheerjfulness among the hard-working classes of
society.
It needs, indeed, but little consideration of the subject to see that, with
the exception of one or two nations of Europe, China will become iji the
course of time our most important commercial connection, if no untoward
* Urn, Edwam> OninniioaAK, ih» writo of the prowot artteiet to a Biemtwr of tfca flra of Rn— n
Ik Ck>.,at Caoton and tfbangfaaet China. Mr. Cnnoljigliani baa roalded in China for more tiian tan
yeara, Is a gentleman of gnsat intelligence, and hia atatementa are enUtled to impUolt oonfldenee^—
MSd, Mm-. M*g,
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216 Our Commercial and Folitieal Relatitms with China,
event intervenes. Placed over against ns, across a sea already covered
with our sails, swarming with a busy population employed in the produc-
tion of raw materials, the alliance which subsists between the two nations
is founded on such natural grounds that nothing is needed to render it
perpetual, and cause an almost unlimited increase to their mutual Com-
merce, but the exercise of reason and judgment on the part of the stronger
power. Reason and judgment, however, while they require the exercise
of self-restraint and the practice of justice, are not consistent with the
treatment of a nation of the seventeenth century in knowledge and policy,
as if it were one of the nineteenth — with the treatment of a child, ;hs if it
were a grown man. The civilized world, moved by philanthropic feelings^
is too apt to consider any attempt to procure further advantages of trade
with Eastern nations, though equally advantageous to them as to us, ex-
cept by simple request, as unmanly and unchristian.
The sentiment is founded on a noble principle, but overlooking the
childish character of the people with whom we have to deal, and whom
it may be considered our mission to guide and cmlighten, it lead^ to re-
sults quite opposite to the wishes of those who, while they would protect
the weak, desire earnestly to give them the blessings of civilization and
Christianity. It is a consequence of ignorance and self-conceit that those
aflaicted with them will admit no new element into their system, believing
their condition perfect, and not to be improved by change. Arguments
and representations are of no avail in inducing them to receive benefits,
proofs of wliich are before their eyes, for their mental sight is blinded by
their preconceived ideas of individual and national superiority. .
Our treaty with China, and our recent success in Japan, both flowed
from the English war with the former, the first a direct consequence, and
the latter through the influence produced upon the minds of the Japanese
by the manifest effects of coming into collision with a powerful force from
a Western nation.
There seems, indeed, to be but two courses t<) extend Western connec-
tion with such nations — one to require with firmness and determinatiwj
such concessions as are raanifesily for the advantage of both parties in
the eyes of a civilized world, and to take them by intimidation and force
if refused ; the other, to wait for such opportunities as in the course of
time present themselves, and, by taking advantage of their necessities,
obtain what we require without the appearance of coercion. While the
first is not to be condemned hastily when required by the necessities of
advancing civilization, the latter is recommended by policy and good
feeling when the opportunity is not too far distant from the necessity to
make the delay a greater evil than the resort to strong measures.
England and America have now stood for some time in this position to
China. While never asking for more than they themselves give to others,
or than just international relations would warrant, they wish such conces-
sions of Chinese pride and exclusiveness as will allow the people of both
countries to profit to the full by their mutual productions, and have been
patiently waiting for their opportunity. It is not much that they ask for
the Chinese to give, but much in its ultimate re>ults both for them and for
us. They wish to reach to the interior to obtain facilities, to foster and
extend their trade in manufactured goods inward, and in tea outward,
without hindrance from the exactions of corrupt officials and the interfer-
ence of interested speculators. They wish to know more of the resources
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Our Commercial and Poiitical Belatiims with China, 27*7
of the country than they can learn from most imperfect statistics, and
from the reports of half-educated Chinese traders. Many of the intelli-
gent foreign merchants residing in Chinn, and those connected with the
trade at home, are said to entertain the belief that no advantage can flow
from access to the interior and the opening of further ports. But as the
proof can only be in the result, and as precedent is against the opinion, it
» safer to lay their want of faith rather to the disinclination to change
and the convenience of retaining business concentrated at a few ports than
to unerring sagacity.
One of the leading merchants of Canton, writing ten years ago on the
Cbina trade and after the treaty was signed, closes his article with these
words: —
^ And Canton must still, and for all time to come, remain the principal
port for foreign trade." And Sir John Da\ns, in his second book on China,
says complacently of Foochow : " Foochow, as I predicted, remains with-
out trade, and will no doubt be ultimately abandoned by her majesty's
government as a useless concession."
In 1852, the last year of undisturbed trade, Shanghae surpassed Canton
in the aggregate amount of trade, and Foochow, brought suddenly to no-
tice by successful American enterprise only one year since, sees its ri\^r
this season crowded with English ships taking to Great Britain, at a cheap-
er cost, the tea for which it is the natural outlet, for both its opening and
Its present trade are independent Of the rebellion.
With such results to former prophecies, who will believe in those now
made, or draw from them any inference but that the veil over China re-
quires but to be lifted to open new and fuller channels of trade !
To give but one illustration : The two provinces of Hunan and Hupeh,
on the Yang-tze-Kiang, produce the beet description of Congou tea, which
is the soundest and most wholesome class of the herb, and the kind un-
doubtedly destined, in time, to become the staple of the export to all coun-
tries. These teas are now sent to Canton by a difficult and expensive
route over mountains and up rivers, 600 miles long.
Hankhow, on the Yang-tze-Kiang, the river port of these provinces, is
400 miles firom the sea, on one of the finest rivers in the world. This
town is already the great distributing point for foreign cotton goods, and
we may easily conceive the advantage to the foreign consumer of tea if,
by the advent of foreign influence tojhose parts, the produce should de-
scend the river at a slight expense, instead of paying tolls half through
China, and to the foreign producer and native consumer, if cotton goods
could be placed at such a point, without having the cost enhanced by the
exactions of petty mandarins, and the uninsurable danger of passage
through the country.
The great points to gain are, the introduction of goods and the deliv-
ery of produce beyond the line 'of the seaboard under foreign influence
and safeguard ; and the opportunity to acquire further knowledge of the
wants and capabilities of the country, affoi-ded by firee access to all parts,
and free communication with the natives of diflerent provinces, which, in
80 vast a country, is equivalent to acquaintanceship with so many distinct
kingdoms, so various are they in their characters, customs, and wants.
If it be conceded, that a closer intimacy with China than now exists is
desirable, how much more readily will it be allowed that on no account
can we suflFer the, present connection to be broken f Words need not be
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2?8 Our Cammerdal and Political BelatioMrmih China.
wasted upon this point, for undoubtedly both the governments of the Uni-
ted States and England would prevent or remedy such a catastrophe, if in
their power, at any cost
Yet at this moment causes are at work which may destroy that conneo-
tion, only to be restored, if restored at all, by much expenditure of treas-
ure, and perhaps to be lost forever ; while on the other hand, at the same
period oi time, said influenced by the same causes, the opportunity for
which we have waited, presents itself, and which, while allowing us to
keep all we have, opens the way for acquiring all we may wish, without
violence and without greater expense and exertion, than the use of the
ships-of-war already stadoned at the ports of the country.
it may be fairly said, that it now depends upon the action of Great
Britain and the United States whether we are to see the Chinese trade
greatly jeoparded, and perhaps for a time destroyed, or advanced to a
greater prosperity than ever to the joint advantage of all.
To support these assertions, we must enter into a discussion of the char-
acter of the rebellion headed by Tae-ping-wang.
This movement has been sanctified in the eyes of the Christian world
by the religious guise in whicii it has appeared through the erroneous, but
not unnatural interpretation of their use of the Christian Bible. At first
sight, it was reasonable to suppose, especially for those not acquainted with
the peculiar literature and religious systems of the country, that the party
who acknowledged the authority of a foreign doctrine were more or leas
imbued with its spirit, and were, at all events, liberal in their ideas and
opposed to the narrow and bigoted policy of their countrymen.
This impression was heightened by the ready enthu«asm of the English
and Amencan missionaries, whose accounts, colored by the excitement into
which such unlooked-for success had thrown them, penetrated to every
quarter of their two countries, spreading the undoubted beli^ that China
was upon the eve of evangeli2ation.
As the movement progressed, however, aod the tenets of the supposed
reformers became developed, it was apparent to every observer who looked
beneath the surface of things, that tlie use of the Christian Bible by Tae-
ping-wang, was precisely the use already made of the Jewish Bible thirteen
centuries before, by Mahomet in Arabia.
Every new dynasty in China has been started with the promulgation of
an attachment to pure morals, love for the people, and ooedience to the
precepts of the sages. Tae-ping-wang, wishing to add to these usual
sources of influence, connects himself directly with the heavenly powers^
and as a result of this immediate connection and communication, produces
portions of a book which he finds ready written to his hand, most admir-
ably calculated, from its Oriental imagery, for eflect on Eastern minds, and
mingling with them his own rhapsodies and edicts, imposes them on his
followers as emanations from heaven, to 'be added to the classics of the
sages, and to be forever installed among the lights of the Chinese mind.
When the Susquehanna was at Nanking, the chiefe distinctly told the
Americans that their new religion did not come from foreign nations, but
was derived from their own ancient philosophy and the revelations of God
to Tae-ping-wang, and on this point they have been so consistent in all
their statements to foreigners — whether English, French, or American —
that nothing but intense desire, influencing its judgment, could have
allowed the impression of their Christianity to remain wiUi the Christian
world.
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Our Commercud and Political Belations with China, 279
There is nothing whatever in the doctrine they profess, or the mode of
life they practice, which approaches Christianity nearer than the observ-
ances of Mahometanism, or that is more, or even so much in accordance
with the tenets and requirements of a pure religion, as the precepts incul-
cated by Confucius. Of the English and American missionaries m China,
the most intelligent have abandoned their belief, where entertained, in the
sincerity of Tae-ping-wang, and we can especially instance the opinion of
the Rt. Rev. Bishop Boon, the head of the American Episcopal Mission,
one of the most sagacious minds that have visited China, and certainly not
surpassed in intelligence by any now there.
He has become fully confirmed in his early views of Tae-ping-wang —
ihat he is a selfish and blasphemous adventurer, intent only upon his own
ends, and using the Christian faith, as £eu: ^ he does use it, only as a tool
in the construction of his empire.
Nor, when closely examined, is there more to attract our respect in the
policy and military measures of this leader than there is claim to our sym-
pathy in his religion.
His policy is but a repetition of that which has prevailed in China for
ages, a simple despotism, rendered, however, more severe than was known
before in the country by his pretensions to especial authority from Heaven,
and the consequent rigor witn which his decrees are enforced, at the pain
of instant death. The government of China, hitherto, as well under the
Tartars as under their native sovereigns, has been remarkable in its des-
potism, for its attention to the wishes and interests of the people, and un-
doubtedly this singular feature, for an Asiatic government, is the living
sprinfiT which has preserved its unity and stability for so many ages. Un-
like the domination of the Caliphs, and the thousand and one conquerors
of India and the west of Asia, the principles of ^vernment in China were
founded on the disinterested inspirations of philosophy, inculcating that
the happiness and virtue of the people were the primary object, and their
care the main duty of the sovereign. These principles are still recognized,
and though the corruption of the subordinates obscures their light, and
tyranny often oppresses the inhabitant of the cities, in the country the peo-
ple enjoy a liberty only known elsewhere to the subjects or citizens ot the
free governments of the globe.
Tae-ping-wang's edicts, while they occasionally profess care for the in-
terests of the governed, are principally to establish his own undisputed
authority and supremacy, and it is apparent to the considerate observer
that himself and his family of chieCs and dependents are the main objects
of his solicitude.
His military abilities cannot be considered as proved by his advance on,
and capture of. Nankin, as yet his only military exploit A march through
provinces where there was no army in the open country, no garrisons in
the cities beyond a few disorganized battalions, enervated by idleness and
debauchery, and with no strength in their fortifications, was not an exploit
proving any great military talent.
Nankin reached and occupied, he had then for the first time to meet
actual and energetic opposition, and though his course of action showed
sufficient boldness, the result has not justified his judgment His army at
the north, far advanced beyond support, had been destroyed, and the best
of his men lost, without a counterbalancing advantage.
We have not yet commented upon that point in nis pretensions of the
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280 Our Commercial and Political Eelations with China.
X
greatest moment to foreign nations, and in which h'es the danger which
threatens our relations with China, should he prove suflSciently successful
in his enterprise as ultima* ely to hold the central and southern provinces.
It is a fundamental principle of his doctrine that he is supreme upon the
earth. Upon that foundation the superstructure is reared, and the fanatical
temper and overbearinir self-reliance displayed to the English, French, and
American visitors is sufficient assurance that he will treat with no potentate
on the earth as an equal, unless compelled at the point of the bayonet.
Much stres3 is laid by missionary writers upon the use of the word
" brethren," when addressing their foreign visitors, but it is overlookec
that that term is allowed to them only when they come reverently to pro-
fess submission and subjection, and that in every case they were forbidden
to return unless they did so with the proper gifts for tribute.
Here, then, is the certain germ of a war with the new party, perhaps in-
volving the surprise and destruction of the foreign settlement at Shanghae,
with all its valuable property, as the first intimation that we are no longer
to flatter ourselves with the title of brethren. We shou)d not consider this,
however, as imperiling our connection with China, for such a war could
not be refused by England and America, and, at the cost of some treasure
to them, and a good deal of blood to China, it could only end in the de-
struction of the party opposed to them. The greatest danger lies in such a
result to the struggle between the rebels and the Imperialists, as will leave
the former no heart to provoke foreigners to open conflict, and yet with
sufficient strength to hold and distract the southern and central provinces,
the seat of the production of tea and silk. A long continuance of trouble
and disorganization, and unsettled government, and a division of the coast
from those provinces by hostile jurisdictions, would most eflfectually ruin
foreign trade without a chance of remedy through the utmost exertions of
foreign powers.
If these views of the rebellion are correct, and the closer the examination
the stronger and more unquestionable will be found the proofs, we have
nothing to hope, and much to fear from it, if successful, wnile it gives no
promise of advancement to China, religiously or politically.
On the other hand, is the Imperial Government, to whom we are already "
bound by solemn treaty, and which has maintained its faith with us through-
out the ten years which have expired since it was first pledged, and would
now doubtless enter into closer ties in consideration of aid, trifling to us,
in our strength, but important to it in the emergency which now oppres-
ses it. Its vitality and strength are much greater than would appear from
the recent course of events and from the representations made from China,
by residents interested for the success of the rebellion. Independently of
the great source of strength in the warlike Tartar tribes which live upon
the northern border, and which would be too happy to march upon China
at the call of the emperor, he has still possession of two-thirds of the
empire, draws the greater part of the usual revenue from those quarters,
ana can recruit his forces from several hardy races of men. The country
north of the Yellow River is difficult of attack by an army from the South,
as the great distance to be traversed costs it its communications, while
every step in advance carries it nearer to the enemy's resources, and against
positions growing stronger as their own force grows weaker.
The most, therefore, that the rebel leaders can accomplish, with such
strength as they have yet shown, is to dismember the country. Tot tl con-
quest is out of the question.
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Our Commercial and Political Relation with China, 281
The Imperial power, on the contrary, is sufficiently great to retain the
whole of the northern provinces, while the western and raany of the cen-
tral and southern, still resist the entry of the rebels, or return to their al-
legiance and to tranquillity as soon, as the insurgents have passed through.
The farmers and traders of the districts bordering upon the positions oc-
cupied by Tae-ping-wang's forces, look upon them with horror, dreading
tlieir irruption into their fields and towns, and hiding their valuables in
the earth at the first alarm. They are regarded as ttieves by all peace-
able people, and that or similar names are invariably used by the Chinese
when they converse with foreigners concerning them. So general a feeling
is in itself a great element of strength to the Imperial party, as the various
districts, so tar from aiding the rebellion, seize the first opportunity to re-
turn to their old governors.
The main strength of the rebels is undoubtedly from the men trained in
the pirate fleets which have for several years preyed upon the Commerce
of China, and, were their communication with the coast cut oflf, and their
places of strength upon the Yang-tye-kiang destroyed, they would soon
yield to the pressure of the superior forces of the Imperialists. To do
this would require the intervention of foreign ships of war, but the force
to be exerted would be small, as* the Chinese fortifications and gunnery are
contemptible when opposed to European ships, though equal to the as-
saults of their own war-junks.
As to the mode and points in and at which this assistance should be
rendered, such points could only be determined by the plenipotentiaries of
the two governments after careful consideration of the circumstances ex-
isting at the time of the demonstration, and we need not venture to dis-
cuss them here. It is probable that the mere knowledge of the fact, that
the Imperialists had the aid and countenance of foreigners would half ex-
tinguish the insurrection, by giving energy and courage to the Imperial
officers.
With such terms as could be made by the foreign powers at this trifling
cost, the influence of Christian nations could be so extended through the
country that a sensible effect would be made upon the administration of*
government, and much of the corruption, heretofore existing, be corrected,
while the Chinese themselves, acted upon by the free ideas of foreigners,
would rise in political knowledge, and in time be better prepared to main-
tain the cause of the people against their rulers when necessity appeared.
Even if such pleasing conjectures should be deemed too flattering, the
most practical will not deny that the constant presence of foreign power
upon the main thoroughfares of Commerce will tend greatly to prevent
disorders when tranquillity is once restored, and give a security to our
Commerce which it has never had yet, and which its importance well de-
serves.
The time has arrived when England and the United States are bound
by every consideration of policy to take an energetic and decided part,
and that part on the side of the government to which they are already
pledged by treaties to maintain friendly connections, and which alone can
increase their privileges and preserve to them those already enjoyed. On
the one side is the reoellion, without a particle of claim upon our respect
or our sympathy, offering the prospect of a bloody war for the mere main-
tainance of our present rights, on the other is the Imperial Government
with claims upon us from previous friendly connections and pledges, ready
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282 Commerce of the United States.
to confirm all present privileges, and meet us in our further wishes, for
aid which would not cost us one tithe of the contest which threatens us
on the other side, and hy which we would gain, without violence, and
with an increase of friendly feeling on the part of hoth the governors and
the governed, all that we can desire for the promotion of unrestrained in-
tercourse.
It should not he overlooked that the force required for such desirable
results is only that which the two countries are, at all events, obliged to
keep in the ports of China, to protect the persons and property of their
subjects and citizens from destruction by the forces of either party, very
likely, at times, to be both in the attitude of foes, if the present policy of
neutrality is continued. Nor that all the intervention, that is believed to
be requisite, is the simple action of foreign governments in maintaining
their actual rights by force, proclaiming publicly their determination to do
BO, thus giving only such support to the Imperialist cause as would be
afforded by the maintainance of public order under their government at
the ports which we have already, or are to have, the right by treaty to
frequent.
The choice of alternatives seems to be ^unquestionable. An opportuni-
ty, which we might well have prayed for, presents itself, and a catastrophe,
which we should feel for years in its effects, threatens us, and we have
only to move our little finger to profit by the one and prevent the other.
Art. II.— COHBBBGE OP THE UNITED STATES.
MUMBBE Zni.
PftOOBBtt IN PBACB— IKDIAH TRADB AT THB WBtT-BlTBNT Of •BTTLBMBMT— CLAlMi OP Blf«I.AKB
AMD FRAMCB— OOIO COMPANY— COLLlfllOR—DBrORTATIOII OP TBB ACADlANt.
The return of peace, in 1748, was earnestly welcomed by all the colo-
nists, but especially by those who had borne the heaviest burdens and in-
curred the chief dangers of the war, distasteful as to them were some por-
tions of the arrangements at Aix-la-Chapelle.
War, when of that earnest character which imposes a heavy tax upon
the energies of the belligerents, whether for the purpose of self-protection,
or for the accomplishment of schemes of offense, of acquisition, or, as the
popular phrase now is, of " annexation," cannot, however successful, be
long agreeable to a civilized people. The condition of physical antagon-
ism is, in every possible phase, utterly repugnant to the interests of an ad-
vanced or progressive state of human society.
Not much allowance is, indeed, to be made for the taming of human
passions by civilization ; for these, divested of what may be termed their
diplomatic dress, are essentially as barbarous in an enlightened Caucasian
of to-day, as they were in the rough Teuton material that plundered the
coasts of that England which it was itself, in another stage of England's
being, to become. The difference is simply, that the action of the civil-
ized man's propensities are more clogged. His limbs are not free, like the
wild man's, to perform whatever species of rude exercise he may fancy;
»
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dmmerce cf the United States. 28S
tnd if he undertakes to figbt, his blows are timed to the unpleasant musio
of a crash amonff his surrounding wares. "When nations boasting of their
pre-eminent inteuigentiai altitude, about equally armed with the destruc-
tive forces of modern warfare, and capable of imparting and sustaining
equal inflictions, commission heroes to push them against each other, thej
have worked themselves up, as ladies of spirit sometimes do, until they
don't care for a little ruin. They don't go at it^ with the quiet indifference
of the savage. War among the community of civilized powers, with their
multifariety of delicate peace begotten and peace-nourished interests, is like
a game at cricket in a crockery warehouse.
Savages may fight perpetually. It is no trouble for them ; they can at
any time accommodate you with a set-to, without considering it the slight-
est inconvenience. If it were not for the ever-available amusement of
scalping and roasting each other, they would all die of ennui. Civilized
people can only fight spasmodically. They have to generate a certain
amount of excitement, and when the stimulus has become exhausted, they
want to rest awhile until thev can recover fresh inspiration. They want
to look after the fragments of their shattered goods, and put their shelves
again in order ; they want to cast up accounts and see how the balance
stands on the page of Profit and Loss. They must fight by intervals, and
every period of war must have its period of reinvigorating repose.
Upon the peace succeeding to a destructive or costly war, the interests
of peace, if their elasticity has not been destroyed, push forward with an
energy unknown to the condition of ordinary peace. Men return to their
accustomed employments, with a spirit hungered by the interruption ; and
in the few years which elapse before the current subsides into its natural
channel, results are often achieved which seem to obliterate every vestige
of flame and powder.
It was so now. In the short peace of 1748-56, the colonies made un-
exampled strides. Commerce rapidly augmented, by the increase both of
exports and imports — the internal resources were more exposed — new pro-
ductions were developed, under legislative and other stimulus, a.td old pro-
ductions extended — population multiplied through the combined sources
of natural progression and of emigration — the public credit, left in so de-
pressed a condition, resumed its former vitality, and the burdens which the
war, conjoined with all adverse causes, had imposed upon the colonies,
seemed but trifles to the vigorous prosperity which rioted in the dissipa-
tion of all untoward influences.
The home-government, eminently satisfied with the assistance rendered
by the colonies through the war, undertook of itself to take care of the
debt occasioned by the contest, without asking from them any unusual con-
tributions to relieve it of the onerous burden. Such measures as were
adopted in reference to the colonies, were intended solely, and were well
calculated to increase their prosperity. Among these was an act by Par-
liament, in 1751, prohibiting the northern colonies from creating or re-
issuing bills of credit, except on extraordinary occasions. In this inhibi-
tion Pennsylvania, though regarded as one of the northern colonies, was
not included, her bills being still nearly at par.
Another act of Parliament, in 1763, opened the Levant trade, before
confined to the Turkey Company, to all persons in British plantation built
vessels, navigated according to law, that is, with a proper proportion of
British subjects as seamen, which proviskm was invariably attached to
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284 Cammeree of the United StaUi.
whatever acts were passed regarding the outward trade of the kingdom
and of its colonies.
As population increased, settlement was gradually pushing westward,
but the progress in this direction was much faster in the southern than in
the northern colonies, where the leading pursuits induced a stronger ten-
dency to concentration, and where the proportion of considerable towns
was much, larger than in the lower section. In New England, although
the coast was so thickly occupied, nearly all of Maine and Vermont, a
large part of New Hampshire, and even a portion of Massachusetts, were
yet wilderness region. In New York, population was almost confined to
the line of the Hudson River and its branches. In 1753, at the time Ben-
jamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia and one of the
two Deputy Postmasters-General of the colonies, there were but 57 miles
of post-road in New York, the total in the colonies being 1,532 miles, of
which New Hampshire had the least, and North Carolina the largest,
amount* In Pennsylvania, the population was pushing toward the moun-
tains, in the center of the present State.
In Virginia, the westward tide had passed the Blue Ridge, running
through the heart of what is now comprised in the State, and approaching
toward the farther range of the Alleghanies, and had met the upper branches
of the rivers that empty into the Ohio, at a distance of about two hundred
miles from the coast. Toward Carolina, at this time, a strong emigration
was going on from the north, especially from Pennsylvania, and there were
large bodies of Protestants moving thither from Europe, of whom 1,600
arrived in the year 1752. All these, finding the coast region occupied,
their took position in the interior and back parts, approaching toward the
hills that form the boundary of the present State of Tennessee.
For the purposes of trade with the Indians, regions had been entered at
distances considerably beyond the western limits of population. New
York had a single fortified establishment on Lake Ontario. Pennsylvania
had of late taken the lead in the Indian trade, the field of her operations
being the Tieighborhood of those great confluents of the Ohio, the Alle-
ghany and Monongahela, with their abundant branches. Following the
course of their north-western rivers, the Virginia traders had visited the
region of the Upper Ohio, and established friendly intercourse with some
tribes of that vicinity. To the territory of the Ohio, Virginia laid claim
as being a portion of that colony .f Kentucky, with its greflt Indian pop-
ulation and abundant resources of trade, seems to have been entirely neg-
lected, except in so far as some of its tribes were perhaps met at other
points. The Carolinians had crossed the mountains and entered into Ten-
nessee, to traflic with the powerful nations in that quarter, which was em-
braced within their charter. The young colony of Georgia, confined by
the Spaniards from penetrating to the south, had they been so minded,
and limited by their charter to about half the width of the present State,
had, in addition to the trade at Augusta, on the Upper Savannah, estab-
lished some intercourse with the great population of the wilderness inter-
posing between themselves* and the French colonies of the Alabama and
Mississippi. •
* Report of 8. R Hobble, late Asststant Poatmnster-Oeneral.
t The whole of the present sute of Ohio was iocludtMl in the ohariera of Vtn^nia and CoDiieeti-
eut, the former claimloK all landA weetwardly between 36 deg. 30 min. aod 4Udeg. N. ; Ute iauer
aU between 4i deg. and 43 deg. N.
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Commerce of the United States. 286
The principal of the tribes or families with which the trade of the col-
onies was conducted was the Six Notions^ with whom they had, also, im-
portant political relations. The domain occupied by them, or over the
tribes of which their authority extended, lay in New York and Pennsyl-
vania, and rea<^hed even to Virginia, and into the Ohio wilderness. The
gijvernors of New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, several times assem-
bled for the purpose of effecting joint treaties with them, and the main
object of the first Congress of all the colonies, in 1'764, was to arrange the
teruis of alliance with this powerful league, relative to the then impending
French war. Excepting this confederacy, almost the whole body of west-
ern Indians, whose position was near enough to the English frontiers to
make their infiuence available in the war, were, at least after the war be-
gun, warmly enlisted in behalf of the French ; but the steady friendship
of the Six Nations compensated in a great degree to the northern colonies,
and to New York more than compensated, the attitude of the rest, as the
barrier they presented on the side toward Canada was almost impreg-
nable.
The Ohio region,* where the traders of Pennsylvania and Virginia re-
sorteil, was inhabited by the Twigh twees, since called the Miamis, and
who before the war were very friendly to the, English, the Delawares, who
had roved thither from Pennsylvania, the Wyandots, Shawanese, and many
others, each of them raising several hundred warriors. The trade at Ten-
nessee and Georgia was carried on with the Cherokees, Chickasas, Creeks,
&C., tribes which counted their fighting-men by many thousands.
The French moved through the depths of the continent with a celerity
unnatural to the English. Their efi'ort was rather to see how broad an
extent of superficial empire they c< uld hold, than to establish the tbunda-
-tions of a durable power. They ridiculed the slew motions of the Eng-
lish, and had the fullest confidence, while acknowledging their utter infe-
riority in numbers, of acquiring, through their superior celerity, full
possession both of the Ohio aud Mississippi Valleys, and of confining the
English to the Atlantic slope of the Alleghanies. Their course of coloni-
zation was accordingly laid out in a direction transverse to that of their
rival, 80 as to intercept the lateral progress of the latter across the conti-
nent They naw undertook to complete the barricade by which fiiij
thousand people were to hem in a million, by drawing a line of forts be-
-tween the extreme points of their population spots.
Without the eflScient aid of France this boundary-line of the fifty thou-
sand would, of course, have been like a spider's web drawn across the path-
way of a man. And as the aid of France no more than countervailed the
support rendered by England to her colonies, the disparity still remained.
In a fair, open field Massachusetts could, in fact, have exterminated the
whole French and Canadian force employed in this war, and the colonies
ofifered, in case England should consent to the plan of union devised by
them in 1754, to take care of their combined enemies without any assist-
ance from that quarter. The most formidable agencies in the hostile
league were the wilderness position in which the enemy was intrenched,
his incursive mode of waifare, and the employment of the Indians, with
their distressful and perplexing system of ojierations.
The English claim to the 1. ke region and the Ohio Valley, the field of
the present dispute, as gravely asserted at the time, was founded upon the
conquest of that territory by the Six Nations, who were assumed to be
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286 Commerce of the United States.
vossclU of England, a position which the confederacy would never have
recognized, at least in the sense that their property was the possession of
their great white father. A broader claim rested upon the original dis-
covery of North America by Cabot, under which the earlier grants ex-
tended/ro^Ti sea to sea. The French rested their claims upon the explora-
tions of La Salle, Tonti, and Hennepin, which were perfectly valid in regard
to the lakes and the Mississippi, but it does not appear that any of their
earlier adventurers had ever navigated the Ohio. They had uniformly
passed to and fro between the lakes and the Mississippi by the branches of
the latter running from the vicinity of Lake Michigan through Illinois.
La Salle knew scarcely more of the Ohio than he did of the N iger, or of
the unknown stream since named the Columbia, and the Mississippi sys-
tem was quite too vast to be appropriated entire by the simple act of sail-
ing along its main artery in an Indian canoe. The French had of late
traded somewhat, it would seem, in the Ohio region, and appear, also, to
have made some journeys to and from Canada by way of the river itself;
but the £nglish had traded there as well, and the former had established
neither settlements nor forts along the route. The Indians alone occupied
the whole teri:itory.
Thus, the pretensions were about equally respectable, upon which the
French undertook to shut up the English within the Alleghanies, and the
English to drive the French back into Canada.
From the mid-banks of the St Lawrence, the nucleus of the colonial
empire of New France, fortified posts had been long established along the
upper waters of the river, and at its source, on Lake Ontario, was the im-
portant fort and trading site of Frontenac, now covered by the British etty
of Kingston. At the other end of the lake, or rather on the river be-
tween the Lakes Ontario and Erie, was the still more important fort and
station of Niagara. At the other end of Lake Erie was the fort and town
of Detroit, connecting with the various forts and establishments of the up-
per and greater lakes, and commanding the old avenue to the Mississippi
Beside the full control of the great lake-chain, the French had, also, by a
fortification at Crown Point, far within the colony of New York, and in
proximity to her northern settlements, acquired complete command of
Lake Champlain, and of the trade of Upper New York, and of the upper
portion of the present State of Vermont, then a wilderness claimed by the
three bordering colonies. New York, Massachusetts, and New Uampshire:
They were thus in possession of a vast internal water communication,
while the English, excepting a small trade at Lake Ontario, navigated only
a few rivers and bays connecting directly with the ocean.
The French had yet been unable, or perhaps deemed it premature, either
by fortification or otherwise, to effect the design of securing the possession
of the new route between Canada and Louisiana, when ^e English, antic-
ipating the project, made a movement for the occupation of the territory.
A corporation was formed, after the peace of 174{5, called the Ohio Con»-
pany, composed of English merchants and some traders and influential
gentiemen of Virginia, to whom the king granted 600,000 acres of land
on or about the Ohio, as a portion of Virginia, for the purposes of a fur-
trade with the Indians, and for settiement. In 1752, the company had
set about their plans with vigor, and to facilitate their operations had com-
menced a road to extend from the Potomac to the Ohio, across the whole
width of Virginia. Grants were also made to other companies in the
tame region.
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Cwnmeree of the United States. 287
The jealousy of the Pennsylvanians, whose Indian trade was about to
be monopolized by this association, and whose territories were perhaps to
be appropriated, (for Virginia seems to have regarded the western portions
of Pennsylvania as a part of her domain,^ was highly excited. They
alarmed the Indians with the idea that their lands were to be taken from
them by the avaricious association, and thus prepared them to act vigor-
ously with the French. It seems, also, that they gave early intelligence
to the French of the designs and transactions of the company.
The new governor of Canada, the Marquis du Quesne, was alarmed at
this project, and wrote to the governors of New York and Pennsylvania,
asserting the claim of France to the country east of the Ohio, as far as the
Alleghanies, forbidding any further encroachment upon the grounds of
his iQOst Christian Majesty, and declaring that unless the intruders were
removed, he would be under the necessity of seizing them, wherever
found.
A strong fort was meantime in course of construction at Presque Isle,,
a peninsula on the southern side of Lake Erie, at the northwest comer of
Pennsylvania, the point whence the new route to Louisiana was to diverge
from the old. The threat being disregarded, three of the company's
traders, while the survey was going on for a settlement in I7dd, were
seized by a party of French and Indians and conveyed to this fort. A
communication was also immediately opened and secured to the Ohio.
Southward from the fort at Presque Isle, and within easily communicable
distance, a temporary fortification was erected on French Creek, a branch
of the Alleghany, and sixty miles further down the same branch at its
junction with the Alleghany, another station was formed, at the Indian
settlement of Venango, the site of which is occupied by the present town
of Franklin, in Venango county, Pennsylvania. These works were only
sufficient to protect the few men defending them against small arms, and
were designed to be replaced by more elective structures. Ihe last-
named point, not a hundred miles from Lake £rie, and about half-way be-
tween the lake and the forks of the Ohio, seems as far as the chain was
carried this year.
The T\¥ightwees, one of the tribes with whom the English had been
trading, in retaliation of the outrage upon their allies, and evincing their
willingness to aid them in a contest with the French, seized several Jb'rench
traders and sent them to Pennsylvania. As yet most of the tribes in that
neighborhood were adverse to the French, being jealous of their progress
and of their evident intentions, and were friendly to the English.
Threatened with the ruin of their whole project, the Ohio Company
made loud complaints to Lieutenant-Governor Dinwiddle, of Virginia, who
dispatched Major Washington to the French commandant on the Ohio
with a missive, demanding the evacuation of the forts built within the do-
minions of his Britannic Majesty. Major Washington's journey illustrates
the state of internal communication at that time. He started from Wil-
liamsburg, the capital of Virginia, October 31, 1753, reached Will's Creek,
the westernmost settlement of Virginia, in fifteen days, and the forks of
the Ohio, fifty miles from Will's Creek, in nine days more ; arrived at
Venango December 4th, proceeded to the fort beyond, delivered the let-
ter, started on his return on the 15th December, and, though using all
expedition, did not reach Williamsburg with the Frenchman's answer until
January 16th, 1754.
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288 Commerce of the United States.
In the earlj part of 1754 the Ohio Company sent a party of thirty men
to construct a fort at the Ohio forks — the point where the Alleghany and
Monongahela merging, the Ohio commences — and the government of Vir-
ginia soon after dispatched Major Washington with a regiment from that
colony, aided by a company from South Carolina and another from New
York, about 400 men in all, to the s^me point. The first party had just
commenced the fortification, when a French force drove them off, and com-
pleted the work, a strong fort, which they named Du Quesne. The posi-
tion is now occupied by the large manufacturing city of Pittsburgh. A
large force was stationed at this important point, and a detachment of
1,600 French and Indians being sent out, defeated Washington, and obliged
him to return to Virginia.
Meanwhile the French, aided by the Indians, were encroaching at Nova
Scotia, in hopes of regaining the whole province. The engagement to
neutrality, and even the oaths of allegiance to England which some of
them had taken, were no restraint whatever. Gov. Shirley, during this
year, made an expedition to Maine, explored the Kennebec, made a treaty
with the Indians of that neighborhood, and erected two or three forts for
defense of the country, and as trading stations.
Perceiving war to be inevitable, the English government, through the *
Secretary of State, the Earl of Holderness, had written to the governors
of the several colonies, recommending the formation of a umoUy and par-
ticular attention to the point of securing the friendship of the Six Nations,
enjoining them also to repel force by force, and if possible to dislodge
the French from their posts at the Ohio region. Delegates had already
been appointed from seven of the colonies — Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire, Rhode Island, Connecticrut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland
— to meet at Albany, for the purpose of conferring with the Six Nations;
and Gov. Shirley now recommended to the other govemots that they should
discuss the subject of a confederation.
Having arranged the affair with the Indians, the convention proceeded
to the matter of the union, and on the Fourth of July adopted the plan of
a confederacy, the delegates of Connecticut alone dissenting. There was
to be a President-General and a Grand Council, empowered to make gen-
eral laws, to declare war, and make peace, to raise money for the defense
of the colonies, regulate trade with the Indians and otherwise, lay duties,
&c. If the plan were adopted, the cc»nvention promised the defense oT
the colonies and expulsion of the French from their territories, without
any assistance from England. For opposite reasons. Parliament and the
Provincial Assemblies both rejected the scheme.
The ministry in lieu of this project, suggested a c^^uncil of the gov-
ernors, who 'should be empowered to draw on the British treasury for all
necessary expenses, which the colonies should repay through a general
tax imposed upon th« m by Parliament. Of course, the proposition to con-
cede sj easily the right of taxing the colonies, and to make room for the
appointment of a multitude of greedy officials to "eat out tlie substance"
of the people, was rejected by the colonies.
Early in 1755, France sent strong reinforcements to Canada and Louis-
burg, and the English government dispatched Braddock, with a resj>ect-
able force, to Virginia, and Admiral Boscawen, with a fleet, to the Gulf of
St Lawrence, to intercept the French armament, and to look out for mat^
ters in that ouarter. Ma.<^achu8ett8 alone, while co-operating with the
rest of the colonies at other points, undertook to oust the French from
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ComMMne of ike United Statee. 289
Nova Scotia, of which they were like to regidn full possesaon — a result
which would have been fatal to the pursuit of the fisheries in the Gulf re-
gion by New England. This was the first of four great ^peditions m^de
by the oolonies during the year, and the only one that was completely suc^
cessful. The force, consisting of 8,000 men, under Colonels Monckton
and Winslow, sailed from Boston on the 20th May in forty-one vessels,
landed at C^quecto Bay, at the head of Bay Fundy, took forts Beau
Sejeur and Gaspereau, on the neck between the waters of Fundy and the
Gulf of St Lawrence, and also the forts on the New Brunswick coast
above, which were abandoned at their approach. Thus was full posses-
sion acquired of the province according to the boundaries claimed by
England.
As it was considered unsafe to leave the large French population there
daring the war, the English governor of the province, in concert wiUi
Admirals Boscawen and Mostyn and the conmianders of the expedition,
resolved to deport them in a body, and scatter them through the English
colonies, with the view of their being there made naturalized subjects of
England.
The Abb^ Raynal draws a charming picture of the colony thus de-
spoiled. The numb^^ of the French Acadians were about 1 8,000. On-
fipnally, the engrossing pursuits were hunting, fishing, and the fur trade ;
but before the cession to England in 1713, they had established a respect-
able agriculture. They cultivated wheat, oats, rye, barley, maize, and
potatoes, and raised the wool, fiax, and hemp, out of which they made
their own clothes. They had a little trade with Louisburff, from which
they obtained a few European articles in exchange for gram, cattle, and
fara. Their exchanges among themselves were still fewer. They knew
nothing of paper currency, so common in the rest of North America ;
even the small amount of specie which had entered was not in circulation.
They possessed about 60,000 head of cattle, 70,000 head of sheep, 50,000
hogs, and many horses. They knew nothing of lawsuits, and we may
thei-efore well believe, were virtuous, frugal, industrious, and happy, with
manners of the simplest kind. They were devotedly loyal to France, and
ready at all times to assist in the re-establishment of her dominion.
The lands, houses, cattle, and other possessions of this primitive people
were declared forfeited by the alleged disregard of their former engage-
ments, and about 7,000 of them, being allowed to take their money and
a small amount of furniture, were driven on board the vessels, and scat-
tered in their destitute state along the shores of the Southern colonies,
where the inhabitants gave them some succor. About 500 were landed
in Pennsylvania, of whom over half soon died. Of the balance of the
Acadians, some — to avoid the transhipment — fled into the woods and
joined the Indians ; others escaped to Louisburg, to St John, (now Prince
Edward's Island,) and to Canada ; some reached Louisiana and the French
colony at Hayti.
The houses left behind them were burned, their lands laid waste, and a
complete ravage effected, in order to prevent their return. Those who
were exported addressed a pathetic remonstrance to the British govern^
ment, which was unheeded ; but after the peace, they were allowed to re-
turn, and lands were given them (m taking the oath of allegiance. But m
1772 there were only about 2,000 French remaining in Nova Scotia.
The Uiree vnsucceBsful expeditions of the year were Braddock's disss-
▼OL. ZXXIU. — no. TXU 19
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290 Staiutical VUw of the Commerce of the U. States.
trous attempt against Fort Du Quesne^ which followed the road laid out
by the Ohio Company in 1763, widening and improving it as they pro-
grossed ; that of Gkn. Johnson against Crown Point, who, tliough &iling,
defeated Dieskau ; and that of Gov. Shirley against the forts Frontenac
and Niagara.
These results left the whole Western frontier exposed to the ravage of
the Indians, who carried more than 1,000 captives from Pennsylvania and
Virginia. In the latter colony, they penetrated to and crossed the Alle-
ghanies, and were so furious in their destructive course, and so feebly op-
posed, that it was feared the whole western population of the colony would
be obliged to retire to the eastward of the Blue Ridge.
In the midst of these operations, in 1755 Samuel Hazard, of Philadel-
phia, petitioned the king for leave to estatblish a colony of several thousand
people on the Ohio. Such a colony, well provided, would have been prob-
ably the best defense both of the provinces and of their western territoriea,
but it does not seem to have been encouraged.
The influence of the war, thus far, upon Pennsylvania, is seen in the
reduction of her exports from 244,647/. in 1754 and 245,644/. in in 1753,
to 144,456/. in 1766. Yet the general Commerce of the colonies had not
depreciated ; but, on the other hand, there was a large increase in the
imports of Great Britain.
Art. in.— STATISTICAL VIEW OP THE COMMEECE OP THE U. STATES.
We propose in the present paper to exhibit as complete a statistical
view of the trade, Commerce, and navigation of the United States as the
sources of inforrfiation (chiefly official) will permit. The tabular state-
ments are, in the main, derived from the reports of the Secretary and
Register of the Treasury, and although not entirely correct, yet the best
and most reliable extant
Prior to 1821, the Treasury reports did not give the value of imports
into the United States. To that period their value, and also the value of
domestic and foreign exports, have been estimated from sources believed
to be authentic. From 1821 to 1854, inclusive, th6 value has been taken
from o£Bcial documents.
We commence with a tabular statement exhibiting the gross value of
exports and imports, from the beginning of the government of the United
States (1789) to the 30th of June, 1854, as here subjoined. In this table,
from 1789 to 1842, inclusive, the commercial or financial year of the
United States ended on the 30th of September ; and in the last-named
year it was changed by an act of Congress, so that from 1843 to ihe pres-
ent time it ends on the 30th of June.
OaOSB VALUE or EXPORTS AMD IMFOatS F&OM 1789 TO 1864, IHGLQBIVB ; —
Domestic Foreign mer-
prodace ebaodlM ImporliL
T«ar«oiidii«— exported. exported. Total. ToteL
1790 $19,666,000 $689,166 $20,206,166 $28,000,000
1791 18,600,000 612,041 19,012,041 29,200,000
1792 19,000,000 1,768,098 20,768,098 81,500.000
1798 24.000,000 2,109,672 26,109.672 81,100,000
17M. 36.600,000 6,626.288 88,026,288 84,600,000
1796. 89^00.000 8.489.472 47.989,472 69,766^8
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StatUtieal View of (he Commerce cf the XT. Staiee.
291
ForalfQBier-
produce chandtse Imports.
Teart ending— exported. exported. Total. Total.
17«« 140,764,097 $26,800,000 leV.Oei.OOY $81,486,164
n»7 29.850,206 27,000,000 56,850,206 75.879,406
1798 28.527,097 88,000,000 61,527,097 68,561,700
1799 83.142,622 45.628,000 78,666.522 79,069.148
1800 81.840,908 89,180,877 70,971,780 91,252.768
1801 47.478,204 46,642,721 94,115,925 111,868.511
1802 86,708,189 85,774,971 72.488.160 76,388,888
1803 42,205,961 18,594,072 55,800,088 64,666,666
1804 41,467,477 86,231,697 77,699,074 85,000,000
1805 42.887,002 58,179,019 95,566,021 120,600,000
1806 41.258.727 60.288,286 10U86,968 129.410,000
1807 48,699,592 59,643.558 108,848,150 188,500,000
1808 9,488,546 12,997.414 22,480,960 56.990.000
1809 81,405,702 20.797.581 52.203.288 59.400,000
1810 42.866.675 24.891.295 66,757.970 85.400,000
1811 45,294,048 16,022.790 61.816,888 58.400.000
1812 80,082.109 8,495.127 88.527,286 77,030,000
1818 25.008,182 2.847,865 27.855.997 22,005,000
1814 6.782,272 145,169 6,927.441 12,965,000
1815 45.974,408 6,588,850 52.557,758 118.041,274
1816 64.781.896 17,138.156 81,920.452 147,108.000
1817 68.818,500 19,858,069 87,671,569 99.250.000
1818 78,854,487 19.426,696 98,281.188 121,750,000
1819 50,976,388 19,165,688 70.142,521 87,125.000
1820^ / 51.683,640 18.008,029 69,691,669 74.450,000
1821 48.671.894 21,302,488 64,974,882 62,585,724
1822 49,874,079 22,286,202 72.160,281 88,241.541
1828 47,155,408 27.548,622 74.699,080 77,579.267
1824. 50,649,600 25,387,157 75,986,667 80.549,007
1825 66.944,745 82,590,648 99,585,888 96,840,076
1826 58.055,710 24,589,612 77,695,822 84,974,477
1827 58,921,691 28,408,186 82,824,827 79.484,068
1828 50,669.669 21,596,017 72,264.086 88,509.824
1829 55,700,198 16.668,478 72,858,671 74,492,527
1880 59.462.029 14,887.479 78,849,608 70,876,920
1881 61,277,057 20,088,526 81,810,588 108,191,124
1882 68,187,470 24.089.478 87,176,948 101,029,266
1888 70,817.698 19.822.785 90,140,448 108,118,811
1884 81,024,162 S3,812,811 104,886,978 126.621,882
1885 101,189,082 20.504,496 121,693.677 149,896,742
1886 106,91 6,680 21,746.860 128.668,040 189,980.086
1887 95,564,414 21,864,962 117,419.876 140.989,217
1888 96,083.821 12,452,795 108,486,616 113,717,404
1889 108,588,891 17,494,525 121,028,416 162,092,182
1840 118,895,684 18,190,812 182,085,946 107,141,519
1841 106,882,722 15,469,081 121.851,808 127,946.177
1842. 92,969,996 11,721.588 104,691,584 100,162,087
1848 77,793,788 6,652,697 84,846,480 64,758,799
1844 99,716,179 11,484,467 111.200,046 108,485,085
1845 99,299.776 15,846,880 114,646,606 117,264,564
1846 102,141.898 11,846,623 118.488,516 121,691,797
1847 150,687,464 8,011,158 158,648,622 146,545,688
1848. 132,904,121 21,128,010 164,082,131 154,998,928
1849. 182,666,955 18,088,865 145,765.820 147.857,489
1850 186,946,91 2 14,951,808 161,898,720 178,188,818
1851 196.689,718 21,698,298 218,888,011 216,224,988
1852 192,868,984 17,289,882 209,658,866 212,945,442
1858 213.417,697 17,568,460 280,976,157 267,978,647
1854.. 258,390,870 24,860,194 278,241,064 804,562,881
$4,578,714,067 $1,821,208,881 $5,894,917,898 $6,721,482,984
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2^
StatisUcai View i^ih$ Ommeroe of the U. SUUee.
The table which follows will show at a glance the amount of tonnage
belonging to the ship-owners in the United States, in each of the years
from 1789 to 1854. Ouj progress in tonnage is without a parallel in the
history of maritime powers. From 123,893 tons in 1789, we have gone
on increasing this important auxiliary of trade, till in 1854 we have
reached a tonnage of nearly five nuUions, as will be seen in the following
table : —
TONNAOS or THB UKITKD STATES FROM 1789 TO 1854.
In this table the years end from 1789 to 1834 on the 31st of December,
and from 1835 to 1842 on the 30th of September, and from the last-named
year to 1854 on the dOth June : —
•TATEMEIIT KZHURINa THS AMOUNT OF TWE TONNAGB OF THB UNITBD 8TATB8 ANinTALLT
FEOIC I78f TO 1854, DfOLUSITB.
Tean.
Begistered.
178d
12S,898
1790
846,254
1791
868,110
1792
411,488
1798
867,784
1794
488,868
1795
829,471
1796
576,788
1797
597,777
1798
608,876
1799
662,197
1800
669,921
1801
682,907
1802
560,880
1808
697.157
1804
672,680
1806
749,841
1806
808,265
1807
848,807
1808
769.054
1809
910,059
1810
984,269
1811
768,852
1812
760,624
1818
674,868
1814
674,688
1815
854,295
1816
800.760
1817
809,725
1818
606.089
1819
612,980
1820
619,048
1821
619,896
BoroUedan
licensed.
77,669
182,128
189,086
153,019
158,080
189,755
218.4P4
255,166
279,186
294.952
277,212
802,671
814.670
881.724
852,015
869.874
891.027
400.451
420.241
478,542
440,222
440,515
463.650
509.878
491,776
484,577
513.883
571,459
590,137
619,096
647,821
661,119
679,062
TDteL
201,562
274,377
602,146
564,457
520,764
628,618
747,965
881,899
876,918
898,828
989,4<»9
972,492
947,677
892,104
949.172
1,042,404
1.140.868
1,208,716
1.268,548
1,242,596
1,850,281
1,424,784
1,282,502
1,269.997
1,166,629
1,159,201
1,868,128
1,872,219
1,899,912
1,226,185
1,M0,751
1,280,167
1,298,958
Yean.
1822
1828
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1880
1881
1832
1888
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1839
1840
1841
1842
1848
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1858
1854
Beglatored.
628,150
689,921
669,973
700,788
789,978
747,170
812.619
660,148
576,475
620,468
686,990
750,027
857,488
885,821
897,775
810,447
822,692
834,245
899.765
945.803
975,859
1,009,305
1,068.765
1.095,172
1,130,286
1,241,313
1,360,887
1,488.942
1,585,711
1.726,307
1,899,448
2.108,674
2,283,819
Enrolled aik
iioeBseo.
696,649
696.645
719.190
722,824^
796,2U
873,48a
928.772
610,656
615,801
647,395
762.460
856,124
901,469
939,119
984.828
1,086,287
1.178.048
1.262.284
1.280.999
1.184.941
1.117.032
1.149.298
1,211,830
1.321.880
1.431,798
1.597.788
1,798.155
1,895,074
1,949,74^
2,046,182
2,238,992
2,303,886
2,469,088
TotaL
1.824,699
1.386,566
1,889.168
1,428.112
1.584,191
1,620,608
1,741,892
1,260.798
1.191.776
1,267,847
1,439,450
1,606,151
1,758,907
1.824.940
1.882,108
1,896.684
1.996,640
2,096,479
2,180,764
2.180,744
2.092.891
2,158.608
2,280.095
2,417,002
2.562,084
2,889.046
8.154,042
8,834.016
8.586.454
8.772.489
4,188.440
4.407,010
4,802.902
The followin^^ table presents a comparative view of the tonnage of the
United States, (registered and enrolled,) and also shows the tonnage em-
ployed in the whfUe fishery, and the proportion of enrolled and licensed
tonnage, in tons and 95th8, employed in the coasting trade, ood fishery,
mackerel fishery, and whale fishery, each year from 1815 to 1854, inclu-
ave:
Digitized by
Google
SHiUtieal View of th$ O&mmeree of the U. 8kLie$.
Registered Enrolled
Tears. tooniige. toooage.
1815 864,294 74 618,888 04
1816 800,769 68 671,458 85
1817 809,724 70 690,186 66
1818 606,088 64 619,096 61
1819 612,980 44 647,821 17
1820 919,047 63 661,118 66
1821 619,896 40 679.062 80
1822 628.160 41 696,648 71
1828 689,920 76 696.644 87
1824 669,972 60 729.190 87
1826 700,787 08 722,828 69
1826 737,978 16 796,210 68
1827 747,170 44 873,487 84
1828 812,619 84 928,772 62
1829 660.142 88 610,664 88
1830 676,666 88 616,811 10
1831 .-. 620.451 92 647,894 82
1882 686,989 77 762,460 89
1888 750,026 72 856,128 22
1884 857,488 42 901,468 67
1885 886,620 60 989,118 49
1886 897,774 51 984.828 14
1887 810,447 29 1,086,288 40
1888 822,691 86 1,178,047 89
1889 884,244 64 1,262,284 27
1840 899,764 76 1,280,999 85
1841 846,808 42 1,184,940 90
1842 975.868 74 1,117,081 90
1848 1,009,805 10 1,149,297 92
1844 1,068,764 91 1,211,880 11
1845 1,096,172 44 1,321,829 67
1846 1.181,286 49 1,481,798 82
1S47 1,241,812 92 1,697,782 80
1848 1,860,886 85 1.798,155 00
1849 1,488,941 53 1,896,078 71
1860 1,586,711 22 1,949,748 01
1861 1,726,807 23 2,046,123 20
1852 1,899,448 20 2,288,992 27
1 858 2,103,674 20 2,303,886 28
1864 2,883,819 16 2,469,083 47
Toonaflre em-
ployed io steam Ooastlog
Tears. Davlgation. trade.
1816 436,066 87
1816. 479,979 14
1817 481.457 92
1818 508,140 87
1819 628,666 20
1820 639,080 46
1821. 669,436 67
1822. 678,080 02
1828 24,879 08 566,408 88 67,621 14
1824* 21,609 78 689,228 01 68,419 00
1826 28,061 02 687.278 07 70,626 02
182« 84 068 76 666,420 44 68,761 42
1827 40,197 66 732,937 65 74,048 81
1828 89,418 26 768,922 12 74,947 74
]8i9 64,086 81 608,858 10 101,796 78
1880 64,471 74 516,978 18 61,564 57
1881 84.446 66 689,728 74 60,977 81
1S82 90,813 84 649,627 40 54,027 70
1888 101,849 61 744,198 60 62,720 70
1834 122,815 02 783,^18 65 64,408 70
1 886 122,816 02 792,801 20 72,374 18
298
Baglstered
tonnage in the
irbale flfbery.
8,471 41
16,184 77
81,700 40
85,891 00
26,070 88
46,449 42
89,918 18
88.166 70
85,879 24
41,757 38
46,668 21
54,621 08
67,284 88
88.911 82
82.816 79
72,868 84
101.158 17
108,060 14
97.640 00
144.680 60
127.241 81
119.629 89
181,845 25
186,926 64
167,406 17
161,612 74
162,374 86
168,298 68
190,696 65
189,980 16
193,858 72
192,179 90
180.186 29
146,016 71
181,644 52
193,797 77
198.208 44
181,901 02
Proportion of the enrolled tonnage employed in the
-^ • Cod Mackerel Whale
ftsfaery. fleherj. flahery.
26,610 88 1,229 92
87,879 80 1,168 00
68.990 26 849 92
68.651 72 614 68
65.044 92 686 86
60,842 66 1,068 66
61.861 49 1,924 40
58,405 86 8,188 60
586 87
180 08
'226*88
828 94
180 84
'79287
481 82
877 47
478 88
864 16
Total
tonnage.
1.868.127 78
1.872.218 63
1,899,921 41
1,225.184 20
1,260,761 61
1,280.166 24
1,298.968 70
1.324.699 17
1,386,665 68
1,889.168 02
1,423.110 77
1.634.189 88
1,620,607 78
1,741,891 87
1,260.797 81
1,191,776 43
1,267.846 29
1,489.460 21
1.606.149 94
1,768,907 14
1,824.940 14
1,820,132 66
1,896,686 69
1,996,639 80
2,096,478 81
2,180,764 16
2,180,744 87
2,092,890 69
2,168,601 93
2,280,095 07
2,417,002 06
2.562,084 81
2,839,045 77
8,164,041 86
8,884.015 29
8,535,454 23
8.772.439 48
4.188.440 47
4,407,010 48
4.802,902 63
86,978 88
46,210 80
47,427 72
48,726 48
61.082 11
64,448 11
Digitized by
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294
SioHatieal View of the Commerce of the U. States.
Tonnage em-
ployed in steam
Tears. navigation.
1886 146,656 89
1887 164,764 98
1888 198,413 68
1889 204.988 04
1840 202,889 29
1841 176,088 86
1842 229,661 16
1848 286,867 68
1844 272,179 88
1846 826,018 68
1846, 847,898 02
1847 404,841 69
1848 427,891 08
1849 ' 462.894 26
1860 626,946 90
1861 688,607 06
1862 648.240 69
1868 614,097 87
1864 676,607 12
Proportion of the enrolled tonnage employed* in the
Coasting
trade.
878,028 21
966,980 60
1,041,106 18
1,168,661 80
1,176,694 46
1.107.067 88
1,046,768 89
1,076,166 69
1,109,614 44
1.190,898 27
1,289.870 89
1,462,628 86
1,620,988 16
1,780410 84
l,7f 6,796 42
1,854,817 90
2,C08,02l 48
2,184,266 SO
2,273.900 48
Cod
flshery,
62.807 87
80.661 89
70,064 00
72.268 68
76,036 66
66,661 84
64,804 02
61,224 26
86,224 77
69,826 66
72,616 17
70,177 62
82.651 82
42,970 19
86.646 80
87,476 89
102,659 87
109,227 40
102,194 16
Mackerel
fishery.
64,426 26
46,810 90
66,649 16
86,988 89
28,269 19
11.821 18
16.096 88
11,776 70
16.170 i6
21.418 16
86.468 16
81,461 18
48,668 78
78,868 78
68,111 94
60.689.02
72,546 18
69,860 48
86,041 14
Whale
fishery.
1,678 26
1.894 86
6,229 65
489 69
877 81
148 88
821 14
206 92
439 68
'482'75
The total value of our imports, and the imports consumed in the Uni-
ted States, exclusive of specie, and the value of foreign and domestic ex-
ports, exclusive of specie, and the tonnage employed, during each fiscal
year from 1821 to 1854, have been as follows : —
IMPOETS, KXPOBTB, OONBUtfPTION, AND TONNAGE.
Total imports.
Imports for
Domestic
Foreign
Total exports,
Tears.
Includiug specie.
coDHumptton.
exports.
exports.
ncludlDg specie
1821
162,685,724
$48,696,406
$48,671,894 $10,824,429
$64,974,882
1822
88,241,641
68,867.426
49,874,079
11,604.270
72.160.281
1828
77,679,267
61.308,986
47,166,408
21,172,436
74,699,080
1824
80,549,007
68,846,56?
60,649.500
18,822,606
76,986,657
1825
96,840.076
66.376,722
66,809,786
28,798.688
99,685,888
1826
84,974,477
67,652.677
62.499,855
20.440.984
77,695,822
1827
79.484,068
64.901,108
67.878.117
16.431.880
82 824,827
1828
88.509.824
66.976.475
49,976.632
14,044,608
72,264,686
1829
74,492,527
64.741,571
65.087.807
12,847.844
72,868,671
1880
70,876,920
49.676,009
58.624.878
18,145,857
78.849,608
1881
108,191,124
82,808,110
69.218.588
18,077.069
81,310,688
1832
101,029,266
76,827,688
61.726,629
19.794.074
87.176,948
1888
108,118,811
88.470,067
69.960,856
15.577,876
90.140,488
1884
126.621,882
86.978,147
80,628,662
21,636,558
104,386,978
1885
149,895,742
122,007,974
100,469.481
14,756,321
121,698,577
1886
189,980,086
158,811.892
106,570,942
17,767,762
128,663,040
1837
140,989,217
118.810.671
94,280,896
17,162.232
117,419,876
1838
118,717,404
86.662.698
96,660,880
9,417.690
108,486,616
1839
162,092,182
145,870,816
101,626,638
10,626,140
121.028.416
1840
107.141.619
86.260,886
111.660,661
12,008,871
132,086.946
1841
127.946,177
114,776.809
108.686.286
8.181,286
121.851,808
1842
100.162,087
87.996.818
91.799,242
8.078,758
104.691,634
1848
64,768,799
87.294.129
77,686.864
6.189.886
84,846.480
1844
108,486,086
96.890.648
99.631.774
6.214,068
111,206,046
1846
117.264,564
106.699.641
98,455.880
7.584.781
114,646,606
1846
121,691,797
110.048.859
101.718.042
7.866,206
118,488.516
1847
146.545,638
116.257.696
160.674.844
< 6.166.764
168.648,622
1848
164,998,928
140.661,902
180,208.709
7.986,802
164.082,181
1849
147,867,489
182,665,168
181.710.081
8.641.691
146.766,820
1850
178,188,818
164.082,088
184,900.288
9,476.498
151,898,720
1861
216,224,982
200.476.219
178,620.188
10.296.121
218.888,011
1862
212.946.442
196,072.696
164.981,147
12,087,048
209.641.626
1868
267,978.647
261.071.868
189,869,162
13.096,218
280.452,260
1664
804,662,881
276,987,889
216,167,604
21,691,923
878,241,064
4^70,804,696 8,687,044,006 8^72,699,164 466,806,896 4,066,879,883
■Tonnage.
1,298,958
1,824,699
1,836.566
1,889,163
1,428,112
1,634.191
1,620,608
1,741,892
1.260,798
1.191,776
1,267,847
1,489,450
1,606,161
1,768,907
1.824,940
1.882,108
1,896.686
1,994.640
2,096,880
2,180.764
2,180,744
2,092.891
2.168.608
2,280,096
2,417,002
2,662,086
2,889.046
8,164,042
8,884,016
8.586.464
8,772,489
4,188,441
4,407,010
4,802,908
75,698,401
Digitized by
Google
StatUHeal View of the Oommeree of the U. Statee. 295
The following table furnishes an interesting view of the progress of our
import trade in connection with the progress of population and consump-
tion. It will be seen that the consumption of foreign imports from 1821
to 1831 varied but little, from 1831 to 1835 it gradually increased, until
it reached in 1836 nearly $11 per capita. That was a year of extrava-
gance and speculation, and the consumption fell to about $7 60 the next
year, fluctuating from that amount to *3 or 14 per head until 1851, when
it again increased to more than $8, and for each of the years 1853 and
1864, it reached $10 per capita.
STATKMElfT IXHIBniNG THE VALUE OF FOREIGN MBBOHAKDISE IMPORTED, RE-EXPORTED,
AKD 00K8U1IED, ANKUALLY, FROM 1821 TO 1864, INCLUSIVE; AND ALSO THA ESTI-
MATED POPULATION AND RATE OF CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA DURING THE SAME PB*
riod: —
t VALCB OF FORZION MERCHANDISE. ^
Tears ending—
Imported.
Re-exported.
CoDMimed and
on band.
PopoIatioD.
1821
$62,686,724
$21,802,488
$41,288,286
9,960,974
1822
88,241,541
22,286,202
60.955,889
10,288,767
1828
77.679,267
27,648,622
60,086,645
10.606,640
1824
80,649,007
26,887,167
66,211,850
10,929,828
1826
96,840,075
82,690,642
68.749,482
11,262,106
1826
84,974,477
24.589,612
60.484,865
11,574.889
1827
79.484,068
28,408,186
66.080.982
11,897,672
1828
88,609,824
21.696.017
66.914.807
12,220.455
1829
74,492,627
16.668.478
57,884.049
12,543,238
1880
70,876.920
14.887,479
66,489,441
12,866,020
1881
108,191,124
20,088.626
88.167,598
18,286.864
1832
101,029,266
24,039,473
76,989,798
18,706.707
1888
108,118,811
19.8?2,736
88,296,676
14,127,060
1884
126,621,882
28.812.811
108,208,521
14,647.898
1886
149,896,742
20.604,495
129,891,247
14,967,786
1886
189,980,085
21.746.860
168,238,675
15,388,079
1887
140,989,217
21,864,962
119,184,256
15,808,422
1888
118,717,404
12,462.796
101,264,609
16,228.765
1889
162,092.182
17.494.626
144,697,607
16,649,108
1840
107,141,619
18.190.812
88,961,207
17,069.468
1841
127,946,177
15,469.081
112,477.096
17,612,607
1842
100,162,087
11.721,688
88,440,649
18,166.661
1848
64,763,799
6,662.697
68,201.102
18.698,616
1844
108,486,086
11.484.867
96,950.168
19,241,670
1846
117.264,664
16.846,830
101,907,784
19,784,725
1846
121,691,797
11,846.628
110,845,174
20,327,780
1847
146.646.6 88
8.011,168
188,684,480
20,780.886
1848
164.998,928
.21,128,010
188.870,918
21,418,890
1849
147,867,489
18,088,866
184,768.674
21,966.946
1860
178.188,818
14,961,808
168,186,610
28.246.801
1851
216,224 982
21,698,298
194,626,689
24,260,000
l8/»2
212.946,442
17,289.882
195,666,060
24,600,000
1853
267.978,647
17,668.460
260,420,187
26,000.000
Ib64
804,662,881
24,850,194
279,712,187
25,760.000
Consvnip-
Uonper
capita.
$4 14
6 92
4 71
6 05
5 66
5 22
4 71
5 47
4 61
4 89
6 25
6 61
6 26
7 09
8 64
10 98
7 68
6 28
8 68
6 21
6 88
4 87
8 11
5 OS
5 16
6 42
6 60
6 26
6 18
7 02
8 02
8 00
10 00
10 00
$4,870,804,696 $689,963,684 $8,781,211,062
The years in the above table until 1843 end on the 30th of June; the
figures for that year are for nine months. From the 30th of June, 1843,
to 1854, the fiscal years end on the last-mentioned day of the month.
We now give a table showing the value of merchandise, the product
and manufacture of foreign countries, and the produce of our own coun-
try exported annually from 1821 to 1854. In this table the years end as
stated in the preceding statement
Digitized by
Google
29^
SiaUiiical View of the Commerce <^ ike U. Statee.
STATEKSMT XZHIBITI1f« THB TALDB OF FOEHON MKEOHAVDISK AKO DOM KnO nOVOOB, WSO,
EZPOBTBD ANNUALLY FROM 1821 TO 1864: —
t VALUE OF EXPORTS, EXCLUSIYS OF 8PE0IB. ^
* • rORBlON MBRCHAMDIIB. >
Free of Paying Domertlc Valiwor Speeteand
Years. vdutj. duty. TotaL produce. exports. boliion.
1821 $286,698 $10,687,781 $10,824,429 $48,671,894 $64,496,828 $10,478,069
1822 874,716 11,101.806 11,476.022 49,874,079 61.860,101 10,810.180
1828 1,828,762 19,846,878 21,170,686 47,166,408 68,826,048 6,872.987
1824 1,100,680 17,222,076 18,822,606 60,649.600 68,972,106 7,014,662
1826 1,088,786 22,704,808 28,798 688 66,809,766 90.608,854 8,982,084
1826 1,086,480 19.404,604 20,440,984 62,449,866 72.890,789 4,704,683
1827 818,844 16.417,986 16,231,880 67,878,117 74,109,947 8,014,880
1828 * 877,239 18,167,889 14,044,678 49,976.682 64,021,210 8,242,476
1829 919,948 11,427,401 12,847,844 66,087,807 67,484,661 4,924,020
1880 1,078,696 12,067,162 18.146,867 68,624,878 71,670,786 2,178,773
1881 642,586 12,434,488 18,077,069 69.218.688 72,296,662 9,014.931
1882 1,846,217 18,448,867 19,794,074 61,726,629 81,620,608 6,656,840
1883 6,165.907 12,411,969 17,677,876 69,960,866 87,628,782 2,611.701
1834 10,767,038 10,879,520 21,686,658 80,623,662 102,260,216 2,076,768
1836 7,012,666 7,743,656 14,766,321 100,469,481 116,215,802 6,477,776
1886 8,684^896 9,282,867 17,767,762 106,670,942 124,888,704 4.824,886
1887 7,766,189 9,404.048 17,162,282 94.280,896 111,443,127 6,976.249
1838 4,961,806 4,466,884 9,417,690 96,660,880 104,978,670 8,608,046
1839 6,618,442 6,007,698 10,626,140 101,625.688 112.261.678 8.776.748
1840 6.202,662 6,806,809 12,008,871 111,660,661 128.668,932 8,417,014
1841 8,963,064 4,228,181 8,181,286 108,636,286 111,817,471 10,034,882
1842 3,194,299 4,884,464 8,078,768 91,799,242 99,877,996 4,818,680
1843* 1,682,768 3,466,672 6,139,886 77,686,864 82,826,689 1,620,791
1844 2.251,650 8,962,608 6,214,068 99,631,774 105,746,832 6,464,214
1846 2,413,060 6,171,731 7,584,781 98,466.830 106,040,111 8,606,496
1846 2,342,629 6.622,677 7,866,206 101,718,042 109.688,248 8,906,268
1847 1,812,847 4,868,907 6,166.764 150,674,844 166.741,598 1,907,024
1848 1,410,807 6,576,499 7,986,806 180,208,709 188,190,616 16,841,616
1849 2,015,816 6.626,276 8,641,091 181,710,081 140,861,172 6,404,648
1860 2,099,132 7,376,861 9,475,498 184,900.288 144,376,726 7,622,994
1861 1,744,154 8,662,967 10,296,121 178,620,188 188,916,269 29,472,762
1852 2,688,169 9,498,884 12,087,048 164,931.147 166,968,190 42.674,186
1868 1,894.046 11,202.167 13.096.218 189,869.162 202,966,876 27,486,875
1864 8,260,461 18,500.686 21,761,187 258,220,074 274,981,211 41,422.428
99,497,701 848,647,286 448,144,986 3,810,611,724 8,768,756,660 884,580,498
In the following table we have a statement of the value of imports into
the United States, including specie and bullion, and distinguishing mer-
chandise paying duty and free of duty : —
VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM 1821 TO 1864.
Years. Specie fc ballion. Free of duty. Paying duty. TotaL
1821 $8,064,890 $2,017,428 $52,608,411 $62,686,724
1822 8,369,846 8,928,862 76,942.888 88,241,541
1823 6,097,896 8.950,892 88,580,979 77,679,267
1824 8,879.836 4,183,988 67,986.234 80,649,007
1826.. 6,160,766 4,796,746 86,892,666 96,840,076
1826 6,880,966 6,686,808 72,403,708 84,974,477
1827 8,161,180 8,708,974 67.628,964 79,484,068
1828 7,489,741 4,889,486 76,180,648 88,609,824
1829 7,408,612 4,401,889 62.687,026 74,492,527
1880 8,156,964 4,690,281 68,180,675 70,876.920
1881 7,806,946 6.150,680 89,784,499 108,191,124
1832 6,907,604 8,841,949 86,779,818 101,029^66
1888 7,070,868 25,877.582 76,670,861 108,118.811
1884 17.911.682 60,481.548 68.128,162 126.621,882
1835 18,181,447 64,809.046 71,966.249 149,896,742
""" • Nine monUis to June 30, 1643.
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m
Yean. Speole & bnlUon.
1886 1 1 3.400,881
1887 10.616,414
1888 17.747.116
1839 6,696,176
1840 8,882,818
1841 4,988,633
1842 4,087,016
1848 ♦. 22,890.669
1844 6.880,429
1846 4,070.242
1846 8,777,782
1847 24,121.289
1848.
1849.
1860.
1861.
1862.
1868.
1664.
6,860.224
6,661,240
4.628.792
6,468,692
6,605,044
4,201,882
0,906,162
Free of duty.
$78,666,600
68,733,617
48,112.889
70.806,61^
48.813,391
61.031,098
26.640.470
' 18,184,026
18.936.462
18.077,698
20,990,007
17,661,847
16.366,379
16,726,426
18.081,690
19.662,996
24,187,890
27,182,162
26,827,660
Pnyiikg duty.
197,928,664
71,789,186
62.867,899
86,690,340
49,946,816
61,926.446
69,634.601
29,179,216
83,668,164
96.106,724
96,924{D68
104,778,002
132.282.836
125.479,774
156.427,986
191.118,346
188,262,608
286,696,118
272.646.481
Total.
$189,980,036
140.989.217
113.717.404
%62,092,132
107.141,619
127,946,177
100,162,087
64.763,799
108,435,036
117,264,664
121,691,797
146,646,638
164,998,928
147,867,489
178,138.819
216,224,932
212,946,442
267,978.64t
306,780,268
Total 1286.686.277 $820,868,748 $8,265,677,644 $4,872,022,669
The warehousing system of the United States went into operation in
1846-7. The Register of the Treasury furnishes us with a table showing
the value of goods remaining in warehouse at the close of each quarter
from September 30, 1847, to June 30, 1854, as exhibited by the quarterly
returns of the collectors of the customs, under the provisions of the act
of August 6, 1846, and also the amount of duties payable thereon.
' TALUB OF GOODS IV WAaXBOCSB, AND DUTIES : —
Periods ending— Value.
SeptemberSO. 1847 $3,618,768 00
December 81, 1847
March 81, 1848
June 80, 1848
September 80, 1848
December 81, 1848
March 81, 1849
June 80, 1849
September 80, 1849
December 81, 1849.
March 31, 1860,
Jooe 80, 1860.
September 80, 1860
December 31, 1860
March 31,1861,
June 80,1861.
September 80, 1861
December 81, 1861.
March 81, 1852
June 80, 1862.
September 80, 1862
December 81, 1862.
March 81, 1868
June 30,1868
September 80, 1868.
December 81,1868
March 81, 1864.
Joae 80, 1864,
4,863.691 00
6,291,179 00
6,272,276 00
6,419,676 00
7,201,246 00
6,460,693 00
7,880,010 00
6.021.627 00
6,163,161 00
6,600,318 00
8,247,066 00
8,162,721 00
7.807.628 00
7,127,761 00
10,047,061 00
12,049,892 00
11,807,498 00
9,819,476 00
8,728.066 00
7,684,993 00
7,236,800 00
7.610,227 00
11,998,170 00
12,410,907 00
16,668,612 00
14,268,408 00
18,814,187 00
Daties.
$1,264,624 65
1,624.887 16
1,669,067 39
1,936,464 00
1,649,182 86
2,162,644 60
1,702,689 87
2,601,894 86
1,927,764 72
1,997,686 76
2,009,166 8S
8,077,129 80
2,930,036 49
2,884,419 60
2,293.090 13
8,172,328 08
8,748.694 48
8,676,980 61
8,169,668 74
2,866,664 76
2,626,281 78
2,482,760 66
2,790,948 28
4,626,668 87
4,601,968 46
6,668,427 49
6,068,006 69
6,160,066 26
Total $248,161,800 00 $81^76,979 84
Average quarterly value. $8,626,642 00 $2,91 8,463 64
• Nine monUM to June 30, 1843.
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298
Statiitical View of the Commerce of the U. StaUe.
VALUE or GOODS IX WAREHOUSE, AND DUTIES.
We now proceed to give a tabular statement of the value of certain ar-
ticles, the most prominent, imported into the United States during each
of the yem from 1845 to 1854, inclusive, (after deducting re-exportations,)
and the amount of duty which accrued on each during same period re-
spectively, as follows : —
184S.
Artlclet. Value. Duty.
Woolens $10,604,428 18,781,014
Cottons ; 18,860,729 4,\)08,272
Hempen goods 801,661 198,642
Iron and manufactures of. 4,075,142 2,416,008
Sugar. 4,049,708 2,666,076
Hemp, unmanufactured... 140,372 66,122
Salt 888,869 678.069
CoaL 187,962 180,221
Total $84,003,266 114,671,418
1847,
Articles. Value. Doty.
Woolens $10,639,478 $3,192,298
Cottons 14,704.186 8,966,798
Hempen goods 626,871 121,688
Iron and manufactures of . 8,7 1 0,1 80 2,7 1 7,878
Sugar , 9,406,268 8,160.444
Hemp, unmanufactured .. . 66,220 19,462
Salt 878,87 1 228,892
Goal 880,875 162,008
ToUl $46,860,929 $18,668,868
1849.
Ariielea. Value. Duly.
Woolens $1 3,608,202 $8,723,768
Cottons 16,188,769 8,769.665
Hempen goods 460,835 92,067
Iron and manufactures of . 9,262,667 2,778,770
Sugar. 7.276.780 2,182.784
Hemp, unmanufactured... 478,282 148,470
Salt 1,424,629 284.906
Coal 882.264 114,676
Total $47,970,668 $18,089,956
18SI.
Articles. Value. Duty.
Woolens $19,289,980 $5,881,600
Cottons 21,486,502 6,348,695
Hempen goods 616,289 128,048
Iron and manufacturee of . 10,780,812 8,284,094
Sugar 18,478,709 4,043,618
Hemp, unmanufactured. . . 212,81 1 68,848
Salt 1,0)^6,800 205,060
Coal 478,095 148,429
Total $67,816,898 $18,493,882
1846.
Value.
Duty.
$9,986,925
$3,480,797
12,867,422
4,866,488
696,888
188,894
8.660.681
1,629.581
4,397,239
2,718,860
180,221
62,282
748.666
509.244
836,691
254,140
$82,818,588 $18,668,796
1848.
Value.
$16,061,102
17,206.417
606.900
7,060,470
8,776,228
180,885
1,027,666
426,997
Duty.
$4,196,007
4,166,678
121,880
2,118,141
2,632,667
54.100
205.531
1^8,099
$50,844,100
$13,622,898
18$0.
Value.
Duty.
$16,900,916
$4,682,457
19,681,612
4,896,278
490.077
98,016
10,864,680
8,269,404
6,960,716
2,085,215
674,788
172,485
1,227.518
245,604
861,855
108,667
$57,052,157
$16,547,865
18fi!.
Value.
Duty,
$17,348,184
$4,769,083
18,716.741
4,895,827
848,777
68,755
18,848,569
5,632,484
18,977.898
4,198,218
164.211
49,268
l,102,10t
220,420
405,658
121.695
$70,901,628 $19,950,246
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SiatUtical View of th$ Commerce of ike U, States,
299
18iS. 1864.
Artleles. Valae. Pnty. Value. Duty.
Woolens 12*7,061,984 17,459,794 $81,119,664 $8,629,180
Cottons 26,412,248 6,699,388 82,477,106 8,158,992
Hempen goods. 488.604 86,721 69,824 11,681
Iron and manufactures of . 26,998,082 8,074,017 28,288,241 8,486,462
Sugar 14,168,887 4,260,501 11,604,666 100,689
Hemp, unmanufactured... 826,812 98,044 885,682 ^58,195
Salt 1,041.677 208,816 1,290,975 268,196
Goal 488,491 , 146,647 686.926 176,777
Total 196,916,080 $26,928,277 $105,762,014 $29,297,882
The tables which follow relate to our domestic exports, including cot-
ton, rice, tobacco, breadstufis, provisions, &c. Cotton, which " is king,**
comes first in order. The table below shows the quantity and value of
that product exported annually from 1821 to 1854, inclusive. We also
give m connection the average price per pound in each of the years em-
braced in this table : —
BTaTKMBNT KXHIBmNO THE QUAMTTTT AMD VALUB OP OOTTON KXPORTCD ANNUALLT F&OM
1821 TO 1864. iMOLUsrvc. and the ayesagb pbigb FEa pound.
At. cost
JPeftlsland, Other. ToUl. per lb.
Yean. Poandt. Pounds. Poundi. Value. cents.
1821.. 11,844,066 118,649,889 124,898,405 $20,167,484 16.2
1822 11.260,685 188,424,460 144,675,096 24,086,058 16.6
1828 12,186,688 161,686,682 178,728,270 20,445,520 11.8
1824 9,625,722 132.848,941 142,869,668 21,947,401 15.4
1826 9,665,278 166,784.629 176,449,907 86.846,649 20.9
1826 6,972,852 198,562,668 204,686,416 26,025,214 12.2
1827 16,140,798 279,169.817 294,810,115 29,859,645 10
1828 11,288,419 199,802,044 '210.690,468 22,487,229 10.7
1829 12.888,807 262,008,879 264,887,186 26,576,811 10
1880 8,147,165 290,811.987 298,469.102 29.674,883 9.9
1881 8,811,762 268,668.022 276,979,784 26,289,492 9.1
1882 8,748,378 818,451,749 822.216.122 81.724,682 9.8
1888 11,142,987 818,585,617 824,698,604 86,191,105 11.1
1884 8,086,987 876,601,970 884,717,907 49,448,402 12.8
1886 7,762,786 879,686.266 887,858,992 64,961,802 16.8
1886 7,849,697 415,721.710 428,681,807 71,284,926 16.8
1887 6,286,971 488,964,566 444,211.587 68,240,102 14.2
1888 7,286,840 688,616,957 696,962,297 61,666,811 10.8
1889 • 6,107,404 408,666.808 418,624,212 61,288,982 14.6
1840 8,779,669 785,161,892 748,941,061 68,870,307 8.6
1841 6,287.424 628.966,676 680,204.100 64,880,341 10.2
1842 7,264.099 677,462,918 684,717.017 47,598,464 8.1
1848 7,616.079 784,782,027 792.297,106 49,119,806 6.2
1844 6,099,076 667,684,879 668,638,455 64.068,601 8.1
1845 ;. 9,389,625 868,616,871 872,906,996 61,789,648 6.92
1846 9,888,688 688,169,622 547,658,065 42,767,841 7.81
1847 6,298,978 620,926,986 627,219,968 68,416,848 10.84
1848 7.724,148 806,560,288 814,274,481 61,998,294 7.61
1849 11,969.259 1.014,688.010 1,026.602,269 66,896.967 6.4
1860 8,286,468 627,146,141 685,881,604 71,984,616 11.8
1861 8.299,666 918.987,488 927,287,089 112.816,817 12.11
1862 11,788.076 1,081,492.664 1,098.280,689 87,965,782 8.06
1868 11.166,165 1,100,406,206 1,111,670,870 109,456,404 9.86
1864 10,486,423 977,346,683 987,888,106 98,596.220 9.47
Total... 807,448,704 17.169,890.986 17.466.889,639 $1,742,108,898
The quantity and value of manufactured articles, produced in the Uni-
t^ States, exported to foreign countries for the last nine years have been
as follows : —
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6,126
24,174
1,187.828
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10,618
12,578
179.666
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Digiti
z^d by Google
802 Statistical View of the Commerce of the U. States.
The quantity and value of tobacco and rice exported in each of the
years from 1821 to 1854, with the average coat of each article per hogs-
head and tierce is given in the following table :— ;-
QUANTITT AKD TALVB OW TOBAOOO AND KIOB KXPOETBD AMHUALLT rmOM 1821 TO 1854, »•
CLUSIVB.
— XVBA\^;U.^-
Ar.cott
Ar.coet
Yeaw.
H0gdM»d8.
Value.
perbbd.
Heroes.
Valae.
per troe.
1821
66,868
$6,648,962
$84 49
88,221
$1,494,807
«$16 94
1822
83,169
6,222.888
74 82
87,089
1.663.482
17 84
1823
99.009
6,282,672
63 45
101,365
1,820,986
17 96
1824
77.883
4,866,666
62 34
113.229
1,882,982
16 68
1826
76,984
6,116,628
80 48
97,015
1,926,245
19 84
1826
64,098
6,847.208
83 42
111,063
1,917,445
17 26
1827
100 026
6,677,123
65 75
113,618
2,343,908
17 55
1828
96,278
5,269,960
54 78
176.019
2,620,696
14 97
I82d
77,181
4.982,974
64 60
182.923
2,614,370
18 92
1880
88,810
5,686.866
66 66
130,697
1,986,824
15 20
1881
86,718
4,892,388
56 41
116,617
2,016,267
17 80
1882
106,806
5,999,769
56 17
120,827
2,162,681
17 89
1888
88,163
6,766,968
69 20
144,163
2,744,418
19 04
1884
87.979
6,696,806
74 96
121,886
2,122,272
17 41
1886
94,363
8,260,677
87 44
119,861
2.210,881
19 94
1886
109,042
10,058,640
92 24
212,983
2,648.760
11 97
1887
100,282
5,796,647
57 82
106.084
2.809,279
21 76
1888.
100,693
7,892,029
78 48
71,048
1,721,819
24 28
1889
78,995
9,882,948
124 47
98,820
2,460.198
26 86
1840
119,484
9,888,967
82 72
101,660
1,942,076
19 10
1841
147,828
12,676,7^)3
86 07
101,617
2,010.107
19 78
184-2
168,710
9.640,765
60 11
114,617
1,907,887
16 64
1848
94,464
4.660,979
49 24
106,766
1,626,726
15 28
1844
168,042
8,897,265
51 60
184,715
2,182,468
16 20
1846
147,108
7,469,819
50 75
118,621
2.160,466
18 21
1846
147,998
8,478.270
57 28
124,007
2,564,991
«0 68
1847
186.762
7.242,086
53 34
144,427
3,605,896
24 97
1848
180,666
7,661,122
57 78
100.4t>3
2,881.824
28 23
1849
101,621
5.804,207
57 17
128,861
2,669,862
19 94
1860
146,729
9,961,028
68 28
127,069
2,681,667
20 71
1861
96,945 •
9,219,261
96 09
106,690
2,170,927
20 56
1862
187,097
10,081,283
73 17
119,783
2,470,029
20 68
J868
169,868
11,819,319
70 81
67 707
1,667,668
24 48
1864
126,107
10,016,t)46
79 42
106,121
2,684,127
26 05
8,688,479 $268,694,682
8.968,282
$74,810,800
We give below a summary view of the exports of domestic produce,
classified, from the United States during the years from 1847 to 1864 — a
period of eight years : —
XXPOBTS OP DOMESTIC PRODUCE, XTa, rBOM THE UNITED STATES.
. PRODUCT OF-
Tbesen. Tbeforeal. Agrfcaltaro. Tobaooo.
1847 $8,468,033 $5,996,073 $68,460,883 $7,242,086
1848 1,980.963 7.069.0$4 87.781,446 7,661,122
1849 2,647.664 5,917,994 88,858,204 5,804,207
1850 2,8:i4,8I8 7,442,508 26,547,168 8,951.023
1861 3,294691 7,847,022 24,869,210 9,219,261
1862 2,282,842 7,864,220 26,878.872 10,031,288
1858 8,279,418 7,915,259 88,468,578 11,819,319
1854 8,044,301 11,646,571 66,900,294 10,016,046
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I^ Town of Quincy,Jlfa88acktisett8. 308
-PRODUCT OF-
Ootton. ManuftecturM.
1847 158,4 1 6,848 110.851.864
1848 61,998.294 12,774.480
1849 66.396.967 1 1,249.877
1850. 1 . 71.984,616 16,196.451
1861 1 12.816,81 7 20.186.967
1862- 87,966.782 18.862,981
1888 100,466.404 22.599.930
1864 98,696,220 26,179,503
Specie and
Baw prodace.
batlfon.
$2,102,838
$62,620
1,058,820
2,700,412
936,178
956,874
953.664
2.046,679
1.487.898
18.060.580
1.645,767
87.487,887
1,886,264
28.648.586
2,602,801
38,062,670
irt. If.— COMHERCIIL AND INDUSTRIE CITIES OP TAB U. STATES.
jnrifBKR XL.
THE TOWN OF QUINCY,» IN MASSACHUSETTS.
TowM histories, more especially those of New England, are becoming
valnable additions to the papers of the American antiquarian. Not a few
of their records show in plain but truthful language the changes that have
occurred from the first days of their municipal corporation to the present.
The frequent public town meetings through the year, the votes passed at
those meetings, exhibit a deep interest for the support of religion and
education. The Common Scnool system, free to all, and the crowning
glory of New England, was nursed into healthful growth by the action of
these meetings. A desire to " make the wildeme??8 blossom like the rose,"
a high-toned love of morality, and profound reverence of Christianity, are
characteristics of the New England people, and have been from the days
of our Pilgrim fathers.
But this is not all ; these* town journals of our revolutionary fathers
show that patriotism had a seat as tenacious in their hearts as life itself.
The tyranny and oppression of the mother country were denounced in open
town assemblies, by their resolves, in language as eloquent and heart-
* The foUuirlog article was prepared by Dr. Ditoan, for many years a resident of this town. Al-
though not an ineorporated city, we have been induced to adopt it aa one of oar series of papers
relating to the ^ Commercial and Industrial Cities o( the United States." It has not yet reached in
population the number of inhabitants required by the constitution or laws of the Commonwealth of
MnantfhwsfftlB to entitle It to the grant of a city charter. But there are places in th<) nation of lesa
population, and far lesa oommerctal and Industrial Importance, dignified with the sobriquet of dty ;
besides, its flsr-famcd STUilte, and Its extensive manufacture of boots and shoes, hare given It com-
mercial intercourse with almost every State In the Union ; and as the birthplace of two Presidents
of the United States, tiie Adamses ; the merchant patriot, John Hancock, the first President of the
Continental Gongrasa; the Quineys; and Hope, the great European banker, who went ttom it a
poor boy, and amaeaed In foreign lands a princely fortune ; and last and least, the editor and pro-
prietor of a Magazine, the Merchants', the first work of the kind ever projected or published, which
has found Its way Into every port entered by the sail or steam Commerce of the country. Our read-
ers will, wo trust, take our view of the subject, and consider our reasons for devoting so much space
to a single town in one of the Old Thirteen States as ** good and sufficient,** especially when we add*
that we have curtailed the writer's sketch of some of Its fhlr proportions and minute details. We
■hoold alio add, aa la well known, that within its predncts the first railway was laid. Qulncy la a
port of entry, and If It has not a custom-house, It has an officer of customs.— fifitor M9rehanU*
Jittgathu,
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904 Commercial and Industrial Cities of the U. States :
stirring as that found in the immortal Declaration of Independence. The
flame of liberty fiVst burst forth in the country towns of Massachusetts ;
and throughout the septennial period of the war of American indepen-
dence, they were ever ready and williuff at the first call of the constituted
authorities, to contribute troops, supplies, and munitions of war to the
utmost of their capacities. Next in degree to adoration for the Deity, the
love of country pervades the hearts of these people. The New England
community are " Unionists," and it is a libel on their character to say
otherwise.
In connection with the history of Massachusetts, and even of the Uni-
ted States, the town of Quincy has no little celebrity. The spot is now
to be seen on the confines of Uie village where Hancock was bom ; and a
mile distant, in the south part of the town, stand two remarkable houses,
a few feet distant from each, the birthplaces and homes, in their early
days, of John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Not a few there are
who visit Quincy, strangers from afar, to gaze on the spots where these
illustrious men first breathed the air of heaven. Edmund Quincy, the
common ancestor of that distinguished family, whose name comes down
to the present day in respect and honor, came from England with Rev.
John Cotton, flying from religious and civil persecution in the reign of
Charles I., and arrived in Boston September, 1633. He received a grant
of land at what is now called Quincy, in 1635, and for 221 years it has
been held by an honored and often illustrious posterity of the same Ed-
mund Quincy.
William Coddington, afterwards Governor of Rhode Island, was one of
the early settlers of this town.. Gov. Shirley was at one time a resident;
and the father of the celebrated Count Rumford had his home here.
K wo examine the map of Norfolk county, Massachusetts, among its
twenty-three towns we shall find Quincy laid down in such irregular
shape, that no figure in geometry can be likened to it. The length, from
the westerly line to the easterly rock on .Sqiiantum, is seven-and-a-half
miles ; its breadth, from Neponset to Quincy Bridge, five miles. " It is
bounded westerly and northerly, from the Blue Hill River to Neponaet
River, on Milton ; then by Neponset River, on Dorchester ; then by Bos-
ton Bay and Town Bay to Quincy Bridge ; then southerly and easterly
on Brain tree to the Blue Hill River, which dindes it from Randdlph.
Geologically, the north part of the town bordering on the ocean is gray-
vjacke ; middle part, including the village, argillaceous slate ; western or
hilly part, extensive sienite, or granite and porphyry. One interesting
feature of Quincy is, its great diversity of surface. Squantum, nearly sur-
rounded by the ocean, rises 99 feet above the level of the sea; Baxter's
Hill, 176 feet; Quincy Common and Penn's Hill, 210 feet; and the ever-
lasting hills of granite, 400 to 600 feet.
The soil of Quincy is generally of an excellent quality and under good
cultivation. There are large tracts of salt-meadow in the town, and many
large and beautiful farms.
As early as 1622, Mr. Weston and his company of Plymothians, first
approached its shores in their settlement of Weymouth. Three years
atler, Capt. Wolloston, with about thirty others, c.ame over from England
and began a plantation here. To this they gave the name of Mount WcJ*
loston, from a neighboring hill, in honor of their leader. This hill is a
^art of the Mount Wolloston Farm, of some 600 acres, owned by the
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The Town of Quincy, Maasaehusetts. 305
Hon. Charles Francis Adams. Many of tbe scenes of a well-written novel,
entitled " Mount Wolloston " and published a short time since in Boston,
lay here. Within a few months past, the place has been rendered quite
memorable from the circumstance of a three days' encampment of the
First Division of Massachusetts Volunteer Companies of Militia on and
near the Mount
A history of Quincy, published in 1827, by Rev. George Whitney, now
deceased, makes particular allusion to the many scenes at this noted
place — sometimes called Mare Mount, or Merry Mount — in which Thomas
Morton, one of the company who came over with Mr. Weston, was the
chief actor. Mr. Whitney concludes by saying, " that from all we can
learn of his character, he was a man of considerable talents, but artful,
dishonest, and full of confusion and disorder. He contrived to make him-
self beloved by the Indians, but was despised and slighted even by the
meanest servants of the plantation." Others have taken a different view
of Morton's charactef, and consider he was far too enlightened, intelligent,
and liberal for the age or community he lived in. Let us see what was
said of him by one of the earliest writers of New England, and his name-
sake. Morton, in his " Memorial," says : " After this they (at the Mount)
fell to great lic^tiousness of life yi all profaneness ; and the same Morton
became lord of misrule, and maintained, as it were, a school of atheism,
and after that they- got some goods into their hands, Ind got much by
trading with the Indians, they spent it as vainly in quaffing and drinking,
both wine and strong liquors in great excess, as some have reported, ten
pounds in a morning; setting up a May-pole, drinking and dancing
around it like so many fairies, or furies rather ; yea, and worst practices,
as if they had anew revived and celebrated the feast of the Romans' god-
dess, Flora, or the beastly practices of the mad Bacchanalians. The said
Morton, to show his poetry, composed sundry rhymes and verses, * *
* * * to the detraction and scandal of some persons' names which he
affixed to bis idle, or idol May-pole. They changed also the name of their
place, and instead of calling it Mount Wolloston, they called it Merry
Mount, as if their jollity would have lasted always. But this continued
not long ; for shortly after, that worthy gentleman, Mr. John Endicott,
brought over a patent, under the broad seal of England, for the govern-
ment of Massachusetts, visiting these parts, caused me May-pole to be cut
down, and rebuked them for their profaneness, and admonished them to
look to it, that they walked better."
Morton became so troublesome to the colonists, that he was twice ap-
prehended and sent to England, as too dangerous a person for a new
country. Returning each time after the lapse of a few years, and " being
grown old in wickedness, at last ended his days at Fastaquse." Soon
after the funny scenes of Morton and his followers, the place became a
part of Boston, always retaining the name of Mount Wolloston. Exten-
sive ^anta of land were made from time to time by the General Court to
certam inhabitants of Boston proper, who came hither and passed the re-
mainder of their days. Some of their descendents now reside in Quincy
on these original grants. . .
May 13, 1640, at a general court of elections held in Boston, " the pe-
tition of the inhabitants of Mount Wolloston was voted and granted them,
to be a town according to agreement with Boston, and the town is to be
called Braintree," — probably from a town by that name near Chelmsford,
VOL. XZXUI. — ^NO. III. 20
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306
Commercial and Industrial Cities of ike U. States:
in England, where Mr. Hooker, the celebrated divine of those days, origi-
nated. But Braintree continued a part of Suffolk county, with Boston,
until 1790, and in many respects their interests were identified. Ancient
Braintree for many years was extensive in territory, embracing the present
towns of Braintree, Randolph, and Quincy. But February 3, 1792, the
north part or " precinct " of Braintree was incorporated into a distinct
town and called Quincy, in honor of Col. John Quincy, a native of the
place, and owner of Mt. Wolloston, the first spot settled by white men.
John Quincy, says Mr. Whitney, was born in 1689, graduated at Har-
vard University in l708, and was one of the greatest public characters of
that period. He held the office of Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives longer than any other person during the charter of William and
Mary, and was a representative from Braintree and member of the Execu-
tive Council of the province forty successive years. He was great-grand-
father to John Quincy Adams.
The growth of the new town was for many years ^ow, both in popula-
tion and valuation, but during the last thirty years it has made rapid
strides in numbers and resources. The population of Quincy may be set
down as follows : —
1791 1800. 1810. 18M. 1810. 1840. 18S0. 1861.
800 1,081 1,281 1,688 8,049 8,809 6,017 6,000
THX TiLLUAnON OF FROPI&TT IN THE TBAS8, A8 70LL0W8 :—
1810. 1840. 18$0.
$628,891 26 $912,106 00 $2,200,000 00
While the whole number of dwelling-houses in 1827 did not exceed 240,
the dwelling-houses are now over 800 in number.
A section of about five miles of the Old Colony Railroad passes through
Quincy, having two depots. Under the present arrangement, nineteen
trains stop daily at convenient hours on their way to or from Boston. That
a clear idea may be had of the connection of Quincy, by means of this rail-
road, with the different places on their several routes, the following tabu-
lar statement is presented : —
Stations.
Oreeceot Avenue,
Savio Hill,
HarrieoD Square,
NepoDset,
Granite Bridge,
Hilton Lower Bfills, '
Quincy
Milton Upper Milk
Braintree
South Braintree . . .
South We^^moQth. .
North AbiDgtoQ • . .
Abington
South Abington . • .
East Bridge water. ,
Bfidgewater
North Hanson
Hanson
Hali&z
Plymton
Kingston
Plymouth
OLD OOLONT RAILaOAD.
.In Dordieeter.
Branch.
Miles from Boston. Fares.
2
$0 10
8
0 10
4
0 12
5
0 15
ei
0 18
H
0 20
8
0 26
H
0 26
m
0 SO
lU
0 86
16
0 46
18
0 64
IH
0 68
21
0 62
26
0 66
27i
0 10
28
0 70
26
0 76
28
0 86
80
0 90
88
1 00
87*
1 12}
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The Tovm of Quincy^ McusaehttsetU. SOT
BOOTH 8H0BS RAIL«0A1>.
Stations. MilM from Boiton. Fares.
East Braiotree : U^ $0 34
Weymouth. 7 12^ 0 86
North Weymouth 18^ . 0 40
East Weymouth 16 0 48
Hingham Hi 0 45
Nantasket 19^ 0 60
Cohasset 22 0 60
The passenger tfaina are usually twenty-five minutes from Boston to
Quincy. Travelers can now go as far as Yarmouth, by the connecting
lines of Old Colony, Fall River, and Cape Cod Railroads. It may be as
well to add that the receipts of the Old Colony Railroad at Quincy, from
passengers and freight, for the year ending November 30, 1863, were as
follows: — Passengers, $23,868 62; freight, * 1,6 19 93; total, $25,388 45.
The Old Colony Railroad was incorporated March 16, 1844, and has a
capital of $2,100,000. A double track extends to South Braintree, 11^
miles. During the past year all the trains ran 212,895, at an average of
19 miles the hour ; number of passengers, 698,166 ; receipts, $374,879 64 ;
expenses, $262,063 37, on the 7th September, 1864. By a large vote of
the stockholders, the Old Colony and Fall River Railroads were united
into one corporation, with a capital of about $3,000,000.
The territory of Quincy is at present divided into six school districts.
By carrying the reader with us, we propose giving a bird's-eye view of
what may be generally interesting in each of these localities. And first
of the North District Situated on the confines of Dorchester and Milton,
this was doubtless the farm or northern portion of Mount Wolloston, given
by the "Great and General Court," February 13, 1636, to the dearly be-'
loved first minister of Boston, the Rev. John Wilson. He never resided
here, but it is said his son, John Wilson, settled here, and erected the ven-
erable bouse now standing near the lower brook that crosses Neponset
Turnpike. Mr. Wilson bad two daughters, one of whom married Edmund
Quincy, the other a Rawson. The sons-in-law equally divided the exten-
Mve farm — Mr. Quincy taking the southern section, Mr. Rawson the north-
em half. Their descendants are still in possession of a part of these farms.
Though nearest to Boston, this district is strictly speaking the agricultural
portion of Quincy. The farm of Hon. Josiah Quincy, one of the most
beautiful and well cultivated in the State, is here. His son, Hon. Josiah
Quincy^ Jr., has a summer residence near the ancestral mansion, lately
erected at a cost of $25,000. The country-seat of Samuel A. Appleton,
Esq., son-in-law of Daniel Webster, is also here, with many other beauti-
ful residences.
Quarries of slate have been worked in this district for nearly two cen-
turies past. About $3,000 of hornblende slate are annually quarried here
and sent to Boston. Squantum, a well-known peninsula lying on Boston
Harbor, aboujb three-and-a-half miles from the city, forms the northern ex-
tremity of Quincy. A portion of Squantum is very rocky, but the land is
unsurpassed in fertility. In the summer months this has long been a cele-
brated resort for fishing and sea-bathing. Squantum, still retaining its
Indian name, was the residence, in aboriginal days, of the famous sachem
Chickataubut. A portion of this place is also the Mas-we-tuset, " a few
miles south of Boston," generally admitted to have originated the name of
the State. The North District nas some fifty houses, and about 600 in-
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308 Commereial and Industrial Cities af the U, States :
habitants. The only public building is a neat school-house, erected in
1851.
Ward's Piggery (so called) is located in the northern-borders of this
district, and is one of the most extensive of the kiad in the United States.
Fed by the oflfal of the city of Boston, here are constantly to be found
twenty-five hundred to three thousand of the swine tribe, a ready sacrifice
to the call of the provision market. No small portion of these swine come
from the Western States. By reason of the offensive odor, and fear of
unheal thiness, a strong prejudice exists against this establishment with a
portion of the community in its vicinity.
The East District is a romantic section of the town, nearly surrounded
by the ocean. Not large in territory, but wonderfully varied in surface
and form, to say nothing of the indentations of its shores, that meet the
wanderer's eye on every side. On the east are the ocean's waves, grand
and beautiful at all times to behold ; on the other sides, landscape scenery
worthy the sketch of any artist. Neither is it devoid of historical im-
portance. A well-written history of Quincy would portray many events
of deep interest that occurred in the early days of Massachusetts. Most
of the Mount Wolloston Farm lies in this quiet portion of the town. The
extreme easterly section of this maritime district, called for many years
past Hough's Neck, for an old settler by that name is nearly environed by
the sea, is an isolated spot, but fertile land. Some four or five families re-
side here, whose pursuits are agricultural. Germantown lies westerly of
Hough's Neck, and in connection with it forms a peninsula, which is
joined to the main land by the Mount Wolloston Farm. It derived its
name from emigrants, who came from diflferent parts of Germany about
one hundred years since. Prior to 1763, it was called Shed's Neck. We
are told that a certain number of enterprising gentlemen from Boston ob-
tained from the General Court a grant to establish a lottery, in order to
build a glass-house. The company sent to Germany for artisans, who
were glass manufacturers, and the place ^* soon became a village." The
attempt to manufacture glass here was a failure to all concerned, ftnd a
severe disappointment to the poor foreigners.
Mr. Whitney, in his history, of Quincy, says : — " When the GermaM
landed, (about one hundred years since,) Greneral Palmer and old Mr.
Quincy roasted an ox, and such a merry time never was heard of before
or since." It has been said that the first vessel which ever wintered in
Massachusetts did so in Town River, near Germantown, probably in 1 621-2.
Here, in 1789, the famou<t ship ** Massachusetts," whose keel was 1 16 feet
long, was launched. " She attracted great attention at the time, and drew
to her launching people from all parts of the State. Sh^ was built for
the Canton trade, where she went, and was afterwards sold." For many
years past vessels have been fitted out at this place for the mackerel, cod,
and whale fisheries, and as far back as 1845, the hands employed were
twenty-two, and the amount of business each season was not far from
$10,000.
By the liberality of the late Captain Josiah Bacon, of Chelsea, ns ex-
pressed in his will, and since materially aided by the exertions of B. B.
Forbes, Esq., of Milton, well and honorably known to the commercial
world, an asylum or retreat for invalid seamen is about to be established
at Germantown. A good farm with suitable buildings has been lately se-
cured, the location of which is admirably adapted for this philanthropic
purpose.
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The Tovm of Quincy, Massachusetts. S09
Quincy Point District lies on the south-easterly portion of Quincy, sep-
arated from Weymouth by Fore River, and may be considered the most
beautiful part of the town. It was settled by enterprising men, mostly
by such as have led a sea-faring life. Mr. Whitney, in 1827, says the
Point has already become a place of considerable business, and, for the
regularity of buildings and tastes displayed around them, is certainly not
equaled by any other part of the town.
If Quincy Point was attractive in 182*7, it is now much more so. The
population has increased three-fold ; the number of houses has more than
doubled, and many new streets have sprung into existence. For navigable
purposes it is unsurpassed, having the best wharves in Norfolk County.
The shores are so bold that a seventy-four-gun ship might fearlessly gam-
bol in its waters, and slumber in safety at the wharves. The main avenue
fix)m the stone Temple to Quincy Point Bridge is about two miles in length,
and is called Washington-street; of good width, and lined on both sides
with neat and often elegant residences. A more lovely ride cannot be
found than over this avenue to Weymouth and Hingham.
Ship-building is now in successful operation hefe, and at the present
moment one of 1,800 tons is in good progress, and will soon be launched.
About sixty hands are now employed in ship-building. Quincy Point is
the principal navigable depot of the town. In 1849, seventeen vessels
discharged at Quincy under register, nearly all of which were from Nova
Scotia. The coastwise trade from Maine is very large. Great quantities
of lumber, coal, &c., find a ready market at the Quincy wharves. It is
estimated that two million feet of lumber and three thousand tons of an-
thracite coal are annually imported into Quincy. The amount of naviga-
tion owned here at present is small in tonnage, consisting mostly of light-
ers for the transportation of stone to Boston and elsewhere. These vessels
are strongly built, of about 100 tons burden, in which forty to fifty men
are constantly employed. Granite is daily carted from the neighboring
ledges to the wharves here, and shipped to all parts of the United States.
We come now to the Central District of Quincy. The district, as now
bounded, is not large in territory — perhaps not a mile square, yet compact
as any country village should be, to enjoy rural beauty and comfort. About
one-quarter of the inhabitants of Quincy may be found residing within its
borders. The main village is here, with pleasant streets radiating from its
center fn every direction. The principal thoroughfares are Adams, Han-
cock, Washington, and Granite streets. These are long and well settled,
and from them ramify very many smaller streets, in each of which will be
found comfortable and often costly buildings, besides places of trade and
mechanical pursuits of various kinds. In the center of the village on
Hancock-street are to be found the banks as follows :— Quincy Stone Bank,
with a capital of $100,000, incorporated March 31, 1886, Josiah Brigham,
Esq., President ; Mount Wolloston Bank, which received its charter April
28, 1853, capital $100,000, lion. Charles Francis Adams, President; the
Quincy Savings Bank, incorporated March 18, 1845, and has been very
successful It pays interest at the rate of 5 per cent yearly. The dividends
are made in January and July, and if not called for under three months,
are added to the principal and placed on interest. After appropriating
the amount of the semi-annual dividends, the surplus income is divided
every fifth year, and placed in the same manner to the accounts which
have existed for one or more years in equitable proportion. The Quincy
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310 Commercial and Industrial Cities of the U. States:
Loan Fund Association, whose oflBce is in the Mount Wollofeton Bank, has
been recently established, and is in a prosperous condition.
The Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company, incorporated March 22,
1861, has met with unprecedented success. It has now insured over four-
and-a-half million dollars of property, with an accumulated capital of
nearly $160,000, and fast increasing. This office stands high in public
confidence. The Town House is here, erected of granite in 1844 at a cost
of <^20,000, and for architectural beauty is one of the finest buildings of
the kind in Massachusetts. Its dimensions are about 80 by 50 feet. The
basement is leased for places of business and trade. The second story
contains the main hall, selectmen's room, and a libraiy of 3,000 volumes,
presented to the town by John Adams. The other public buildings in this
district, besides the large school-house on Coddington-street, are the Uni-
versalist meeting-house, built in 1833, and is a good edifice; a Metbodist
chapel on Sea-street, and the Unitarian church on " Adams's Temple," op-
posite the Town Hall. This costly edifice was erected of granite in 1828,
at an expense of $34,838. The stone was taken from the granite quarries
given to the town of Quincy for that purpose by ex-President John Adams,
It contains on the lower floor one hundred and thirty-four pews, and is in-
teriorly richly furnished.
A prominent object of interest to the stranger on visiting this church
is a marble monument with a suitable inscription, on the side of the pul-
pit, erected by John Quincy Adams in memory of his honored father and
moUier. Under the church, in stone vaults, are the remains of John
Adams and his wife, each in sarcophagus. More recently John Quincy
Adams and his wife have been placed there in the same manner by their
son. The four now repose under the portals of the church in- granite
coffins.
About one-quarter of a mile east from the Town Hall may be found the
basin of Quincy Canal. This company was incorporated in 1826, Febru-
ary 26, and after many delays and misgivings succeeded in constructing a
canal, about 140 rods in length, to Town Bay, at a cost of ^10,000. The
wharves at its head are capacious and convenient landing places. The
canal, according to the charter, is nine feet at least in depth, fifty feet wide,
and provided with suitable locks and gates at its outlet The canal is a
source of much commercial benefit to the business community of Quincy.
At or near the junction of Adams and Hancock streets, on the nortljem
borders of the town, may be seen on Hancock Lot the remains of an old
cellar, now almost obliterated, over which stood the house that John Han-
cock, President of the Second Congress and Governor of Massachusetts,
was born in. This ancient house was the residence of his fatlier, Rev.
John Hancock, minister of the town, and after his decease became the
property and residence of his son, the Governor. Col. Josiah Quincy,
grandfather of the present Josiah Quincy, Sen., lived also in this house.
About two furlongs north of the Hancock Lot is another interesting local-
ity— the home of John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and now the pa-
ternal homestead of Hon. Charles F. Adams. The house and out-buildings
are ancient and plain to the eye of the passing traveler, but no want of
taste is manifested in the beautiful flower-garden that partly surrounds the
premises. The extensive lands belonging to this estate are in high culti-
vation. It is on this farm that Mr. Adams, the only surviving diild of
John Quincy Adams, in healthful vigor at the age of 47, resides. Mr.
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The Town of Quinct/, Massachusetts, 811
Adams, while a resident of Boston, was repeatedly chosen to the Senate
and House of Representatives of the Massachusetts Legislature, and soon
became prominent and useful as a legislator. In 1848, he was the candi-
date of his party for Vice-President of the United States, and in 1852, he
was the opposing candidate for Congress to Mr. Edmund, receiving a large
vote. Since Mr. Adams's removal to^uincy he has been three times
unanimously elected at the annual meeting one of the General School
Committee, and as Chairman of the Board has very ably and faithfully
filled that office. There are at least seventeen public schools in Quincy,
and it is no small task to visit these, as the laws of the State require, by
some one of the committee monthly, and by all the board quarterly. In
his examination of, and address to, the scholars, he is peculiarly happy,
and he has richly won for himself the respect of the teachers and pupils.
He, in truth, may be called a friend to public schools. For uprightness of
character and intellectual cultivation, he treads well in the footsteps of his
illustrious ancestors.
The Quincy Patriot, a neutral paper in politics, has been established in
this town since January, 1836. During a large portion of this period it
has been under the editorial management of Mr. John A. Green, its found-
er. The Patriot, like most village newspapers, has a limited patronage,
but is a welcome hebdomadal to its readers. Mr. Green is the present
popular and efficient postmaster of Quincy.
Proceeding in order of the districts, we now approach the southern and
most populous section of the town, known as the South District. Small
in territory, it has a population nearly as large as the center district, judg-
ing from the annual returns of school census ; the number of children
being as large as in the center. This is a flourishing portion of Quincy,
and embraces no small part of the actual business men of the town. The
community as a whole are industrious, intelligent, and enterprising ; a re-
mark which will apply to the citizens of all the districts. Connected with
the central portion of the town, the main village of Quincy may be said
to extend to Braintree. The principal avenues are Franklin, School, Gran-
ite, and Elm streets — all thickly settled. Besides these spacious thor-
ouglifares, we have in this manufacturing district High, Liberty, Pearl,
Gay streets, <fe:c., well lined with neat dwellings or places of business.
Penn's Hill, 210 feet high, lies partly in this part of the town and partly
in Braintree. A view of the surrounding country from the summit is very
fine and extensive, embracing a wide area of many miles extent on every
side. Nearly all branches of business usually found in country villages
are in full operation in this district. But the principal articles of manu-
facture are boots and shoes. This industrial branch has long since given
the town much notoriety. There were manufactured in Quincy, as far
back as 1845, 41,876 pairs of boots; 15,605 pairs of shoes; the whole
value of which was 1133,273 ; persons employed, 301.
In 1887, according to the returns of the Selectmen made to the Legis-
lature, 27,437 pairs of boots and 18,602 pairs of shoes were manufactured
here in 1836, valued at '$111,881, and giving employment to 221 persons.
The past year, ending April, 1854, has been one of great activity, and we
hope gain to the shoe and leather dealers of Quincy. One thousand liands
of both sexes have been constantly employed, and the value of these man-
ufactured articles has reached at legist a half-million dollars. Messrs. Adam
and Samuel Curtis, one of the largest and most respected firms in Norfolk
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313 Commercial find Industrial Cities of the U, States:
County, residing in the South District, employed nearly 300 hands the
past year, mostly in the manufacture of boots.
Within the borders of this district may be found three large and well-
built places of public worship, viz. : an Episcopalian, Congregatiohalist,
and Catholic church. Besides a large public school-house, built of stone,
the High School, erected in 1861 at a cost to the town of $7,000, is here.
On Franklin-street, at the foot of Penn's Hill, are the two venerable houses
in which John Adams, in 1735, and John Quincy Adams, in 1767, were
bom. They stand a few feet from each other, the easterly being the house
of John Quincy Adamses birth. Both two-story, and built after the fash-
ion of a century-and-a-half since, heavy-timbered, with large open fire-
places, low studded, and plain finish. The exterior of both is remarkably
unostentatious. Connected with these antique buildings is a large farm,
the property of Charles Francis Adams.
In the summer of 1822, four years before the decease of ex-President
John Adams, the man of whom Jefl'erson said he was second to Washington
only, indeed, for our glorious independence, in consideration of his afi*ection
for the place of his nativity, gave to the town of Quincy eight different par-
cels of land, containing nearly two hundred acres, the income of which
was to accumulate until a fund would be realized sufiScient to build a
stone church, and after that, the erection on the Hancock Lot, over the
cellar of the house in which Gov. Hancock was bom, a public classical
school to be built of stone, " that all the future rents, profits, and emolu-
ments arising from said land be applied to the support of a school for the
teaching of th^ Greek and Latin languages, <fec."
The " Temple " was built, as we have already shown, by large contribu-
tions from the Keligious Society, in 1828. The stone academy is not yet
built. The fund now accumulated from the Adams^ fund is between seven
and eight thousand dollars.
Pursuing the order that we have adopted, we shall bring this sketch to
a close, by giving the reader some account of the West District of Quincy.
This is the mountainous part of the town, embracing an area of one-third
of its territory. Until recently, being in good part forests, it was appro-
priately styled the " Woods' District" But two public ways crossed its
borders, and these were indeed crooked, narrow, and " hard to travel."
As the granite business began to develop itself, a change came over this
wild and romantic portion of Quincy. Inexhaustible mines were found,
not of gold or silver, but, for the real happiness of a people, a better ma-
terial. The basis of no small portion of this flourishing part of Quincy is
sienite^ or the finest granite in the world. Its proud hills are everlasting
monuments of the abundant presence of this primary rock. It penetrates^
according to geologists, to a depth of three-score miles, and its visible
range is coextensive with the lofty hills, from three to six hundred feet in
height, that pass from Quincy village to Milton. Within ten years many
of the finest buildings in the Union have been reared of Quincy granite,
and in nearly all the Atlantic cities we behold, in costly edifices, speci-
mens of this imperishable material.
The quarrying of granite has changed this district from a comparative
wilderness to the most active scenes of hard and honorable toil. A brief
period since, and a stroll through this sylvan, and then remote part of the
town, was in the highest degree pleasing to the lover of nature. Its wild
scenery — its rugged hills — ^its forests and meandering rivulet — were aa
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The Town cf Quincy, Massachusetts. 813
God bad made them in the primeval days of creation. But the magic
hand of industry has, within a few annual suns, transformed this once soli-
tary but picturesque region to the habitations or business places of at
least a thousand human souls. Dwelling-houses everywhere repose on its
hill-sides and valleys, and the church and school-house are in their midst
Scattered over this west portion of the town are to be found the principal
?[Qarries or ledges of granite, which have given to Quincy such celebrity,
t is preferred to all other kinds in New England, probably from the color,
which is darker and more durable. Hornblende enters into the composi-
tion of Quincy granite larger in extent than that found elsewhere in the
United States — hence its peculiar and beautiful color.
According to the official returns of the Selectmen of Quincy to the
Legislature, made in 1837, the granite stone cut the preceding year was
64,590 tons, valued at *248,737, and giving employ to 633 persons. The
statistical returns made in the same way in 1845, state the ouilding stone
quarried and prepared at $324,500, employing 626 hands. The past year
has been very prosperous for the granite business. Upon careful inquiry,
I find about 1,000 persons are now employed on the Quincy Ledges. The
amount of business done the present year (1854) will exceed a half mil-
lion dollars.
The Granite Railway, incorporated March 4, 1 826, and completed in
the autumn of the same year at a cost of $100,000, lies principally in the
western borders of Quincy. A section of the railroad touches Milton, and
passes through the Railway Village (so called) of that town. It is memor-
able for being the first railroad built in the United States, and for some
time attracted much attention. The late Hon. Thomas H. Perkins, of
Boston, whose reputation is world-wide as a merchant, was the chief pro-
jector of this then novel enterprise. It runs a course of about three
miles from the quarries to the wharves at Neponset River, and the cars
have always been propelled by horse-power. Some years since the track
was relaid on a stone foundation, and is now very substantial. Since the
decease of Mr. Perkins, the railroad and appurtenances, consisting of ex-
tensive equipments, with 60 acres of land, and some dozen houses, have
been sold to Messrs. Thomas HoUis, Oliver E. Sheldon, Joseph B. Whit-
cher, and George Penniman, all of Milton, well and favorably known as
large contractors of granite.
Under the auspices of these enterprising gentlemen a new impulse has
been given to business in this vicinity.
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314 The Commerce of the Lakes.
kfl v.— THK GOMHBRCE OP THE LIKES:
THE COITNTRT FROM WHICH IT COMES AXD IS TO COME.
The rapid growth and great value of the Commerce of the Lakes is one
of the most astonishing facts in the commercial history of the world. Mr.
Andrews, in his report to the Secretary of the Treasury in 1851, shows
that the value of the Lake trade was then greater than the whole foreign
Commerce of the country. Four years ago, when there was but a single
railroa<l running out of Chicago, he gives the aggregate of that traffic at
$826,000,000. Twenty years ago, the Commerce of Lake Michigan was
scarcely worthy of notice, and Chicago herself imported mast of her pro-
visions from Ohio and Western New York ; now her exports are told in
millions. The trade of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario commenced a few
years earlier ; but the entire amount previous to 1820 must have been
scarcely worthy of notice, when compared with its present immense
value. •
So far as the trade of Lake Michigan is concerned, till within the
last two years, it has been derived from a very small section of country,
when we compare it with the immense territory yet entirely undeveloped,
whose Commerce must inevitably, for all time to come, seek the Lake
route in its transit to the ocean. It is also very sparsely settled, not one
acre in ten having been brought under cultivation, and by consequence
where there are now a hundred inhabitants, the country would very easily
sustain a thousand. If we take an average of a hundred miles south of
Chicago, and a hundred and fifty miles north, by two hundred west, wo
shall include all the territory whose products two years ago sought the
Lake route from the western side of Lake Michigan. This is a very liberal
allowance, for till recently a large strip of this territory, on the east side
of the Mississippi, sought St. Louis for its market. The territory we have
named consists in all of o 0,000 square miles.
So much for the country from which that portion of the Lake Com- ,
merce which is due to Lake Michigan now comes. Taking our stand-
point at Chicago, with a good toap of the United States before us, let us
turn our eyes southwest, west, and northwest, and endeavor to form some
definite ideas of the extent and the productiveness of the country from
which it is to come. In order to be sure that you are not deceived, take
a pair of dividers ; place one foot on Chicago and the other on New York,
and then sweep round to the west. The foot will rest on or near the
mouth of the south fork of the Platte, say nine hundred miles west of
Chicago. Draw a line through this point north and south, and, though
we are a long way east of the Rocky Mountains, call the rest of tie coun-
try south of the Black Hills, a desert It will be observed that all the
territory on the Yellow Stone and the Upper Missouri lies west of this
line.
For our north and south lino we begin at or near Alton, at about the
thirty-ninth degree of north latitude, and go up to the northern boundary
of Minnesota and Nebraska. The total distance will not vary much from
650 miles. This gives us an area of territory of 585,000 square miles.
Add to this, 115,000 square miles for the beautiful country on the Upper
Missouri and the Yellow Stone, and we have 700,000 square miles of as
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The Commerce of the Lakes. 315
fine conn try as can be found on the face of the earth, whose productions
andtrade will swell beyond the figures of the wildest fency the Commerce
of the Lakes.
It may be said that our north and south line reaches too far south. All
the trade, as far south as Alton, will not seek tha Lake route, but a large
portion of it will ; and as you extend the radius west, say to Independence,
Missouri, the line becomes very direct through Quincy to Chicago.
It is very easy to repeat the figures — 700,000 — which represent the
number of square miles contained in the territoiy we have named ; but it
is a far diflferent thing to form a definite idea of tke immense country
which yet remains to be developed, west of the Lakes. Let us make a
few comparisons to assist us in our estimate of the future of the great
Northwest.
It should be remarked, however, that there are many beautiful valleys
in the Rocky Mountains capable of sustaining a large population, and more
fertile and beautiful than Switzerland, and enough to form a half dozen
such States.
Add up the number of sauare miles in all the States east of the Missis-
sippi, except Wisconsin, Ilhnois, and Florida, and you will find that you
have only 700,000. If you are startled, as we were, and can scarcely be-
lieve the figures, .take a newspaper and cut it in the shape of the territory
we named east of the Mississippi and lay it on that west of Lake Michi-
gan, and study the map in every possible form, and you will be forced to
the conclusion that the Northwest contains a territory larger than the
twenty-three older States we have alluded to east of the Mississippi. These
States contain some 20,000,000 inhabitants.
But again, England, Ireland^ Wales, and Scotland contain in all 115,000
square miles, only one-sixth of the territory of the Northwest, and have
a population of 26,000,000. Were the territory we have named equally
populous, it could contain 166,000,000. Turkey, Austria, and France
have in the aggregate 671,000 square miles, and a population of
84,000,000. Need it be wondered at, that in speaking of the North^^st,
Western men are obliged to use terms which venerable old fogies regard
as extravagant and even absurd ? The simple fact is that this teriitory is
large enough to make fourteen States, of 50,000 square miles each, and is
vastly more fertile and capable of sustaining a population many times
larger than all the old States of the Union.
A few words as to the resources of the country under consideration. In
minerals it is specially rich. It contains the largest and the riehest de-
posits of lead and copper that are known to exist anywhere upon the
globe. We need hardly say that we allude to the copper mines of Lake
Superior and the lead district of which Galena is the center. Iron and
coal are ^Iso found in great abundance.
In speaking of its climate and productions, it should be known that
the isothermal or climactic lines bend far away to the north as we go
west towards the Rocky Mountains. If we mistake not it is nearly as
warm at the north bend of Missouri as it is at Chicago. Owing to this
fact and the richness of the country, the buffalo range nearly up to the
south line of British America.
The agricultural resources of these 700,000 square miles are absolutely
beyond the power of man to estimate. It is the opinion of some of our
best-informed men that the great plains over which the bufl'alo now range
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316 The Commirce of the Lakes.
in countless thousands must, after all, become the great corn-growing sec-
tions of the Union. There, too, will be reared the countless herds of
cattle and the hogs driven here to be packed in beef and pork to feed
the Eastern States, with an abundance to spare for all the nations of
Europe.
A few weeks since, we published an article containing some facts to
show that we should ere many years have six new States west of the
Lakes as large, as rich, and as populous as Ohio ; but the truth is, we had
not studied the subject minutely, and hence our figures fell far short of the
mark. If we include the portions of our own State and Northern Missouri
already noticed, there is territory enough for fourteen States as large as
Ohio west of Lake Michigan, the bulk of whose Commerce must always
take the Lake route on its transit to the Atlantic seaboard.
Westward, and in all directions through this magnificent valley, our
railroads will penetrate as fast as the onward wave of civilization rolls over
them. That wave will reach the Rocky Mountains, and on its summits
meet the great Eastern surge from the Pacific coast, within the lifetime
of the present generation. Thoughts we dare not utter, emotions deep
and startling, crowd upon us as we contemplate this immense territory,
not to speak of the East and South, and the mighty States of the Pacific
coast, filled with intelligent, enterprising, happy freemen.
Li view of the above facts, we may be excused for alluding to the posi-
tion of our favored city. The figures we have given are demonstrable
on the plainest principles of evidence, and with all our railroads pouring
into the lap of Chicago three-fourths of the Commerce of all this fertile
region, he would be a bold reasoner indeed who would dare to predict
what will be the population of Chicago at the end of the present century.
If the Commerce of the Lakes in 1851 was more valuable than the entire
foreign trade of the nation, what figures will represent its worth when
forty-five years shall have reared millions of happy homes west of Lake
Michigan ?
Let our merchants, our real estate owners, and our business men gen-
erally, and especially those who have at heart the intellectual and religious
welfare of society, all answer these questions for themselves, and act in
view of the grave responsibilities which the above facts must suggest to
every ingenuous mind. To those who may be disposed to question our
conclusions, we commend a more careful study of tne geography and the
topography of the country between Lake Michigan and the Rocky Mount-
ains, and we are quite sure they will acquit us of all disposition to over-
state facts which must be plain to every man who will take the trouble to
investigate them.
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Mercantile LXbfrwry AeeoeuOian of San Frandeeo. ZV!
irt. TI.— FIBST REPttKT OF THE MERCANTILE lIBRiRT ASSOCIITION OF
SIN FRANCISCO.
In compliance ivith a request of the Mercantile Library Association of
San Francisco, communicated to us through Frederick A. Woodworth,
the Corresponding Secretary of that Association, we Jay the first annual
report of the San Francisco Mercantile Library Association before the
readers of the Merchants^ Magazine. It briefly sketches the history of
the Association, its rise, and present condition, and furnishes details not
heretofore published, which will be of interest to those who would mark
the literary as well as the commercial progress of the New York of the
Pacific : —
C^enilemen of the Mercantile Library Association : —
In pre^^enting this, the first regular report of your aiisociation, it becomes my
duty, as President, to recall to your minds some of the various incidents which
have ocarred since the commencement of our enterprise, as well as to give, to
some extent, a detailed account of our present condition. And inasmuch as this
is the firHt regular report which has been made of oar afi^airs, notwithstanding
our two year.V existence, it may be necessary to go to our beginning, in order
that we may place fairly before the community the various steps by which we
have advanced to the position we now occupy, and to which we are mainly in-
debted through the liberality which has been extended to us by a portion of that
eommunity.
Jt seems to me fitting in this place^ and not inappropriate to this occasion, that
I should here refer to Uie endeavor on the part of a number of our eiiizens to
establmh the *" California Institute" during the fall and winter of 1851 and 1853
— the ofiicers and directors were elected, comprising among their number many
gentlemen whose names now appear as friends of our institution.
After having furnished rooms for the accommodation of readers, and expended
a considerable sum for reading matter, furniture, &c, the enterprise was aban-}
doned, until such time as increase of numbers and interest should warrant its
friends in eneonnteriog the heavy expense necessary, at that time, to such under-
taking.
The existence of our association, under its present organization, dates from t
the 22d of December, 1852 — on which day there assembled in the Common
Council Chambers of our city a considerable number of persons friendly to the
formation of a Library Association ; deeply impressed with the importance of
affording to the members of our community the means of such intellectual and
moral instruction as experience had taught them to believe was derived from in-
stitutions, established and carried on upon a basis and of general character similar
to such institutions in the Atlantic cities. With this general object in view the first
meeting was organized. J. B. Crockett, Bsq., was colled to preside, and matters
discussed relating to the general interests of this enterprise. To this gentleman
we are under many and continued obligations from our commencementr— he has
ever been ready and willing to aid us by his counsel and encouragement, as well
inhis character as an able advocate as also as in his position as a firm friend of
the institution to which it has been his pleasure to afford assistance in any man-
ner calculated to promote its best interests.
At the meeting referred to proper committees were appointed upon various
subjects, to one of which was confided the duty of preparing an address to the
people of San Francisco upon the subject of the proposed association. This
address was extensively circulated, and a general feeling was enlisted in its fa-
vor. In the meantime the committee appointed to solicit subscriptions in aid of
the enterprise, reported f 6,000 pledged, and which could be collected whenever
it should be required. Under such encouragement it was thought advisable at
once to commence operations, and on the 25th of January, 1853, a meeting was
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318 Mercantile Library Aeeodatum of San Francieto.
called for the election of officers, which resulted in the return of a full board of
officers and directors. Eighty votes were cast, and an exeellent feeling prevailed.
The officers and directors were as follows: —
David S. Turner, President; J. P. Haven, Vice-President; W. H. Stevens,
Recording Secretary; Dr. H. Gibbons, Corresponding Secretary; Charles E.
Bowers, Jr., Treasurer; E. E. Dunbar, D. H. Haskell, J. B. Crockett, and E. P.
Flint, Directors.
Measures were taken without delay, by proper committees, to secure rooms,
furniture, &c., and the Committee on Books purchased from Brig.-Gen. Hitch-
cock, U. S. A., a valuable private library, consisting of about 2,600 books and
pamphlets, and with this collection as a nucleus for future operations our rooms
were opened to readers, on or about the first day of February, 1863.
Such, gentlemen, is a brief history of the origin of our association. We have
progressed steadily, though at some times under great embarrassments, but our
community have at all times liberally responded to our applications for relief,
and through their generosity we are able to present to you, at this moment, a
library of nearly 4,000 volumes, a large number of periodicals, magazines, &C.,
regular supplies of newspapers from all parts of the commercial world ; our
rooms comfortably furnished ; free from any pecuniary obligatioD, and with a
few hundred dollars in our treasury.
And now, gentlemen, in view of the success which has attended our enterprise,
have we not cause to rejoice over it, and pour out our hearts in gratitude in re-
turn for the attainment of a degree of prosperity to which, in our roost enthu-
siastic anticipations, we could not even hope to have resized within so brief a
period as two years.
And while we acknowledge a kind overruling Providence which has attended
us, and upon all occasions ^ waited upon our steps,'' we should not be unmind-
ful of the kindness and liberality which has been extended to us, as well by
friends abroad as by our own generous and warm-hearted citizens of San Fran-
cisco. During the existence of our association, some feeling of dissatisfaction
has been expressed on account of the distinctive name by which we are known
— thereby claiming that we wele exclusively of a mercantile character, and by our
, organization excluding those of other professions or occupations. This feeling,
'however, has been entirely imaginary, for it has ever been the earnest desire of
all concerned to unite as much as possible all cUisses of the community ; but it
has happened that the great proportion of membots has been from among mer-
chants and merchants' clerks, and hence the cause of its having been organized
under its present name. However this may be, or whether or not this feeling
may have given impulse to the formation of a similar institution among the me-
chanics of our city, we hail with pleasure the effort to organize and establish the
Mechanics' Association, and bid them ** God's speed." Wishing them every suc-
cess in their worthy ^undertaking, at the same time givbg them full assuranee
that we will ever co-operate with them in such measures, as shall tend to the
best interests of all their endeavors to extend valuable infonnation among our
citizens, while we enter the lists with them in generous and liberal rivalry as to
which shall be able to effect most towards the great object we have in view.
It is perhaps questionable, however, taking into view the great expense neces-
sarily attendant upon such an enterprise, whether the union of ail classes or
whether two separate organizations might be the most beneficial ; perhaps, how-
ever, it may be most expedient that there should be separate organizations, each
one acting in its own sphere, and thereby securing to theur individual advantage
some influences which they might not obtain were they consolidated. The aim
and object of our institution is to place within the reach of our fellow-citizena
the means of acquiring useful information, of elevating their intellectual and
moral qualities, as well as to afford to the younger meml^rs a comfortable, quiet,
and respectable place of resort, where, separate from the evil influences which
they encounter in pladies of public amusement, they may at once spend their lei-
sure hours cultivating their minds and acquiring those habito of sobriety and
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Mercantile Zibrary Aesociatum of San Franaseo, 819
morality so essential to the fonnation of eharacter where character is so vain-
able and so highly appreciated as it is in our young and prosperous city.
Any measures which shall attain to the accomplishment of those objects,
whether it be through the influence of one or more institutions, will meet with
the unqualified approbation of our citizens, and will be hailed as an indication of
a state of things which is to give to our institutions and to our standing as a
people prominence and stabilitv at home as well as character, respectability, and
influence abroad. The establishment of libraries, schools, literary and religious
institutions is one among the many striking features of San Francisco, and de-
cidedly marks the energy of our people ; and their disposition that law, order,
and good conduct should be observed, and that society should be formed upon a
basis which gives character to other communities, where experience has taught
the value of institutions calculated to promote the moral and intellectual capacr
ity of the people.
I propose to give a few moments to the con^eration of the present condition
of our association, and to our available means for sustaining the heavy expense
we must necessarily encounter. In pursuing thiS' subject, however, 1 shall not
attempt to go into detail, but only in brief give a general idea of our condition.
The monthly expenses are about $600 — say rent, $200; librarian, $175; assist-
ant-librarian, $80; incidentals, $145.
To meet this expense we have 472 shareholders and subscribing members,
paying each one dollar per month, or $472 per month, leaving a deficiency of
$128, which sum may be considered fully provided for by the usual increase on
our subscription list
Our roll of members at present consists of— honorary, 41 ; life, 39; share-
holders, paying, 302 ; subscribing members, . paying, 170; total, 552. Number
of bound volumes, 3,315, being an increase of 590 volumes since the first of
Mav last. ,
We have many hundreds of magazines and periodicals, not included in the
above estimate, a large supply of daily and weeldv newspapers from various parts
of our own as well as other countries; in fact, through the kindness of editors
and publishers, our reading matter relating to the current afiairs of the day is as
complete as, in our remote position, we could reasonably expect I cannot more
understandingly bring to your knowledge the coVinued increase of our assocku
tion than by giving a statement of the books t^en from the library during a
portion of the past year ; and commencing with the opening of our rooms in our
present location, we find that there have been delivered by the librarian to read-
ers, who have removed the same to their residences, books as follows, thrquffh
the several months say — March, 103; April, 172; May, 166; June, 244; July,
316; August, 346; September, 387; October, 483; November, 598 ; December,
556; showing the remarkable increase of from or^ hundred to more than ,/be
hundred within a period of ten months.
This fact, of itself, is a convincing proof of the signal success which has at-
tended our efforts to create a taste and disposition among our citizens to attend
our rooms, read our books, and render us such asfistLnce as their presence, the
use of their means, and their influence were calculated to aflbrd us.
We have derived much benefit from the appointment of an agent in the city
of New York-^r. C. B. Norton — who has kindly consented to supply us with
new publications, and to take charge of and fv)rward to us whatever may be en-
trusted to his care.
Our receipts by donations during the past few months have been quite large.
The following are the names of some of those to whom we are indebted in this
respect — to all of whom, on behalf of the association, I beg to tender my grate-
ful acknowledgement for their liberality :-^
Hons. Thomas H. Benton, James Savage, John B. Weller, Wm. M. Gwin, A.
C. Dod^, R. C. Winthrop, J. A. MacDougal, M. S. Latham, Edward Everett, C.
K. Crarnson; Messrs. Halleck, Peachy, Billings & Park, Tilden & Little, Britton
& Rey, De Witt & Harrisson, Farwell & Curtis; W. H. J. Brooks, P. W. Ma-
eondray, William Wood, C. J. Dempster, Theo. Payne, J. H. Purkitt, H. C.
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820 Mereantil^ Library Association of San Francisco,
Beahf H. C. Clark, Washington Bartlett, David S. Tomer, Henry A. Harrisson,
W. H. Stevens, A. Thomas, Prank D. Stewart, P. W. Cornwall, Wm. Black-
bum, C. C. Wianer, David Jobson, G. W. Murray, Jonah Drake, Richard Rising,
G. W. Tickenor, M. Bixley, J. W. Sullivan, P. C. EgJin, J. S. Hittell, J. Coolidge
Stone, A. G. Randall, John J. Tayker, H. Bt?nham, Thos. C. Downer, Lawrence
Phillips, Edwin Lewis, T. W. Sutherland, C. C. Southard, M. M. Noih, H. La
Renlrie, Wm. Baker, Jr., D. Hale Haskell, Joseph W. Finlay, GJeorge H. Davia,
Wm. R. Wadsworth, Conrey, J. P. Haven, J. Smith Homans, Luther Severance,
L. L. Blood, John Perry, Jr., Nathan Seh<^field, Theo. A. Mudge, James Holden
Lander, Charles L. Strong, A. G. Lawrenoe, P. A. Macondray, P. C. Ewer, Thos.
Tennent, J. H. feider, Capt. John P. Schander, Capt Wn). MacMiehael, Capt. E,
S. Coffin, Capt. Creasy, ship ** Plying Cloud,** Alta California, Pacific, James
Lenox, Esq., New York city, B. B. Burt, Esq., Odwego, New York, C. C. Rafu,
Esq., Copenhagen, Denmark, by Josepfi Frontin, E^q., P. A. Woodwonh, E^q.,
Rev. W. A. Scott, A. D. Bnche, Esq., United States Coast Survey, Smithsonian
Institute, New York Society Library, ;New York Mercantile Libmry, together
with many others whose names appear 'on our books, recorded as patrons of our
association.
My limits will not allow roe to particularize all the individual favors we have
received through the kindness of maay friends who have materially assisted ns
by their donations. ^
The course of lectures commenced during the past season was not as success-
ful as we could have wished ; nor #ere they generally well attended, and the
disinclination for this kind of instruction was such as to induce a suj^nsion of
the course, to be renewed again, however, when the public taste shall be more
in favor, and public amusements \^fs numerous and less attractive to our people.
The debates which have been held' at our rooms have oiH^a^ionally brought for-
ward subjects of much interest, apd have generally been conducted with a degree
of ability hij^hly creditable to th^se concerned in them, while the nature of the
subjects introduced have stimulated our readers to a critical examination of books
of reference and history, as beneficial to their particular purpose as it was to their
general stock of knowledge updn such subjects as might be before them. I
should do injustice to my own^eelings, as well as to the gentleman of whom I
am about to speak, if I did no^allude to the very efiScient aid we have received
from our librarian, Mr. Horace Davis ; and although he has, to a considerable
extent, been relieved in his di/ties by his faithful assistant, John J. Tayker, yet,
when we take into consideration that in addition to his constant service in the
libcary he has arranged, writ/en out, and corre«*.ted our catalogue, which was to
be compiled after a careful 'examination of each work in the library, we shall
place proper estimation upon the value of his service, this being the first cata-
logue, and without means ift hand, for assistance, which might have been obtained
in other cities, rendered it a work of much labor.
The establishment of libraries from the earliest days down to our own times
is a subject which has engaged the attention of wise and good men of all coon-
tries; and the advantages to be derived from such institutions are especially
adapted to our own State and people, and we have before us in the establishment
of our own association a proof of the favor with which our cnterprine is looked
upon by that class of our community of whose approbation we should be proud
to be the recipients, akd whose encouragement has not failed to give us strength
in our most trying condition.
In this connection 1 beg your indulgence for a few moments, while I digress
from the subject before ns and notice matters bearing close analogy to that
which we are now considering.
I conceive our public schools, public libraries, and oar public press the three
great engines which control the destinies of our people, and give distisctive char-
acter to ciilzens of the United States. In our public schools our children are
trained with such care and with such success that they enter with a peculiar fit-
ness upon the higher grades of intellectual attainment, as they are to be found
in our public libraries, which, in the present arrangement of our literary instiUi^
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Mercantile Library Aseociatian ftf San Franeieeo. 821
lions, seem to be so organized as to be admirably adapted to the extension o[
that condition of inteltectaai acqairement of which our public schools are only
preparatory. And it is through the machinery of the public press that the intel-
ligence which is acquired in our schools and libraries is disseminated through ail
portions of our country, giving chanicter and influence in a degree corresponding
to the extent and respectability which is assumed by those having it in charge.
But I return to the consideration of our subject, and although I am sensible
of the liberality with which our efforte have been met by our citizens, I cannot
dismiss from my mind that many of them are not aware of the value of our as-
sociation, or the extent of time and exertion which has been necessary to bring
it to its present prosperous condition, and will trust that their liberaliiy will be
continued, and their interest in its welfare so increased as to give a wiaer range
to ita usefulness and prosperity.
Some attention has been given to the subject of creating a " Building Fund,**
in order to enable the association to take the necessary steps towards procuring
a building adapted to our accommodation, and arranged upon such principles as
would not only accommodate our member:^ but at the same time reduce our ex-
penses for rent, if not even be made to produce an income. This subject is. of
great interest to us, and will receive the careful attention of those gentlemen to
whom its consideration has been committed, and I trust that in their wisdom
they may be able at no distant period to bring the matter forward in such man-
ner as shall meet the views of our friends.
Our institution at present is but a miniature of what it is to be, and perhaps
may be thought of as a matter of too trifling importance to be the subject of an
annual report ; but our desire is to attract attention to our real condition and to
the objects we wish to accomplish.
The education of young men destined to become merchants, or in any manner
connected with commercial pursuits, is a subject which should command our first
attention ; it is through them and by their various associations, that our succes-
8ors*are to be brought in contact with people of distant countries, and through
their means civilization, with its attendent blessings, borne upon the wings of
Commerce, is to be conveyed to those benighted regions which are yet without
the elevating influences of Commerce — the delights of civilization, or the hopes
of immortality, through the glorious system of ChriMtianity. I would now, in
conclusion, ask your attention while I refer to matters of a personal character,
and to circumstances connected with my retirement from the official position
which, through your kindness, I have been permitted to occupy during the past
two years.
By a wise provision in your constitution, I was ineligible to re-election, having
served the full constitutional term ; but were this not so, I could not consent
again to devote the time necessary to a performance of the duties requured,
while I was aware that many others among your members were better calculated
to promote the interests of your institution, and better able to devote the time
necessary to a performance of the duties devolving upon the president And it
is matter of congratulation that your choice has fallen upon a gentleman in every
wav calculated to promote your best interest»— one who is competent, willing,
and energetic, and to whom you ma^ look for such attention as will insure sao-
eess and prosperity beydbd that which you now enjoy.
Many of you are aware that in November of last year I left San Francisco on
a visit to the Atlantic States, and that at the regular monthly meeting previous
to my departure, my resignation as president of your association was brought
forward, which, however, the meeting refused to accept, resolving at the same
time that I should retain my official position and represent your interests where
ever it should be in my power to promote measures connected with your pros-
perity. This evidence of your confidence and proof of your kindness, induced
its withdrawal, but with the full expectation that I should be relieved from my
duties by the election of a new president at the close of the year.
My surprise was great at hearing of my re-election while continuing ipy visit,
and gratified upon my return here to find' the improvements which had been ef-
VOL. xxxiiu — vo, la, 21 *
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922 Mercantile Library Aeeociation of San Frandico.
feoted during my absence ; the removal to the rooms as ooenpied at present, the
increase of members, improvement in financial affairs, and general condition of
prosperity, rendered it evident to me that by jadicions and energetic action, you
were too firmly established to admit of any doubt as to your future success.
And now, gentlemen, having partially and imperfectly reviewed our transae-
tions for the past two years, and being about to take leave of you in my official
capacity, and surrender into other hands the execution of those duties which I
have endeavored to fulfil), I feel that I cannot close my remarks without calling
to your minds the improvement we di:scover in our association, in a social view,
independent of our moral and literary advancement.
Those of you who were among the first in this enterprise will well recollect
how frequently it was necessary to adjourn our monthly meetings for want of a
constitutional quorum, and how small the number of visitors at our rooms, as
compared with the present — indeed the most striking feature of encouragement
is, that we now find our rooms well filled with visitors every evening, quiet,
respectful, and attentive, giving their time and attention to the cultivation of
their intellectual faculties, and thereby avoiding the dangers to which they must
necessarily be exposed by indiscriminate participation in our places of public
amusement and entertainments, and the many allurements connected therewith.
This is matter of great gratification ; and in a few j ears we shall look back upon
our efforts in the establishment of this institution with satisfaction at having
taken at least one step towards improvement of the moral and intellectual con^
dition of the citizens of our young and enterprising city.
I cannot refrain from giving expression to my gratefal feelings for the many
acts of kindness, the ever-respectful attention, and the perfect obedience to rules,
as exhibited towards me by the members upon all occasions. This has been
to me peculiarly gratifying, and has so fastened upon my heart that ] shall not
be unmindful to Sie last day of my life.
To the Board of Directors, and to the ofiScers with whom it has been my pri-
vilege to be associated, I cannot find language to give expression to the great
gratification I have experienced during my co-operation with them— during all
the trials and vexations we have passed through in the establishment of this en-
terprise we have ever found, upon every occasion,, that the execution of a duty
called forth the best feelings of all concerned, and no objection or disposition to
shrink from service has ever been indulged in by any member of the Board, from
our organization down to the present time.
It has been by this concert of united action by the Board of Directors, a fixed
determination on their part to succeed in our undertaking, and assisted by the
liberality of our citizens, that we find ourselves to-day in the enjoyment of a
library and rooms which would be creditable in any Atlantic city of equal size,
free from debt, with money in our treasury, and composed of members of such
character and standing as to give warrant to the realization of our most sanguine
expectations as to the continued prosperitv of our institution.
And thus, gentlemen, however unworthily I may have performed the duties
which your confidence has entrusted to my care, or however nnacceptably I may
have presented this my report, the lost of my official acts, with a full and perfect
assurance of the continued and increasinsr prosperity of your association, so en-
deared to me by my connection with it from its commeficement, and in the hope
that the same unanimity which has prevailed in your councils during the past
two years will continue for the future.
With my sincere thanks to you for your attention upon this occasion, I now
resign my position into the keeping of my worthy successor, and relinquish to
him the execution of those duties which, as president of your association, have
occupied my attentiod.
DAVID 8. TURNER.
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Coaisfor Wettem Hew York. 833
Art. Tn.— COALS FOR WESTERN NEW TORI.
Fuel is so essential to our eyeiy-daj wants, so promotive of our com-
fort and happiness, as to exert an influence on all classes of men, extending
to the humblest individual. It is alike an important element of individual
and national wealth and of social and domestic enjojmient. The commer-
cial prosperity and numerical strength of the State will always be im-
mensely influenced by its price.
We, of Western New York, have now reached a period in our history
when the employment of coals will be no other than a question of cheap-
For greater economy in the transportation of coals from the mines to
convenient places of deposit, railways, rudely constructed of wood, were
first introduced in England about the year 1660. Iron rails were first used
in 1776, at the coal mines of the Duke of Norfolk, at SheflBeld.
The writer of this article has no personal interest in %ny of the coal
mines, or either of the canals or railroads herein referred to. His only
object is to direct public attention to the subject, yet with ffreat deference
to those who are better informed in all that relates to this important topic
If he shall communicate any interesting or useful information, or shall be
the means of eliciting it from others, his object will be fully attained.
The sources whence supplies of coals are to be drawn, and the canals or
railroads, by means of which they are to be transported, are subjects which
may well engage our attention.
The Junction Canal being completed, and the North Branch Canal
Bearly so, an uninterrupted water communication will be open, within the
present season, probably about the Ist of October, between Western New
York and the great coal fields of Pennsylvania, on the North Branch of
the Susquehanna River in the Wyoming Valley.
The route of this communication is through the Seneca Lake and Che- i
mung Canal to Elmira, thence by the Junction Canal, eighteen miles, to w^
Athens, and thence by the North Branch Canal of Pennsylvania, ninety-
four miles, to the coal fields near Wilksbarre ; thus connecting the system
of internal improvements of Pennsylvania with the New York and Erie
Railroad and all the canals of the State of New York.
The opening of this line of communication will constitute an era in the
history of Western New York second only in importance to the opening
of the Erie Canal.
The geologic^ survey which was made a few years ago at the expense
of the State, has entirely settled the question, if it had not previously been
determined, that no workable beds of coal will be found in Western New
York, or within the limits of the entire State.
Before the geological survey had been made, it was known that in the
coal fields of Fennsylvania nearest to our southern border, the coal runs
out as the streams decline in the north, and that it would require a total
height of mountain above tide-water exceeding five thousana feet at the
State line to contain the coal measures ; whereas the greatest altitude there
is only about fifteen hundred feet In addition to these facts there are
others, resulting from the marked change of geological strata which com-
mences at the extreme northern limits of the coal fields of Pennsylvania.
In the wise and benign provision which Providence has made for man
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324 CoaUfor We$tem New York.
in the coal formations so wonderfully diffused over the face of the earth,
an index is furnished in the underlaying and overlaying strata which are
everywhere identical in the coal hearing rocks. These indications nowhere
occur in this State. It may therefore be regarded as entirely conclusive
that no coal will be found.
Within the present year we have seen notices in the newspapers <^
Steuben County, that coal had been discovered in the town of Hornby.
But for reasons already stated, this, if not geologically impossible, is highly
improbable. It may be that a few " pockets of coal " have been found in
that region, yet it may also safely be asserted that no workable beds exist
there^
It appears by the State survey that both anthracite and bituminous
coals were found throughout almost the whole series of its transition and
secondary rocks, but invariably in quantities too small for useful or eco-
nomical purposes, and in geological relations which differ entirely from
those of the true coal measures.
This point being settled, the completion of an unbroken line of water
communication between Western New York and the coal fields of Pennsyl-
vania, may well be regarded as an improvement of the first importance, and
it is consoling to know that the most magnificent development of the coal
formation known in the world is found on our southern and western bor-
ders. Western New York can well afford to pay tribute to her sister
States of Pennsylvania and Ohio for, supplies of coal and iron. It is but
an exchange of commodities, a reciprocal trade of great advantage to all
parties. Ohio draws from us large supplies of salt and lumber, and Penn-
sylvania requires not only our salt and lumber, but large quantities of
gypsum for her wheat lands and agricultural products for her mining dis-
tricts.
We have several railroads extending from various places in Western
New York to the coal fields. However successfully they may compete
with canals in the transportation of merchandise and agricultural products,
it is quite certain that it cannot be extended to coal, which must every-
where obey the inexorable law of cheapness.
The time has been when more than fourteen hundred teams were con-
stantly employed for a number of years in transporting salt and plaster
from Ithaca, on the Cayuga Lake, to Owego, on the Susquehanna River,
for the markets of Pennsylvania. But by reason of the cheaper transpor-
tation of the foreign articles through the canals extending up the Susque-
hanna from tide-water, this large and once profitable business has nearly
oeased. It will now be revived on the Seneca Lake and this new channel
of water communication, and will furnish convenient return freight for the
boats employed in the transportation of coal.
The Wyoming Division of the North Branch Canal passes through sev-
enteen miles of the coal lands, with numerous openings on its margin, af-
fording the greatest facility for delivering the coal by dumping it from the
mines into shutes, which convey it into Uie boats.
For a few years past we have been supplied with anthracite coal from
Scranton, but at prices higher than will rule in the future. It has usually
been sold at this place, Geneva, at |6 to 16 60 per ton net The Wilka-
barre coal, also anthracite of the best quality, will now be brought here
in boats fh>m the mines at $8 to $4 per ton at wholesale.
The Blossborg ooal, semi-bitaminous, is transported from the mines by
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Coahfar Western New York. «26
the Coming and Blossburg RR. to tlie village of Corning, at the western
tenninus of the Chemung Canal, where it is conveniently discharged from
ibe cars into boats. The price at Coming is |i2 75 per ton. Of all the
bituminous coal which now comes to Western New York, none is so good
as this variety for working iron and steel, because it contains more carbon,
and is more free from the sulphuret of iron. For this reason a consider-
able quantity b annually sold at Buffalo for the use of blacksmiUis and
machmists, at an advance of 50 per cent on the price of the rich bitu.
minous coal of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
We shall also soon be supplied with bituminous coal from the vicinity
of Towanda, on the North Branch Canal. Also two other varieties of
bituminous coal, one from Farrensville, on the West Branch of the Sus-
quehanna, and the other from Ralston. They will be transported from the
mines to Elmira by railroad; the former 117 miles, and the latter 50
miles.
Both of these varieties are of approved quality, especially the former,
which is highly recommended for generating burning gas. The present
price of this coal at Elmira is $6 per ton, but will be lower in the icourse
of the present season, when the railroad, now in progress, is finished to
the mines. The Ralston coal, semi-bituminous, is sold at Elmira at t3 50
to $4 per ton. This variety is similar to the Blossburg.
The Shamokin anthracite will also be brought to Elmira by way of
Williamsport, the whole distance being 187 miles by railroad, and will be
sold at Elmira at about $8 50 per ton.
To these may be added the bituminous coals of Western Pennsylvania
and Ohio, which are shipped from Cleveland and Erie to Buffalo and Os-
wego.
The most celebrated of those shipped from Erie are the Brookfield,
Mount Joy, and Ormsby. These are transported from 65 to 90 miles by
the Erie and Pittsburg Canal, and are at present sold at Erie at 18 75 to
$4 per ton net ; present price at Buffalo, |i5. They are in much favor for
domestic uses ; so much so, that some from the Brookfield mines is regu-
larly sold in the city of New York.
The Ohio coals which are shipped from Cleveland are also of superior
quality. These are from beds lying along the Ohio and Erie Canal, and
eastward from the lake 50 to 80 miles. It is usually sold at Cleveland at
about $3 to $4 per ton, and at Buffalo at about $4 to |5 — present price,
$5. The quality known as Bryer Hill is probably the best
It has been estimated that twelve thousand square miles of the area of
the State of Ohio is underiain by coal, and that the workable beds will
yield thirty thousand millions of tons.
The competition which will necessarily exist between these several chan-
nels will always insure to Western New York ample supplies of both an-
thracite and bituminous coals.
The prices of coal in the Wyoming Valley delivered on board of boats
last year were as follows : — Lump coal, II 50 per gross ton of 2,240 lbs. ,
No. 1, large egg^ |1 76 ; No. 2, small egg, $1 75 ; No. 3, stove, $1 75 ;
No. 4, nut, ^l 37^; No. 5, cbesnut, 81^- cents; No. 6, pea, 50 cents.
These are regarded by the dealers as full remunerating prices ; but this
season, owing to the delay in completing the North Branch Canal, and
nipplies exceeding the demand, the best lump coal has been sold, and is
now selling, at one dollar per gross ton, and the other qualities proportioB-
ably low.
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826 CoaUfoT Western New York.
The toll on the North Branch Canal for the present year is six mills per
mile per 2,000 lbs. It is expected that this will be reduced for the coming
year to four mills, which was the rate charged in 1854.
No rates have yet been established for the Junction Canal. On the Che-
mung Canal and all the canals of the State of New York the toll is only
one mill per mile on 2,000 lbs., and free of toll when used in the manu-
facture of salt It is to be hoped that the enlightened and liberal policy
of our Canal Board in this particular may soon be adopted in Pennsylva-
nia and Ohio, and we cannot doubt but it will be.
If the toll on the North Branch and Junction Canals are fixed at six
mills for 2,000 lbs., the distance being 110 miles, the toll will be 66 cents
from the mines to Elmira, and thence 21 miles by the Chemung Canal, 2
cents and 1 mill to the Seneca Lake, making the toll for the whole dis-
tance between Wilksbarre and Geneva 68.1 cents per ton net ; but if we
increase this to one dollar per ton, and call the freight $1 50, it will be
seen that the probable cost of this excellent coal delivered at Geneva, as
before stated, at Id to $4 per ton, according to quality, may be relied on.
It is desirable that the practice of selling coal by the gross ton at one
place and by the net ton at another should h^ changed. In Pennsylvania,
at the coal mines, a ton of coal is 2,240 lbs. At the commencement of
the anthracite coal trade all sales were made by the bushel. This prac-
tice still prevails in reeard to much of the bituminous coal, although nearly
all the varieties differ m specific gravity.
Anthracite coal, although purchased by the gross ton at the mines, is
everywhere in this State sold by the net ton. In Philadelphia all sales,
both wholesale and retail, are made by the gross ton.
When coals are sold by the chaldron, a chaldron describes no uniform
ascertained quan^ty in pounds, or uniform number of bushels. Our school
books teach us that 36 bushels make a chaldron. In Boston a chaldron
of Nova Scotia coal is represented by 2,500, 2,700, 2,880, 2,928, 3,000,
and 3,360 lbs., although prior to the reciprocity treaty the duty was uni-
formly collected on 2,880 lbs. In addition to the inconvenience, not to
say loss, which this want of uniformity occasions to dealers and consumera,
it is the cause of great discrepancies in the published statements of the
coal trade. In England, and generally in Europe, uniformity has been es-
tablished by law.
Anthracite coals are now transported by railroad from Scranton, in
Pennsylvania, to Ithaca, in this State, a distance of 121 miles, and deliv-
ered there at 13 80 to $4 20 per ton net. The distance from Ithaca to
Sodus Bay, on Lake Ontario, is 70 miles, 36 miles of it on the Cayuga
Lake. The cost of transportation for the whole distance may be estimated
at 80 cents per ton, making the whole cost at Sodus Bay, when the Sodus
Canal is finished, $4 60 to $5 per ton. But we may safely deduct at least
50 cents per ton from this estimate on all coals passing through the Seneca
Lake to the same point, as the transportation of these will be by water,
with the additional advantage of return freights of salt and plaster for the
interior of Pennsylvania, and agricultural products for the mining dis-
tricts.
There will be a large and annually increasing northern and western out-
let for the Scranton or Lackawanna coal by the Chenango Canal, the Syr-
acuse and Binghamton Railroad, the Syracuse and Oswego Railroad, the
Oswego Canal, and the Rome and Watertown Railroad.
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CcaUfvr Wtzi/sm JKTew York. 827
In 1860, the T>opulation of the State was 3,007,304. Western New
York, or so much of the State of New York as lies west of the easterly
bounds of the counties of Jefferson, Oneida, Madison, Chenango, and
Broome, contains about one-half of the area, and half the population of
the whole State, and will in all probability in a few years require as much
coal as is at present consumed in both sections.
I believe it is true that nearly all the estimates which heretofore have
been made in New York and Philadelphia of the probable colisumption
of coals have fallen short of actual results. That we shall have a like ex-
perience in Western New York is more than probable. We live in an
age the progress of which is not to be measured by examples in the his-
tory of the past ; but I will leave these estimates for a period not far dis-
tant, when they can be fortified by ascertaining facts which will everywhere
surround us.
In respect to this important article we, of Western New York, are just
in the dawn of a new era, that will date from the completion of the sev-
eral canals and railroads herein referred to, and the introduction of coals
at low prices.
The probable quantity that will pass through the Seneca Lake after the
present year will be an interesting inquiry. That it will greatly exceed
the supplies which will come through all other channels is quite certain, for
the reason that the topographical formation of the country forbids the con-
struction of any other communication by water from this part of the State
with the coal fields of Pennsylvania.
As yet we have no reliable data for such an estimate. That it will be
very large there cannot be a doubt It is equally certain that it will exert
a most favorable influence on the value of property and all the various in-
terests of this already highly favored region.
Coal has happily been defined hoarded labor. In our climate, as in
England, it ranks among the necessaries of life.
It has been estimated, by highly intelligent persons, that in ^ve years
fix>m the completion of this line of water communication, at least 400,000
tons of anthracite coal will be required to supply the deihand for the Lakes
Ontario and Erie, to be used in venerating steam for navigation, and for
consimaption in various ways in me vast region bordering on those lakes.
To some this may seem extravagant, but a much larger quantity than
this is annually transported from the mines near Wilksb^e to the city of
New York by a single company. In 1854, the Pennsylvania Coal Com-
pany sent 613,000 tons, and will exceed this quantity in the present year.
The completion of the Sodus Canal between the Erie Canal, at Clyde,
and Sodus bay, on Lake Ontario, would greatly facilitate the coal trade
between Wilksbarre and the chain of lakes, the St Lawrence, Canada, <feo.
It would not be hazarding much to say that the tolls on coal alone will
justify the early completion of that canal.
The coals of Ohio and Westeili Pennsylvania are all bituminous, but
anthracite coal is preferred in lake and river navigation, and for the smelt-
ing of iron.
In 1820, the entire anthracite coal trade of the United States was only
365 tons; in 1853, it was 6,105,000 tons. The increased demand and
consumption has everywhere kept pace with the increased facilities for
transportation. A quarter of a century ago not more than one thousand
tons of anthracite were annually mined in the United States ; now the in-
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crease alone is more than a thousand tons per day, and rapidlj ooinponnd-
ing upon that With these facts before us, and the new elements dailj
introduced into the problem of future demand, who shall solve it ?
Without dwelling on the importance of coid in a national point of view,
I will briefly quote from a few eminent British writers to show the vital
influence it has had on the prosperity of Great Britain, and certainly will
have on this country.
McCulloch says ^ it is hardly possible to exaggerate the advantages Eng-
land derives from her vast beds of coal " — that her coal mines are the
principal source and foundation of her manufacturing and conmiercial
prosperity.
Another writer. Porter, says ** her coal mines are the source of greater
riches than ever issued from the mines of Peru " — " that but for the com-
mand of coal, the inventions of Watt and Arkwright would have been of
, small account"
Another writer says that coal, by the agency of steam, has enabled Great
Britain to undersell the world in her manu&ctures.
Dr. Buckland says the amount of work done in England by means of
coal is supposed to be equivalent to that of between three and four hun-
dred millions of men by direct labor. And we are almost astounded at
the influence of coal, and iron, and steam upon the fate and fortunes of the
human race.
Mr. Page, in his evidence before Parliament, said ^ the manufacturing
interests of this country, colossal as is the fabric which it has raised, rests
principally on no other base than our fortunate position in regard to the
coal formations. Should our coal mines ever be exhausted it would melt
away at once."
In the United States no fears need be entertained of exhausting our
coal mines. On either side of the Alleghany Mountains we have more
coal than has yet been found in the whole of Europe. The Ohio or Ap-
palachion coal field is the largest in the world. Indiana has one-fifth and
Illinois not less than three-fourths of her entire area occupied by the car-
boniferous strata. #
It only remains for our government to foster home industry to insure to
us all the advantages which have been realized in Great Britain. Her ex-
perience proves that the amount of mineral coal in a country is the meas-
ure of its material greatness and prosperity. The uses to which her coals
have been applied Ornish the true exponent of her great wealth, power, and
resources.
And it seems most providential that the discovery of the uses of coal
was reserved for an age in which it was most essential. The history of
the uses of coal in the United States belongs to the present generation,
and had scarcely any existence anterior to the year 1 820. J^ow a wide
field is open before us for the development of those economic applications
in its use, which in late years have be^ so remarkable in all that rdates
to scientific and mechanical progress
Coals are far more important to the world than gold and silver, because
they accomplish more for man ; not only in extending the comforts and
refinements of life, but in wonderfully advancing science. Commerce, and
navigation, the industrial arts, trades, and manu&ctures. And by the gen-
eration of steam th^ have practically annihilated time and space, and are
rapidly carrying knowledge and civilization to the remotest comers of the
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Commerce and Beeoureee of Finland. 329
habitable globe. The prodigiotu moral influence which it is destined to
exert defies all estimates.
Among the many influences which mark the age in which we live, none
is more potent than this. We almost realize in it the power of the fabled
ei^le, ever pressin^f upward and onward with an eye that never winks, and
wing that never tires. z.
Gbnxva, Auguei^ 1855.
Art. Tm.— GOIHBRCB AND BE80UKGE8 OF FINLAND.
•KMEAraiOAL POnnOM^lTt EBLATIOMt TO THB RVtflAM IlinEB— POPVLATIOM— aOVSBllMIIIT--
TBAOB ABO OOMM BECB— MAMVrAUTUEBt— BLOCKADB Or FOETB— MET Or BBUXMaPOEB, BTC.
Finland (capital Helsingfors) is situated between latitude 59° 48' and
70® 6' north, and longitude 21° and 82° east; bounded north by Lapland,
east by the governments Archangel and Olonotz, south by the Gulf of
Finland and government of St Petersburg, and west by the Gulf of Both-
nia. It has an area of 136,000 square miles, with a flat surface, and is
traversed in the center by a chain of low hills, separating the basins of
the White Sea and the Baltic^ The coast of Finland is deeply indented.
For the following information touching the trade, Commerce, manufac-
tures, and resources of Finland, we are indebted to a correspondent of the
Department of State : —
** Finland, elevated to the rank of a grand dochy by the Swedish king Joban
IlL, belonged, as it is generally known, to Sweden until the year 1809, after the
war of which vear it Mi under the Russian scepter. The emperor of Russia is
grand duke of Finland. The emperor is represented by a Senate at Helsingfors,
consisting of fourteen members His Majesty, the Emperor Nicolai, guarantied,
as the Emperor Alexander did before him, the Lutheran religion and the Swedish
fundamental laws of the country, in a manifesto of December 12, 1826. Fin-
land has a population of about one million and three-quarters ; the Swedish and
the finlandian are spoken, and Helsingfors is the capital of the country.
** Agriculture iv the princiDal business of the majority of the inhabitants. The
manner in which it is carried on is very singular in some regards. 1 hope in my
next, when I have gathered some necessary details, to treat of this subject
** The Commerce is pretty flourishing in proportion to the width and situation
of the country ; the fleet consistinff of about 600 vessels, of which the greater
Cxi carries on the trade with Sweden, Russia, and Grermany. Many sail on the
editernuMtan, a dozen go to Brazil, and a few to the East Indies. The princi-
pal articles of export are wood products, such as planks, beams, potash, rosin,
tar, pitch, fire-wood, d^. ; and products of cattle breeding, such as black cattle,
sheep, hogs, butter, cheese, tallow, and skins ; further, herrings, salmon, urease
of sea-dogs, fur-skins, game, dLc. The principal articles of import are tobacco,
sugar, coffee, tea, cotton, salt, copper and other metals, haddock, stock fi»h. pig-
ment, wine, anack, rum, fruits, spices, silken, linen, and stuffs, glass, porcelain,
drugs, dLc.
** Ajs to the industry, three cotton manuflurtories occupy the first place. One
of these is conducted on a very large scale, with a thousand workmen. These
manufactories have the privilege to export their productions to Russia, and con-
sume a considerable quantity of cotton, which hajB been imported from England.
I am this moment negotiating with the manu&ctories for theur drawing the cot-
ton diiectiy from America* as more advantageous for themselves; and I hope
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380 Journal of MereantUe Law*
they will pareae the same counie with tobacco, which has been bought up in a
large quantity in Bremen and Hamburg, at second hand. Here are, alao, three
manufactories of steam-engines, twenty tobacco, eight cloth, seven porcelain,
nine paper, five leather and tan manufactories, &c These manufactories employ
foreign masters and workmen to the number of 160, for the most part Bnglish-
men. Seven docks are much occupied with ship-building, of which two, for the
most part, have orders for the Russian government
^ The blockade of the ports at the Baltic Sea by the enemy's fleets stopped,
in the year 1854, all communication by sea between Finland and foreign coun-
tries. Late in the autumn there arriv^, however, in Finland some vessels from
Lubeck, loaded with coffee, suc^ar, spirits, and wine.
** Between northern Finland and Sweden, and between Helsingfors and St.
Petersburg, along the coast, communication was, on' the contrary, very lively.
From Sweden there were brought in, principally, salt, coffee, sugar, and wine-
even cotton, tob&cco, indigo, and other raw productions fbr the manufactories.
In the month of November, as the blockade discontinued, the port of Stockholm
was visited by eighty Finnish vessels.
"The port of Helsingfors was, in the year 1864, visited by 1,689 vessels, large
and small, with a tonnage of 31,922 Swedish lasts, (100 Swedish lasts equal to
240 English tons,) and by 3,136 boaU. With these Were brought in 16,881
cords of wood, 16,027 barrels of salt, 4,898 barrels of salt fish, 8,221 barrels of
rye, &c., &c. ; and from St Petersburg, 249,282 mats with meal, of which 227,779
were for the army.**
JOURNAL OF MERCANTILE LAW.
COLLISION BETWEEN ▲ SLOOP AND THE STEAMBOAT EMPIRE STATE.
In the United States District Court, New York. In Admiralty, before Judge
IngersoU. Jedediah Chapman and others vs. the Steamboat Empire State.
This libel is filed by the owners of the sloop New York against the steamboat
Empire State, to recover damages which they have sastained by a collision be-
tween their sloop and the Empire State, whksh took place in the month of July,
1863. The collision occurred at a little before six o'clock in the afternoon, at a
point in the East River a little to the east of Pot Rock, in Hell Gate, at about
the middle of the river, between Nesro Point, on Ward's Island, and Woolsey's
Dock, near the bath-house on Long Island shore. The sloop was loaded with a
cargo of coal on freight, and the collision, soon after it took place, caused her to
sink with the coal on board.
She was bound from New York up the Sound to New Haven. Tlie steamer
was also bound from New York up the Sound to Fall River. The guards of
the steamboat came in contact with the main rigging of the sloop as she was
passing her on the starboard side, which forced out her bolts, thereby causing
an opening in the side of the sloop, by which she soon filled with water. The
wind at the time was light and baffling, and was from the eastward of south,
and was at the rate of m>m one to two knots. The tide was flood, at the rate
of from four to seven knots. At the time the sloop was heading with the tide
firom a place nearly opposite Negro Point to a point near WooUey's Dock, on
the Long Island shore.
From the time the boat was opposite Hallet's Point the sloop had not altered
her course. From Negro Point the tide sets over to Woolsey's Dock. Often
there will be two contrary whirls of the tide near the place where the collision
happened. When the two vessels came together, the sloop was not far from
the middle of the turn tide. The sloop, .when she was approaching near to
Negro Pointy was seen by the captain aiid pilot of the boat, before the boat
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piased Hallet*B Poiot. The sloop had a little steerage way on her. From the
time the sloop was first seen by the boat she continued to keep her coarse.
When the sloop was first seen by those having charge of the management of
the boat, they assumed that she could bear away aAer passing Negro Point, and
hog the shore of Ward's Island. Whether she could or not in season to have
got out of the way of the steamboat, with the wind light and baffling as it was,
and the tide strong as it was, does not satisfactorily appear. She did not, however,
hug the shore of Ward's Island, but kept on witliont altering her course in the
turn tide. When the pilot of the boat first saw the sloop, before the boat passed
Hallet's Point, he made up his mind to pass the sloop on her starboard side, and
directed the movements of the boat with that view. In passing Hallet's Point,
the boat was slowed, and approached the sloop nearly in her w&e, towards her
starboard side.
As the boat came near the sloop, the engine of the boat was stopped. The
headway which she had on brought her uporoadside to the sloop. The bells of
the boat were then rung to go ahead, and in passing the sloop the boat crowded
the sloop ; her guards pressed against the standing rigging of the sloop with
such force that the injury was occasioned which caused her to sink. The cap-
tain of the boat thought he could pass the sloop without touching her, and sup-
posed at the time that he had so done. At the time the bells of the boat were
rung to go ahead, the boat was drifdng with the tide towards the shore, and
there was danger that she would have gone on shore if she had continued to
drift with the tide.
The boat could have passed the sloop in safety on her larboard side, if the
captain of the boat, when he passed Hallet's Point, had directed the movements
of the boat with that view. He did not, however, so direct her movements,
supposing that the sloop would hug the shore of Ward's Island, though the cap-
tain of the sloop gave no indications that he would do so. The ordinary course
of ifavigation for sailing vessels in |^oing up the Sound, with the wind from a
point east of south, was, after passing Negro Point, to bear away some if they
eould.
The captain of the sloop did not see the boat until the boat had passed Hallet's
Point and was approaching near the sloop. The sloop was in no fault, unless
her keeping her course in the turn tide is to be considered as a fault.
In the case of the Jamaica, steam ferryboat. New York hegal Observer^ vol.
3, p. 242, the district judge, in giving his opinion, says : ** A steamboat having
had a sailmg vessel in full view, time enough to have avoided her, is to be hela
responsible, prima facie, for steering clear, without requiring the latter to do
anything." In the case under consideration, the steamboat had the sloop in
full view before the boat came up to Hallet's Point, and in time to have avoided
her, by pursuing a different course, and the sloop did nothing but keep her
eonrse.
In the case of the Naugatuck Transportation Company vs, the steamboat
Rhode Island, tried before Judge Nelson, which was a case of collision happen-
ing near the pla'je where this collision occurred, the judge, in giving his opinion,
remarks as follows : *^ Upon the evidence I should feel bound to hold any vessel
responsible for a collisi^ that occurred in attempting to pass another, while
struggling in this dangerous strait, there being no fault on the part of the leading
vessel."
It is claimed on the part of the Empire State, that after she came near the
sloop she could not back, or remain witli her engine motionless, and that the
only course she could pursue with safety to herself was to go ahead. The re-
marks of Judge Nelson in the case of the Rhode Island are a sufficient answer
to this claim. He says : *^ The pretext set up for exposing the Naugatuck to
the hazard is, that the slowing or stopping the Rhode Island after she had pa8se4
Flood Rock, would greatly endanger her own safety and the safety of the live4
of the passengers. The answer is, if this be admitted, it was her own fault that
she was brought into the dilemtiia. The Naugatuck was seen in time to have
avoided it Neglecting to avoid it subjects the Rhode Island to all the conse-
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8i2 Journal of MercantiU Lcm*
quences that followed." And as there was no fault on the part of the sloop in
this case — her keeping her course while close-hanled not being considered a
fkult— the Empire State must be hoiden responsible for all the consequeneee
which followed the collision.
The answer of the court, therefore, is, that the libelants recover the damage
which they have sustained by the collision, and that it be referred to a commis-
sion to ascertain and report what the damage is.
For libelants, Mr. Morton and Mr. Haskett; for claimants, Mr. Lord.
rROMISSORY ROTES — MAKERS AKD IMDORSERS.
In the city court of Brooklyn, (New York,) before Judge Greenwood. Jane,
1864. Kelsey & Kelsey vs, Bradbury.
A man named Cox made a note, payable to Rouse, or order. He indorsed it
to Elliot and Hoiden. The indorsees obtained a judgment upon it against the
maker and indorser. The latter paid the judgment, received back the note^ and
transferred it to the defendant, who sets it up against a demand, upon which the
plaintiffs sue as assignees of the maker. It is contended by the plaintiffs' coun-
sel that the note was merged in the judgment, so that it was no longer the sub-
ject of an action, or capable of being transferred by the indorser.
There can be no doubt that if the indorser had paid the note before judgment,
although after maturity, he could have recovered upon it against the maker, or
put it again in circulation, (1 Cowen, 387, Havens i;*. Huntington, Leavit rs.
Putnam, 3 Comst R., 494,) payment would not have extinguished the note.
So, after judgment against maker and indorser, the latter may purchase and
take an assignment of the judgment, as against the maker, and enforce it against
him. (Corey vs. White, 3 Barb. S. C. R., 12.) But here the indorser did not
take, and perhaps could not have obtained, an assignment of the judgment, and
the question is, what is the efi^t of the judgment upon the rights of tlvs indorser,
or of a new indorser, as to the remedies upon the note itself. In Corey ts.
White, uh. sup.t the court say : — " A judgment extinguishes merely the liabilitiea
of the defendant to the plaintiff, and leaves unaffected the liability of the prior
parties to the defendant." A judgment against the indorser alone would not,
therefore, affect the liability of the maker to him.
All that the indorser would have to do would be to pay the judgment, and then
by repossessing himself of the note he would become again invested with all
the rights against the maker which he before had. It would be the same in
effect as if the indorser had paid the note before judgment ; for the court ob-
serves in the same case: — '* A judgment has no greater effect in extinguishing a
demand than paymenC It is settled by the case to which I have last referred,
that a recovery in a joint action under the statute against the several parties to a
promissory note, has no effect on the contract which exists between them, a$
among themsehesy although the plaintiff in the acUon could not afterwards sue
either of them.
Then suppose the maker in this case had been sued separately to judgment,
and the indorser had paid the judgment, and received back the note, how could
the rights of the indorser against the maker have beeH prejudiced t The judg-
ment would have been extinguished by the payment, but not the indorser's de-
mand against the maker. The indorser*s right of action on the note would have
been merged and gone, but not the indorsee's, for that of the latter is not de-
rived from the indorsei^s, but arises from his relation to the maker upon the note.
There is a wide difference between the merger of a demand of a particular party
and a merger of the note itself, upon which demands of other parties depend.
The mucer cannot be prejudiced by holding/this doctrine. He has never paid
the note, nor is there any judgment remaining against him, for that haa been ex-
tinguished by the payment by the indorser.
That the effect of a joint judgment is the same as if separate suite had been
brought, is settled b^ the case of Corey and White.
The precise question here raised has not, that I am aware, been determined in
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Joutnal cf JUerccmUU LauK 838
this State, bnt I am referred to the case of Preat vs. Van Aradalen, 6 Halst, 194,
as an aatboritj in favor of the pUinti£ Taat case arose from an appeal from a
judgment in a justice's court, which had been affirmed in the Common Pleas.
The opinion of the court is brief^ and the decision is put on the ground that by
the judgment against the m«iker, the note had passed in remjvdicatam. The
case of Bean vs. Smith, 2 Mason, 268, is referred to by the court as sanctioning
the doctrine. I have examined that case, and find that it was a judgment credi-
tor's bill to set aside fraudulent conveyances. One of the minor questions raised,
was as to the jurisdiction of the court, and Judge Story, in his very able opinion
which he delivered in the case, says upon the point, what is obviously correct,
(although it was not necessary to the decision of the case,) that the course of
action having passed into rem judicaiam^ the defendant could not go behind the
judgment to inquire how the case would have stood as to jurisdiction upon the
cause of action itself. In other words, that this matter was res judicata between
the parties.
With perfect respect for the court which decided the case in New Jersey, I
confess that I am unable to see the analogy between the two cases ; nor do I
perceive how a judgment between indorsee and maker is res yt/(^fca/a between
Indorser and maker. There is no priority between indorser and indorsee -so far
as the indorser's right of action against the maker is concerned, for that right of
action grows out of the relation between the two latter created by the note.
There is no indorsement back to the indorser. Nor has the indorser any agency
in obtaining the judgment against the maker. How, then, does the doctrine of
res judicata apply ]
In the present case, the note was passed to the indorsees (who obtained judg-
ment) for value, upon the responsibility of the indorser, as well as that of the
maker, and the indorser was morally and legally bound to them as much as the
maker was. The indorser paid the judgment, and received back the note, and
this, I think, placed him apon the same footing, as respects the maker, upon
which he was before he passed the note away. Perhaps, as before intimated, if
he had desired an assignment of the judgment, he could not have obtained it. The
note was not an accommodation note, aa between maker and indorser, and there
may be a question whether an action could be maintained by the latter for money
paid to the use of the former. The note is now in the hands of a holder who
took it for valye from the indorser, having no knowledge that a judgment was
once obtained upon iL The maker has no valid defense to it, other than the
purely technical one to whkh I have referred, and that, I think, cannot prevail.
Equity, as applicable under the code and commercial polky, both favor, I think,
the doctrine contended for bv the defendant With these views, I must adhere
to the ruling at the trial, and if I should err, leave my error to be corrected by
the Supreme Court. New trial denied.
THB CORN TRADE — FALLING OP A STORE — LIABILITT OF OWNER.
Larmour vs. Waring. Tlie plaintiff in this case was a merchant and an im-
porter of [ndian corn, and required a loft or store for the storing of a quantity of
corn. The defendant represented that he had a loft such as would safely hold
250 tons, trusting in which the plaintiff agreed on and took the loft. It, how-
ever, did not turn out to be sufficiently strong to hold 250 tons. The issues to
go to the jury were —
1st. Whether the loft was let to the defendant on the representation that the
same was. capable of carrying 250 tons. 2d. Whether it was in a state at the
time so let as to be capable of carrying 250 tons. 3d. Whether the end of the
stores fell, as alleged in the plaint, in consequence of the bad construction, or, as
the defendant alleged, in consequence of negligent and improper storing. And,
further, whether the defendant bad appropriated eighty tons of com, the property
of the plaintiff.
Verdict for the plaintiff, £285 15s. 3d. damages and costa. Exceptions were
taken to the verdict on the ground that it was contrary to evidence, and the case
will consequently be tried in the courts above.
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884 Journal of MercanUU Law.
COLLISION — BABK PALERMO AND STEAMSHIP TBLBGRAPH.
Jadicial Committee of Privy Council, July 13, 1854. Before Sir John Dodson,
Sir John Patteson, and Sir Edward Ryan.
This was an appeal from a decree of (he High Court of Admiralty in a cause
of damage which had been brought on behalf of tlie bark Palermo against the
steamship Telegraph. Th6 collision between them occurred about 10 p. m., on
the 28th of November, 1853, in Belfast Lough, the Palermo being at anchor near
to Grey Point, with her head to the south, and with her starboard side towards
Belfast. The Telegraph was proceeding from Belfast to Liverpool. It was ad-
mitted that the Palermo did not comply with the regulations which require all
sailing vessels to anchor in roadsteads or fairways to exhibit a constant bright
light at the masthead from sunset until sunrise. The question at issue there-
fore was, whether this non-compliance was not the cause of the collision which
occurred. The Palermo stated that the light was hoisted in the mizen rigging.
On the part of the Telegraph it was alleged that no light was visible, that if it
had been exhibited at the masthead it must have been seen in time to avoid the
collision, and that, if exhibited at all, it was on the Inrboard mizzen rigging.
The Trinity Masters having advised the learned judge of the court below that,
looking at the circumstances of the case, if any comparison was to be drawn be-
tween the two positions, the light was more visible on the larboard mizzen rig-
ging than it would have been at the masthead, he pronounced for the damage,
against which the present appeal was interposed.
Dr. Addams and Mr. Forsyth were heard for the appelants. Dr. Haggard and
Mr. Willes for the respondents.
Sir John Pattison, in delivering the judment of their lordships, said that the
sole question for determination was, whether or not the light had been properly
placed on board the Palermo. It was quite clear that there had been a depart-
ure from the admiralty regulations, and no special reason had been assi^cd for
it. Their Lordships had great difficulty in understanding how the Trinity Mas-
ters could have arrived at the conclusion that a light was more visible on the
larboard mizzen ngging than on the masthead. Their lordships had had the
assistance of gentlemen fully conversaift with matters of that sort^ and they
were decidedly of opinion, in which their lord^ips concurred, that the TriniW
Masters had taken an entirely wrong view of the case. By a light being placed
at the masthead must be understood the vei^ top of the mast, so that it would
be visible all round the horizon. It was quite apparent that the collision was
occasioned by a breach of the Admiralty regulations, and, that being so, by the
act of Parliament the owners of the Palermo were not entitled to recover. The
decree of the court below, therefore, must be reversed, and the Palermo must be
condemned in the costs, both in that court and in the court of appeal.
CHABTER-PARTT — CLAIM FOR NOT RECEIVIIfG A FULL CARGO.
A question of much importance to shipowners and charterers, was recently
(January, 1855) heard in the Court of Equity, (Liverpool, England,) before Mr.
Baron Martin, and a common jury, in the case of Cuthbert rs. Cumming, in
which the plaintiff claimed from the defendant the sum of £>IZ9 8 3, as com-
pensation for his ve&sel not having received a full cargo. The facts of the case,
as we find them in the Liverpool Albion^ are as follows : —
A charter-party was made in Liverpool between Wm. Cuthbert and Anthony
Cumming, for a voyage between Liverpool and Trinidad, of the brig Agnes, of
the harden 215 tons, to take out a carffo free, and to return home with a cargo
of sugar, molasses, or other lawful produce ; freight to be paid on the homew^
carffo, at the rate of 958. ner ton net at the Queen*a beam. The vessel arrived
In Liverpool about the end of July, and discharged the fgJlowing produce : —
170 hhds. sugar, 32 tierces ditto, 108 barrels ditto, 196 puncheons molasses, 52
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Jcwmal €f Mercantile Lavf, dd5
bAs« cocoa, and 1,636 cattle horns; net weight delivered 251 tons 9 lbs. odd.
^en in Trinidad the captain agreed, by letter, to take on board all barrels fur-
nished for broken stowa^ at ^. per ton. After discharging the vessel, the
plaintiff first sent in a claim for 29 tons of sugar, and afterwards for 50 tons, to
the defendant, without any previous notice oi the vessel having arrived with a
deficiency, so that, if defendant had been liable, he had not even the opportunity
afforded him of having the stowage surveyed, on the plea that the charterer was
compelled to find bags of cocoa, and barrels of sugar, as broken stowage, not-
withstanding the charterer had refused to insert a cUnse to that effect when the
charter was l)eing negotiated. At the examination of the captain and mate they
both swore that the vessel could have carried from forty to fifty tons more than
she discharged, having three feet of space between the top tier and deck, although
she had stowed four heights of sufrar In a hold of fifteen feet eight inches ; and
they also swore that the vessel had discharged a full load of three hundred and
twenty tons of coals in bulk. Messrs. Scrutton, Thompson, Ballard, and Captain
Collin, brokers and shipowners, in London, and Mr. Longton, of Liverpool, were
examined as to the custom of the trnde, and they proved, that unless a special
clause was inserted in a charter-party, that broken stowage was part of the
agreement, the shipowners could not compel the charterer to furnish the vessel
with broken stowage, Mr. Scrutton proving that, in a charter of this same vessel,
for a full and complete cargo of sugar, molasses, and other produce, she came
home without a full cargo of suffar, without a single tierce or barrel for broken
stowage, and the net weight landed was only 219 tons of sugar; independent of
this, Mr. Longton proved the vessel had never before discharged the same weight
•f sugar and molasses on any former voyage to the West Indies. After hearing
the ar^ments on both sides as to the custom, the learned baron agreed that; if
the evidence of the custom be that the merchant satisfies such a contract as the
one in question, by fur^iishing as many hogsheads of sugar and puncheons of
molasses as can be stowed in the shin, was admissible, and the custom legal, and
was proved, the ship was duly loaded ; if the custom was not legal, and the evi-
dence was not admissible, the verdict should be for the plaintiff for the amount
claimed, with leave to move for a verdict, or for a nonsuit. A nominal verdict
for the amount claimed was then taken for the plaintiff, and the question will
now be brought before the judges. The learned baron thought that the merchant
would satisfy his contract by supplying any of the articles he pleased, some or
one of them. He desired the counsel to state to the judges, if he should not be
present, that it was his wish a rule should be granted. The learned baron, in
speaking of customs^ also' said that, if a custom at Liverpool was put upon a
foreign merchant, it would excite very great surprise.
SALVAGE — BIGHT OF ACTION FOR.
Lipson vs. Harrison and another. The right to sue in a court of common law
for salvage must be founded on an implied contract; and, therefore, where the
facts of the case do not warrant any such inference, the action will not lie. One
of several salvors cannot sue for his share of salvage.
This was an action tried before Justice Wightman, at the Liverpool Assizes.
At the trial the plaintiff was nonsuited, leave bein^ reserved to move to set aside
the nonsuit, and to enter the verdict for the plaintiff. It appeared at the trial
that the plaintiff, being a common sailor, had sailed from Liverpool to Africa in
the ship Swiftsure in that capacity, on a voyage from Dverpool to the coast of
Africa, and that whilst the ship was lying in the Bonny River, on the African
coast, in January, the intelligence came on the evening of the 14ih that the ship
Lady Worsley, of which the defendants were owners, was stranded on the bar
at-the mouth of the river, and in great danger. The plaintiff was that eveninff
ordered by the master of the Svtd^sure to go next morning to the vessel, which
he did, together with the surgeon and six seamen of the ship's company in one
boat, and the master of the Lady Worsley and others with him, proceeded in
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two other boate. The plaintiffs boat got first to the vessel, and found her
stranded with aJl her sails set, the crew having left her ; he then, with the others,
cut her mants, and ultimately succeeded in getting her into deep water.
The declaration was for money payable for the salvage of a certain bark laden
with ffoods, of which the defendants were owners, ami which was struck and
stranded on a certain bar, and by the plaintiff saved, got off, and delivered to the
defendants. There was no count for work and labor.
At the close of the plaintiff's case, it was contended for the defendants—
1st, that an action did not lie for salvage; 2dly, that if it did, the principals of
the Swiftsuro, as owners thereof, were the parties to sue in this case ; and 3dly,
that if the action lay, it ought to be brought by all the salvors, and not by the
plaintiff alone. Rule reiust^
SHIP, MASTEE OF — BORROWIIfO MONEY — FLEDGING THE CREDIT OF OWNER —
WHEN JUSTIFIED IN.
Edwards ts. Havill. When a ship has taken her cargo on board, and^is ready
to start on her voyage, but is wind-bound at the port of loading, which is one
day's post from the residence of the owner, and the captain borrows money on
her owner's credit, for the purpose of procuring necessary provisions for the
ship, the jury may properly infer that there was a necessity for the master to bay
the provisions with ready money.
This was an action for money lent. At the trial before Justice Talfourd,at the
Bristol Assizes, it appeared that the plaintiff was a broker carrying on business
at Newport, in Monmouthshire, and that the defendant was a mason at Exeter.
The defendant was the owner of a vessel called the Dart, which he had bought
of a person named Pearce, who at the time of the transaction in question was
captain of the vessel. In January, 1853, Pearce was at Newport with the vessel,
and she there took a cargo for Ireland. The ship was wina-bound in the river
at Newport for about a fortnight, and Pearce borrowed the money of the plain-
tiff with which to buy provisions for the ship. This money the plaintifi^ now
sought to recover from the defendant It appeared that Exeter was one day's
post from Newport
A verdict was found for the plaintiff, leave being reserved to move to set it
aside, and enter one for the defendant. Rule refused.
USX7RT ON RAILROAD BONDS.
The following decision of the Supreme Court of New York, in the case of
Bank against Edwards, settles the question in regard to the plea of usury on
railway bonds issued in that State: —
As to the usury. It is well established that this is a personal defense, and can-
not be set up by a stranger to the transaction. (Reading agt Weston, 7 Conn.
413. Le Wolf agt Johnson, 10 Wheat, 367.) The Chancellor, in Cole agt
Savage, (10 Paige, 683.) attempted to overturn this rule upon the strength of
the Revised Statutes (1 R. S. 772) and the sUtute of 1837. (Sess. L. of 1837,
page 487 section 4,) and to extend the defense beyond the ^ borrower ** and bia
sureties, heirs, devisees, and personal representatives, and confers it also upon
subsequent grantees of premises, subject to a usurious mortgage. But the
Court for the Correction of Errors, in Post act Bank of Utica, (7 Hill, 391^
overruled his decision, and even under our peculiar statutes, confined the defense
to those persons only who were bound by the original contract to pay the sum
borrowed. (Livingston agt Harris, 11 Wend, 329.)
Also, it is not competent for a subsequent mortgagee to set up usury in the
first lieu. That is a personal defense, confined to the borrower, his sureties,
heirs, devisees, and representatives, or to those persons only who are bound, by
the original contract, to pay the sum borrowed.
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BANKRUPTCY Uf IBELAHD.
The Freeman s Journal (Irish) publishes a most important decision, (McKibbm
w. Northern Bank,) which wa« pronounced recently (1855) by the Lord Chan-
cellor, iu the matter of R. McKibbin, a bankrupt, upon an appeal from the de-
cision of Commissioner Macan by the Northern Banking Company. The bank
claimed to be mortgagees not only of the bankrupts mill, but of the machinery
in it, the assignees contending that the machinery being chattels, and in the order
and di!«poKitiun of the bankrupt, belonged to them, the assignees, in whose favor
the Commi«*8ioner decided. The Chancellor, however, r3ver8ed the decision,
stating that the question was not whether the machinery could be removed with-
out injury to the building, but whether it was, for trade purposes, part of the
erection, which would l^ valueless without it, and on these and other grounds
be decided that the mortgage of the bank over the machinery was perfectly good.
COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW.
•BiriBAL COffDinON Of THS COUNTRT— PBflCBIPTIOIf OF THB iJtCOMIN* CBOPB— PBlCBf OF PROVIB-
ION*— 8T4TB or TBB MONBT>KABBBT— BAILBOaD BBCBim PUB JOLT AMP PBOK JANUARY ItT—
PORKION BXCUANOB—BBVltlON OP THB TaBIPP — MBBCANTILB CBBDIT— PIRB-PROOP BUItDINOS^
TBB BA^K MOVICMBNT— BBCBlPTt OP OOLD AMD DKPOtlTS AT THB NBW TORB At»AT OPPICB AMD
PBIL4DBLPHIA MIRT— IMPOBTB AT BBW TOBB POB JULY AHD flHCB JANUaBY liT— IMPORTB OP DRY
•00D8— Cash DCTIBS BBCBIVBD AT RBW YOBX— BXPOBTB PBOM MBW YOBK FOR TBB MONTB OP
JULY AND PROM JAMUABY ItT— BXPOBTB OP DOMBBTIC PRODUCB—TOB PLACB TBB UMITBD STATBI
ABB TO TaBK in PXBDINO TBB WOBLD. ETC.
The news from the old world is still unfavorable, but in most parts of our
own country the accounts are very cheering. It is now settled that the crops
are very large throughout the breadth of the land. Wheat has been damaged
in many sections by the prevalence of wet weather during the period of harvest-
ing, and in some instances the product of entire fields hjis grown or sprouted, so
as^l be unfit for choice flour. Throwing this entirely aside, we believe there is
enough sound wheat for the consumption of this country, with a larger surplut
for export than ever before known. Rye is also abundant, and only small por-
tions were damaged in harvesting. Oats are unusually heavy. Some fields in
the SUite of New York are represented as yielding nearly 100 bushels to the
aere, and everywhere this grain has turned out remarkably well. Indian corn
promi:»es nobly. The growth has been unprecedented, and the ear now filling is
beyond all caHualties except a hail-storm or an early frost. Neither of these are
likely tu prevail universally, so that the abundance of this cereal is almost be-
yond a contingency. Potatoes have done remarkably well, and the yield will be
enormoas. The weather has been quite favorable, and the production will be
fully one-third above the average in the same ground, while the breadth planted,
owing to the extravagant prices of the last two yeans is nearly one- third greater
than u*!U.il. A few years ago the average price of potatoes as dug from the
fields throughout New England, was 25 cents per bushel When the price of
lota delivered along the channels of transportation rose to 50 cents per bushel,
the production was said to be the best business known in agriculture. Last year
the retail price in market rose up at one time to $2 per bushel, while the farm-
ers along the Long I.<)land Sound obtained $1 37j a %\ 50 per bushel, as they
came from the field. This year the rot has made iU appearance in many places,
but no, great fears are entertained of extensive damage from this cause, so that
potatoes must become cheap as soon as the plenty produces its legitimate effect.
VOL. xxxiii. — KO. ui. 22
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838 Commercial Chronicle and JReview.
All eyes fure now turned to tbe forei^ harvests, and especiallj to Great Britain,
and the precarious weather reported creates some excitement among speculators
here. This is the last bulwark of high prices. If the English crops should fail,
or become damaged, a brisk demand will be realized for our produce, and the
heavy decline in value now anticipated may be prevented. Meantime the new
grain crops comes forward very slowly. Millers are afraid to buy at high rates
for fear of a loss on the flour, and farmers are afraid to offer a concession lost
they should lose the benefit of an active foreign trade. The grass crop, which
was thin during the early part of the season, filled up toward the close, and will
prove ample for all demands. We have been thus particular in regard to the
crops, because the question is so intimately connected with all of our financial
and commercial interesta.
The demand for money since our last has been more active. Temporary loans
have been easily obtained, but time contracts have brought full legal rates, and
there has been a more general call for capital. Letters of credit have also been
in demand, and there is eveiy indication of a greatly extended business during
the next year. The country seems to have nearly recovered from the very gen-
eral stagnation witnessed during the closing months of the last, and the early
part of the current year, and there is cverjrwhere a more hopeful prospect So
long as the increased commercial activity does not divert the attention of the
people from agricultural pursuits, there is no danger to be apprehended from it,
but the entire monopolization of the loose portion of our laborers by the vaii-
ous rmlroad enterprises during the years 1852 and 1853, contributed largely
toward the subsequent reaction in our career of prosperity.
The important railroads throughout the country have earned handsome divi-
dends, and the prospect for all of them for the coming twelve months is univers-
ally promising, owing to the large quantity of produce required to be cteed.
The following will show the comparative receipts of tbe principal thorou^Kres
during the month of July in this and the last year : — ^^
BXOXIPTS m JULT.
18§J. 1851.
Baltimore and Ohio, Main Stem $270,850 $269,144 Inc. $1,708
** Washington Branch.. 81.059 80,229 loc 880
Chicago and Rock Island 96,692 82,286 Inc. 14,456
Cleveland and Pittsburgh 69,102 86,648 Inc. 22,469
Cleveland and Toledo 46,166 80,487 Inc. 16,719
Chicago and Mississippi 68,678 ,
Erie 875,206 407,270 Dec 82,064
Galena and Chicago 182,182 98,956 loc. 88,178
Hudson River 119,496 185,168 Dec. 15,668
Harlem 105,108 89,886 Inc. 15,767
Indianapolis and Cincinnati 28,875 16,408 Inc. 11,972
nimois Central 1 88,988
Macon and Western 28,489 20,298 Inc. 8,146
Milwaukie and Mississippi 47,177 85,556 Inc. 1 1,621
Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana. . 158,658 144,498 Inc. 9,166
Michigan Central 188,282 128,882 Idc. 59,850
New York Central 466,478 425,766 Inc. 40,707
Norwich and Worcester 26,002 25,645 Inc. 857
New York and New Haven 76,087 78,261 Dec 2,174
Ohio and Pennsylvania. 62,866 75,626 Dec 18,260
Pennsylvania Central 807,516 209,299 Inc 98,217
Reading 408,276 890,174 Inc 18,101
BtooiDgtOQ 21,626 28,722 Dec 2,196
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Commercial Chronicle and Review, 389
It will be seen that the above shows an increase in a large majority of cases.
The Galena and Chicago has been operated for 209 miles, against 186 for the
same time last year. We also annex a statement showing the comparative re-
ceipts upon most of the above roads for the seven months ending July 31st:—
18SS. 18S4.
Baltimore and Ohio, Main Stem $2,157,157 . $2,191,943 Dec $34,786
" Washington Branch.. 250,578 212,212 Inc. 38,866
Chicago and Rock Idland 675,695 634,872 Inc. 40.828
Cleveland and Pittsburgh 295,377 268,264 Inc. 32,118
Cleveland and Toledo 488,924 864,420 Inc. 124,504
Erie 8,020,556 2,978,428 Inc. 42,188
Galena and Chicago 1,080,530 619,172 Inc. 461,858
Hudson River 1,074,057 1,063,225 Inc. 10,882
Illinois Central 650,287
Indianapolis and Cincinnati 204,800 136,268 Inc. 68,532
Macon and Wesfem 176,694 175,370 Ina 1,324
Milwaukie and Mississippi 804,91 1 21 1,061 Inc. 91,848
Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana. . 1,338,088 1,0A8,695 Inc. 249,398
Michigan Central 1,461,921 984,170 Inc. 477,751
Kew York Central 8,538.801 2,994,824 Inc. 588,977
Norwich and Worcester 161,872 176,176 Dec 14,808
Ohio and Pennsylvania 639,941 520,985 Inc 118,956
StoDiogton 143,892 158,336 Dec 9,444
With three exceptions, two of them comparatively unimportant, the above
show a steady, and in many cases a very large increase upon the business of
the preceding year.
Foreign exchange has been in good demand, notwithstanding the large fall-
ing off in imports, and prices have continued above the specie point Many
bill drawers are now selling, however, looking to cover their bills before ma-
turity at a considerable decline from rates now current.
The proposed amendments to the tariff will receive far more attention in
the next Congress than it did in the last, and we trust the united wisdom of
our legislators will at last hit upon a scheme for revenue likely to be perma^
nent Nothing short of a free list for raw materials, especially for wool and
raw silk, will give any satisfaction to the great mass of our thinking men^
After this is secured, a revenue tariff sufficient for an economical administration
of the government will be simple enough, and all that is required.
There have been very few failures among any class of merchants during this
year, and mercantile credit is higher than ever before. This is beginning to
be better understood abroad, and investments in business paper are now sought
after by foreign capitalists.
A very large amount of property is lost every year by fires, and we need
something more than insurance to prevent a recurrence of such disasters. The
remedy is a total change in our system of building. The present structures,
ased either as dwellings or offices, are almost like tinder-boxes, a single spark
safficing for their entire destruction. The price of insurance would in a little
time pay double the increased cost of a safe building, and we hope the time is
not far distant when a new order of things will prevail.
The banks throughout the country, being generally well fortified with specie^
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Commercial Chronicle and Review.
have been enabled to extend their discount lines safely^ and are thus consider-
ably expanded. The following is a summary of the weekly statements of the
New York city banks : —
WXEKLT AYERAOES NEW TOBK CITT BANKS.
Loans and
Date. Capital. Dlscoaoia. Specie. Clrcolatloo. Deposlta.
Jan. 6, I860 $48,000,000 $82,244,706 $18,596,968 $7,049,982 $64,982,168
Jan. 18 48,000,000 88,976,081 15,488.525 6.686,461 67,808,898
Jan. 20 48,000,000 85,447,998 16,872,127 6,681.866 69,647,618
Jan. 27..... 48,000,000 86,654,657 16,697,260 6,789,828 20,186.618
Feb. 8 48,000,000 88.146,697 17,489,196 7.000,766 72,928.317
Peb. 10 48.000.000 89,862,170 17.124,891 6,969,111 78.794,842
Feb. 17 48,000,000 90,860,081 17,889,086 6,941,606 75,198,636
Feb. 24 48,000,000 91.690,504 16,870,876 6,968.662 74,644,721
March 8.... 48.000,000 92,886,126 16,581,279 7.106,710 76,968,844
March 10... 48,000,000 92,831,789 16,870,669 7,181,998 76.269,484
March 17... 48,000,000 92,447,845 16,988,982 7,061,018 76,624,227
March 24... 48,000,000 93,050,778 16.602,729 7,462,281 76,289,923
March 81... 47,688,416 98,634.041 16.018.106 7,887,633 76,600,186
AprU 7 .. 47,866,666 94,499.394 14,968,004 7,771.634 77,818,908
April 14... 47,866.666 94,140,899 14,890,979 7,623,528 77,282,242
April 21... 47,855,665 93,632,893 14.366.041 7,610,124 76,744,921
Apra28.... 47,866,665 92,505,951 14,282,424 7,610,986 76,219,961
May 6 47,856,666 93.093,248 14,326,050 8,087,609 78,214,169
May 12 47.856,665 91,642,498 14,586.626 7,804,977 75,850.592
May 19 47,866,666 91,676.600 16,225,066 7,688,630 77,861,218
May 26 48,684,780 91,160,518 16,814,632 7,489,637 76,766,740
June 2 48,684,780 91,197,658 16,397,674 7,656,609 76,343,236
June 9 48,684,730 92,l09,u97 16.005.156 7.602,668 77,128,789
June 16 48,633,880 98,100,885 14,978,668 7,462,161 77,894.464
June 23 48,638,880 94,029,425 14,705,629 7,H35,66S 79,118,185
June 80 48,688,380 95,573,212 15,641,970 7,394,964 81.903,966
July 7 48,688,880 97,862,491 16,881,098 7,748,069 86,647,249
July 14.... 48,833,880 98,521,002 16,676,606 7,616,724 86.664,186
July 21 48,883,380 99,029,147 16,918,999 7,407,086 82,079,690
July 28 48,838,380 99,083,799 16,920.976 7,409,498 81,625.788
Aug. 4..... 48,838,880 100,118,669 16,298,868 7,642.908 83,279,990
Aug. 11 48,883,380 100,774,209 16.280,669 7,714,401 83.141.320
Aug. 18. 48,833,880 101,154,060 14,649,246 7,610,106 81,948,671
This is the first time this year that the total of loans and disconnta have ex-
ceeded $100,000,000, but an unusually large proportion of the amount conmts
of loans on call. We annex a continuation of the weekly averages of the Bos-
ton banks :—
July 17. July 34. July 31. ADg08t6. August 14.
Capital $82,710,000 $32,710,000 $82,710,000 $82,710,000 $82,710,000
Loans and discounts.. 64,270,081 64,820.406 68,601.712 68,884,618 68,490,482
Specie 8,220.702 2,97 1,237 2,768,664 2,792,364 2,989.978
Due from other banks 8.019,938 8.354,861 7.880,987 7,865,896 7,429,420
Due to other banks.. 6,726,199 6,612.890 5,961,664 6,986,877 5,980,427
Deposits 16.449,738 16,447,704 14,664,817 14,767,044 14,768,471
Circulation 7,602,687 7,813,765 7,288,836 7,860,098 7,819,861
The receipts of gold from California continue large, but an unusually large
portion is received in bars, and shipped without being deposited at either the As«
say Office or the Mint, while large amounts are forwarded to Europe directly
from Panama. The following will show the deposits at the New Yoric Assay
Office for the month of July, 1855 :•—
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Commercial Chronicle and Review, 341
DXFOfiira AT THX AfiSAT OFnOK, HBW TO&K, FOB TBB MOUTH OF JULT.
„ . Gold. Silver. TotaL
Foreign coina. $1,700 |l ,900 $8,600
Foreign buUioo 17,000 9,700 26,700
Domestic bullion 1,697,000 12,800 1,709,800
Total depoeita $1,716,700 $24,400 $1,740,100
Total deposita payable in bars. $1,722,000
Total depoeits payable in coins 18,100
Gold bars stamped ^ $1,786,512
Of the deposits of gold, $35,000 were in California Mint bars.
The Philadelphia Mint is now partially closed for very extensive repairs. The
deposiU of gold there for the month of July amounted to $221,380, and the
purchases and deposits of silver to (436,000, making a total deposit of the pre-
cions metals for the month equal to $657,330. The coinage for tlie month was
$280,380 in gold, and $156,000 in silver, making a total of $436,380, consisting
of 69,788 pieces.
The imports from foreign ports since our last have been much larger t^an for
the preceding month, but show a decline as compared with last year. The total
receipte at New York for July are $3,919,403 less than for July, 1864, $3,769,660
less than for July, 1Q63, but $3,366,690 larger than for July, 1862, as will ap-
pear from the following comparison :—
FOailGN mPOBTS AT NBW YOBS FOB JULT.
1861. 18$}. 18S4. 18SS.
Entered for consumption $11,468,117 $16,726,648 $14,268,797 $18,008,485
Entered for warehoueing 428,919 2,080,908 8,968 678 2,481,766
Freegoods 916,164 1,072,602 1,812,917 799,671
Specie and bulb'on 160,067 199,464 198,068 69,085
Total entered at the port $12,942,267 $20,078,607 $20,228,860 $16,808,947
Withdrawn from warehouse 1,096,800 1,702,448 686,882 2,029,164.
The total imports at New York since January 1st are $30,786,349 less than
for the same period of last year, $33,658,654 le^s than for the same period of
1853, but $10,018,492 greater than for the same period of 1852. We annex a
comparison showing the general summary for the periods referred to : —
FOKEIGN UCFOBTS AT MKW TOBK FOB 8XVBN M05TBS FBOM JANUABT IST.
1862. 18§l. 18i4. 18§S.
Entered for coosamptioD $68,498,029 $98,668,807 $84,701,111 $68,906,280
Entered for warehousing 6,461,668 13,687,689 17,690,828 16,264,647
Freegoods 8,259,989 9,669,118 11,044,201 8,662,298
Specie and bullion 2,028,248 1,099,616 1,606,090 628,161
Total entered at the port .. . $74,287,884 117,916,080 116.041,726 $84,266,876
Withdrawn from warehouse. 9,622,677 8,227,102 11,844,876 14,270,284
The falling off in the entries for warehousing are especially noticeable, while
the withdrawals both for the month and the last seven months have largely in-
creased. This shows that the stock in warehouse must have decreased, and also
proves that the imports, being wanted for immediate consumption, have not gone
beyond the general demand. Of the decline in imports as noticed above, about
twu-thirds — a much larger proportion than usual — have been in dry goods. The
total receipts of this description for the month are $2,660,107 less than for July
of last year, $3,458,149 less than for July, 1853, but $1,431,107 greater than
for the same month in 1852. The following will show the comparison for the
month noticed : —
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342 Commercial Cfhronicle and Beview.
nCPOftTS OF FOREION D&T GOODS AT NEW TOAK IN JULY.
BNTERU) FOE OONBUMPnON.
1851. 18$]. im. im.
Manufactures of wool $2,187,187 14,097,250 |3,164.898 13,683,267
Maoufaotures of cotton 1,089,786 1.847,216 1,761,617 1,004,456
Manufactures of silk 8,074.265 4,824,918 8,625,618 8,468.938
Manufactures of flax 488,686 7 19,307 690,664 690,767
Miscellaneous dry goods 6»0,596 669,761 687,207 671,008
Total entered for consumption . 17,370,869 $12,068,447 $9,769,899 $8,608,406
WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE.
185i \m. 1854. 1855.
Manufactures of wool $287,484 $681,260 $631,968 $860,944
Manufactures qf cotton 96,970 98,256 237,989 121,677
Manufactures of silk 149,894 238,066 862,628 255.660
Manufoctures of flax 82,064 18,967 89,000 89.888
Miscellaneous dry goods 12,416 82,796 62,100 48,168
Total $628,278 $914,824 $1,818,670 $861,161
Add entered for consumption 7,870,869 12,068,447 9,759,899 8,608,406
Total thrown on the market .. . $7,898,647 $12,972,771 $11,078,669 $9,869,667
XNTKRXD FOR WAREHOUSING.
1851. - 1851. 1854. 1855.
Manufactures of wool $126,628 $273,786 $1,086,553 $224,725
Manufactures of cotton 72,226 119,021 884,278 101.494
Manufactures of silk 180.624 144,791 488,477 214,669
Manufactures of flax 16,299 9,488 86,708 74,186
Miscellaneous dry goods 21,666 21,121 79,791 45,124
Total $367,828 $568,206 $2,068,7 1 2 $660,098
Add entered for consumption 7,870,869 12,068,447 9,769,899 8,608,406
Total entered at the port $"7,787,697 $12,626,658 $11,828,611 $9,168,604
The total receipts since January Ist at the same port are $20,584,600 less than
for the corresponding seven months of last year, $22,697,226 less than for the
same time in 1853, and $269,901 less than for the same time in 1852 : —
IMPORTS OF FOREIGN DRT GOODS AT PORT OF NSW TORE FOR SEVEN MONTHS, FROM JAM*T IfiT.
ENTERED FOR 00N8UMPTI0N.
1851. 1853. 1854. 1855.
Manufactures of wool $7,464,841 $14,918,222 $11,908,761 $7,864,810
Manufactures of cotton . 6,716,788 9.469,017 10,240,642 4.664.781
Manufactures of silk 12,242.781 20,679,464 17,166,878 11.267,784
Manufactures of flai^ 8,423,990 4,918,867 4,803,671 2,915,356
Miscellaneous dry goods. 2,492,465 8,366,611 8,436,176 2,789.646
Total '. $81,889,806 $58,837,071 $47,060,118 $29,492,826
WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE.
1853. 185S. 1854. 1855.
Manufactures of wool $1,079,188 $1,164,664 $1,906,670 $1,642,617
Manufactures of cotton 1,126,786 701,490 1,782,060 1.772,868
Manufactures of silk 1,401,176 1,008,872 1,798,661 1,838,438
Manufactures of flax 615,523 -149,641 666,446 872,100
Miscellaneous dry goods. ^89,266 247,548 261,881 678,745
Total withdrawn $4,460,888 $8,271,700 $6,814,617 $6,699,748
Add entered for consumption . . . 31,389,805 63,837,071 47,060,118 29,492,326
Total thrown npon the market. $86,800,698 $66,608,771 $68,864,780 $86,092,078
Digitized by VjOOQIC
(hmmercial Chromele and Beview,
848
KfTlBID FOR WAKEaOmaQ.
mi 1851. 1854. 18$$.
Maoufactoree of wool |916,188 |1,664,251 18,181,860 $1,262,861
Hanufactures of cotton 640,864 861,092 1,878,648 1,096,280
MaoufactoresofsUk 1,652,118 1,115,648 2,888,213 1,641,274
Haoofacturesofflaz 228,779 190,745 '576,698 696,792
Miacellaneoas dry goods 222,545 262,912 284,071 586,861
Total 18.654,489 14,084,548 |8,258,880 $5,282,068
Add entered for consumpUon.. . . 81,889,805 58,887/)71 47,050,1 18 29,492,825
Total entered at the port $84,994,294 $57,421,619 $55,808,998 $84,724,898
It will be seen from the foregoing that the decline has been general in all
descriptions of dry goods, although comparatively heaviest in cotton fabrics.
The cash revenue has not fallen off in the same proportion as the imports,
because the duties are not collected on the actual receipts at the port, but on
the goods thrown upon the market The following will show the comparative
total for the month, and since the opening of the year: —
0A8B DUTUS aEOXIYKD AT HKW TOBK.
18SS. 18$l. 18$4. 18$$.
In July $8,240.787 18 $4,640,107 15 $4,075,745 78 $8,787,85196
Previous 6 months.. 14,260,812 88 21,167,829 60 19,787,960 76 14,299,945 71
Total since Jan. let. $17,491,100 06 $25,807,486 66 $28,788,706 54 $18,087,287 66
The above shows that the total receipts for cash duties in July were
0258,403 83 less than for July of last year, and $853,765 20 less than for
July, 1853, whDe they were $546,564 72 greater than for July, 1852. The
total since January 1st is $5,696,418 88 less tban for the same period of last
year, $7,720,148 99 less than for the corresponding period of 1853, but
9596,187 60 greater than for the same time in 1852. There is still, howeveri
a large surplus in the Sub-Treasury, and the total is once more increasing. The
Secretary of the Treasury has again advertised to redeem a portion of the pub-
lic debt
The exports for the month, exclusive of specie, are, unexpectedly, larger than
for the same time of last year, the total being $104,155 above the total for July,
1854; it shows, however, a decrease of $1,286,716 as compared with July, 1853,
but an increase of $1,044,601 as compared with July, 1852. When the small
quantity of produce at the seaboard is taken into consideration, the large ex-
ports are certainly a matter of surprise. The total shipments of specie, by a
singular coincidence, are about the same as for July of last year :-^
KZFORTS FEOK MKW TOEK TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR THS MONTH OF JULY.
18$!. 18$3. 18$4. 18SS.
Domestic produce $2,965,542 $4,882,957 $8,768,661 $8,960,767
Foreign merchandise (free) 20,769 818.192 262,080 185,667
Foreign merchandise (dutiable).. . 826,782 447,201 281,788 210,820
Specie 2,971,499 8,924,612 2,922,462 2,928,824
Totel exports $6,288,582 $9,667,962 $7,174,981 $7,279,958
Total, ezdnsive of specie 8,812,088 5,648,850 4,262,479 4,856,684
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344 Oommerdal Cfkronicle and Beview.
The exports, exclusiye of specie, since January Ist are only $1,779,946 leas
than for the same period of last year, are 83*983,370 larger than for the same
period of 1853, and $8,388,819 more than for the same period of 1852, as will
appear from the annexed comparison : —
■XPOETS FROM NEW TORK TO FORXIGN PORTS FOR BEYZN MONTHS FROM JANUARY IST.
18$2. 18$l. 18M. 18».
Domestic produce. $25,111,868 $80,805,247 $84,966,101 $80,298,181
Foreign merchandise (free) 541,978 1,010,669 964,608 8,289,114
Foreign merchandise (dutiable).. 2,745,307 2,488,181 2,686,709 8,200,172
Specie 16,595,608 12,579,594 19,108,819 19,998,119
Total exports $48,994,166 $46,888,691 $57,675,782 $56,785,586
Total, exclosive of specie 28,898,648 88,804,097 88,567,418 86,787,467
We do not think that the exports for August will fall very largely behind the
total for August of last year; while the imports for August will probably show
a further very material decline, as the corresponding month of last year was one
of very large receipts. After August, we look for a large increase both of im-
ports and exports, but especially in the former, down to the close of the calendar
year.
We annex a comparative statement, showing the relative shipments of some
of the leading articles of produce since January 1st: —
KXPORTS OF ORRTAIN ARTICLES OF DOMBSTIO PRODUOR FROM NSW TORK TO FORXfON
PORTS FROM JANUARY IST TO AUOUST 20tH: —
Aehes — pots . . . .bbls.
pearls
Beeswax .lbs.
18S4. 18S5.
5,884 7,876
799 1,768
190,488 125,050
Bread>iiuff9-~
Wheat floor . .bbls. 712,089 268,612
Rye flour 10,091 16,017
Com meal 6 1 ,768 85.447
Wheat bush. 1,546,402 88,350
Rye 316,168 5,139
Oats 84,287 12,111
Corn 2,518,088 2,782.485
Candles— mold..boxe8 85,484 84,259
sperm 4,080 8,907
Coal .tons 16,775 6,178
Cotton ..bales 226,591 185,279
Hay 2,996 8,704
Hope 629 7,816
18S4. 18Si
Naval stores.... bbla. 411,679 480,711
Oils— whale gaJJs. 124,673 157.242
sperm 291.488 550,292
lard 21,981 60,141
linseed 8,618 7,430
Provisions —
Pork bbls. 65,017 118,075
Beef. 44.135 61.055
Cut meats, lbs. . ..14,867.041 14,791,752
Butter 1,599,676 440,101
Cheese 1,418,038 2.004,389
Lard 9,966,268 5,747,658
Rice trcs 18,013 11,982
Tallow lb8.8,R08.069 1,107,455
Tobacco, crudcpkgs 25,840 21,282
Do., manufactureilbs.1,876,277 3,094.762
Whalebone 947,937 1,261,645
The above presents some interesting features. The exports of wheat flour
have been only about one-third of the total for the corresponding period of last
year. The clearances of wheat, which for the same time last year reached one
million-and-a-half of bushels, are this year less than one hundred thousand
bushels. The exports of Indian corn have increased. Pork and beef have also
been shipped in larger quantities, and cheese has gone forward more freely*
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Commercial Chronicle and Review, 845
With our wide extent of territory and cheap lands, we ought to contribute
largely toward fumiahing food for the world. This we shall do, doubtless, more
in the fature than we have done in the past. We have hitherto been too indif-
ferent in this country in regard to the reputation of our shipments of produce.
Pork, beef, and bacon have been, in many instances, badly prepared for market*
and even our cereal grains have been shipped in too green a state to keep during
the voyage. Our shippers are now becoming more sagacious, and we shall soon
take the place in this branch of trade, for which the soil and climate of the coun-
try peculiarly fit us.
irSW TORI OOTTOIV MARKET FOR THE MOUTH ENDING AUGUST 24.
riBPikRBD POR TBI MBftCBikNTS* M^OiLZIlTC BT DBLHOBN k, PRBOBEICKSOIT, BROKKR8,l(BW YORK.
Under the influence of freer receipts, improved prospects for the growing
crops, and declining markets abroad, our market since the close of our last re-
port on the 20th ult. has been " flat, stale, and unprofitable.'' But little interest
has been manifested for the article— our own spinners have bought only sufficient
for their immediate wants. With speculators, the inducement to purchase has
not been sufficient, owing to the absence of general export demand, and the few
purchasers to be found in the city during the summer months. The quantity
shipped abroad during the post month has been krge, but it was principally on
Southern account, and from first hands here. The quantity in the hands of our
own manufacturers is represented to^be small, while the weekly takings by the
trade from the Liverpool market show that spinners abroad arc far from being
well stocked. The foreign advices of the past month were disappointing in their
character. It was certainly expected that prices would advance under the rapid
decrease in exports and decreasing stocks here, while the accounts hence of the
growing crop were not of so favorable a character (owing to the great quantity of
tain) as to induce spinners to reduce their stocks on hand, in hopes of bting re-
lieved by early receipts of the new crop ; yet with these prospects and consump-
tion not impaired, prices abroad have declined id. a |d. per lb.
The first bale of the new crop was received at New Orleans on the 26th July
from Texas, and graded inferior. Last year at the same time and place the first
bale of the crop just closing was also received. The receipts of new cot on
this year have been 4,000 bales at New Orleans alone. Early receipts, however,
form but a poor criterion on which to form a judgment in regard to the extent
of the crop.
. The sales for the week ending July 27th were estimated at 4,500 bales. The
increased firmness on the part of holders, owing to favorable foreign advices,
checked the demand, and buyers were not disposed to go on at the aJvance
asked. With but little on sale the market closed firmly at the following quota-
tiona : —
paioia ADOPTso jult 27th fo& tub following quautibs :—
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.it Texts.
Ordinary H H H H
Middling -... 11 Hi llf Uf
MiddliDgfair U* 12 12i 12*
Fair 12^ 12^ 12* 18^
Large transactions took place during the week ending August 3d, principally
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846 Commercial Chronicle and Review.
on Southern account — the salee being estimated at 10,000 a 12,000 bales, at a slight
improvement in price on the lower and upper grades. Much confidence was felt
in a higher range of prices, and holders at the close were indifferent about sell-
ing even at the annexed rates, at which the market closed firm i-^
PaiOES ADOPTED AUGUST 8d FOa TBI FOLLOWIKO QUALTTIXB : —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.Jt Texas.
Ordinary 9f 9f 9f 10
Middling U\ llj llf llf
Middiingfair 12 13^ 12| 12f
Fair 12i 12i 18 18^
The market for the week ensuing was sustained with much firmness, the
transactions being limited to 9,000 bales by the small amount on sale. ' The
bulk of the week's operations were for • export and on speculation. The pur-
chases for the home trade being only for their immediate wants consisted of a
few hundred bales. Our own spinners have operated sparingly during the past
two months, and must become free purchasers of the new crop now about being
received. The following are the rates at which the market closed firmly : —
PEICBS ADOPTXD AUGUST IOtH FOK THB FOLLOWDCO QUALITIES: —
upland. Florida. Mobile. N. O. k, Texas.
Ordinary 10 10 10 10^
Middling : Hi llf llf nt
Middiingfair 12i 12f 12f 18
Fair 12f 12J ISJ 18f
For the week ending August 17th the inquiry was limited, the sales not ex-
ceeding 5,000 bales. Holders, however, offered no inducements to purchasers,
believing that the small stocks both here and at the receiving ports would be re-
quired at an enhanced price before any accumulation of the new crop would
materially affect prices. This, together with the calculation that a good cotton
crop is difficult to be made out of a wet season, offered no inducement for them
to part with their stocks, even under the unfavorable foreign advices to hand.
The week closed quiet at the following quotations: —
PEIOBS ADOPTED AUGUST 17tH FOE THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES: —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.JtTexai.
Ordinary. 9i 9f H lOf
Middling llf Ui Hi Hf
Middiingfair 12f 12f 12f 13
Fair I2i 12| 18f ISf
The market for the week closing at date ruled rather heavy, the sales not ex-
ceeding 4,000 bales, at prices a shade in favor of buyers. The cotton year clos-
ing on the 1st September, is also a point with many to clear out old stocks, pre-
paratory to a recommencement on the new crop. The market closed quiet at
the following :—
PRIOES ADOPTED AUGUST 24TH FOE THB FOLLOWING QUALITIES: —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N. O. k, ToxaSi
Ordinary 9f 9f H 10
Middling 11 llf llf llf
Middiingfair 12f 12f 12f 12f
Fair 12f 12i 18 18f
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Jowmal of Bcmhing^ Currency ^ and Finance.
847
JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE.
COVDITIOIV OF THE BANKS 15 THE CITT OF NEW YORK.
Mr. GiOEGB D. Lyman, the efficient maoager of the Cleariog House in the city of
New York, has furnished for publication the following complete table, showing the
moTement of the banks of the city since the weekly statements were ordered by law
of the State of New York. In a future number of the Merchant^ Magazine we shall
give a similar statement of the banks in Boston since the act of Massachusetts took
effect:^
Arenge amount ATerage Ayerage ATernge ^
of loans aod amonntof amount of amount of *<^
dlfcouDts. specie. circulation. deposits.
August 6,1858*.... 197,889,017 19,746,4(^2 $9,510,466 $58,418,756
18 95,562,277 1(),654.618 9,451,945 58.166,713
20 98,866,970 11,092,552 9,414,696 58,817,718
27 92,886,954 11,819,(»49 9,427,191 57,481,808
September 8..... 91,741,838 11,268,049 9,554,294 57,502,970
10 91.108,847 11.880,698 9,597,886 57,645,164
17 90,190,589 11,860,286 9,566,728 57,612,801
24 90,092,766 11,840,925 9,477.541 58,812,884
October 1 90,149,540 11,281,912 9,521,666 57,968,661
8 89,128,998 10,266,602 9,678,458 57,986,760
16 87,837,273 11,880,172 9,464,714 69,068,674
22 85,867,981 10,803,254 9,888.548 55,748,729
29 88,400,821 11.866.672 9,800,350 58.885.462
November 6 88,092,680 11,771,880 9.492.168 66,500,977
12 82,882,409 12,828,676 9,287,629 56,201,070
19 83.717,622 18,691,824 9.151,448 57,446,424
26 84,802,580 18,848.196 9,082,769 58.678,076
December 8 85.824,756 12,880,772 9,188,586 58,485.207
10 86,708,028 12,498.760 9.076,704 67.838,076
17 87.865,073 12.166,020 8,989,880 68,312,478
24 87,760,628 11,981,270 8,867,261 68,145,831
31 90,162,106 11,058,478 8,927,018 58,968,976
January 7, 1854 90,138,887 1 1,506.124 9.075,926 60.886,362
14 90,010,012 11,894,458 8,668,844 68,896,956
21 90.068,788 11,455,166 8,606,286 59.071,252
28 89,769,466 11,117,958 8,642,677 68,289,577
February 4 90,649,577 11.684,658 8,996,676 61,208,466
11 91,434,022 11,872,126 8,994,088 61,028,817
18 92.698,086 11,742,884 8,964,464 61,826,669
26 98,529,716 11,212,693 8,929,814 61,298,646
March 4 94.568,421 10,560,400 9,209,880 61,975,675
11 94,279.994 9,832,488 9,187,656 60,226,588
18 93,418,929 10.018.466 9.255,781 61,098.606
25 92.972.711 10,182,246 9,209,406 59,168,178
April 1 92,825.024 10,264,009 9^95.820 59,478,149
8 92,551,808 10,188.141 9,718,216 60,286,889
16 91,686,274 11,044,044 9.588,998 60,826,191
22 90.876,840 10,526,976 9,868,864 69,225,902
29 90,245.049 10.951,158 9,877,687 60,719,881
May 6t 90,789,721 11,487,040 9,828,008 68,865,610
18 90,245.928 12,882,068 9,507,797 i 64.208,671
20 90,886,728 12,118.048 9.480.018 63.382,661
27 90,981,974 10,981,531 9,284,807 61,628,670
' \
* First statement made under the law requiring the banks to make a weekly statement
t From this date the statement has been made up at the Clearing Hoose la a tabular form, and
fomiahed to the press.
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348 Journal of Banking, Currency, and Finance,
Avenige amonnt ATerage Average Average
ofluaoaand amount of amoantof amount of
discounts. specie. circulation. depoMta.
June 8* $91,916,710 110,281.969 $9,881,714 $71,702,290
10 91.016,171 9,617,180 9,807,889 72,496,869
17 90.068,678 10,018,167 9.144,284 71,969,106
24 88.761,962 9,628,876 9,009,726 69,698.724
July 1 88,608.691 11,130.800 9,068,268 71.457.984
8 88,847,281 12.267,818 9,196.767 72.718,448
15 90.437,004 16,074,098 8.887,681 76.227,888
22.. 92,011.870 16,720.809 8,768,289 76.969.082
29 92,688.679 16.886,864 8,766,777 74.790,656
August 6 98.728,141 14.468,981 9,124.648 76,878,487
12 93,486,067 18,622,028 8.917,179 74,626.889
19 92.880.108 14.268.972 8,866,628 73,884.668
26 91,447.076 14,896.072 8,811,869 78,781,179
September 2 91,891,188 14,714,618 8,984,682 72,866,727
9 91,628.244 14.446.817 8.968,707 73.881,285
16 91,689.782 14,484.269 8,820,609 74,467.701
28 92.096,911 12,982,886 8,802,628 72.988,468
80 92,102.018 12,042,244 8.712,186 71,795,428
October 7 91,880,626 10,680.617 8.918.492 70.286.610
14 88,618,986 11,180,377 8,684.188 69,141.697
21 87,092,810 10,820,168 8.497,666 66,627,886
28 84.709,236 9,826.768 8,181,938 62,792.687
November 4 83.869.101 10,004,686 8.238,126 62,229.011
11 82,717,062 10.472,688 8,197,444 61.662.887
18 82,191,994 10,801.682 7,877,604 62,181,007
26 81,699,706 10,200,988 7,718,168 60,884,199
December 2 81,678,428 10,488,888 7,849.289 62,962,588
9 80,598,686 10,484.601 7,480,888 60,278.866
16 80,946,663 11.471,841 7,261,111 61.867,098
23 80,721.224 11,490.496 6,914,866 68,981,704
80 81,668,637 12,076,147 7,076,880 62.828,020
Jmuary. 6.1855.... 82,244,706 18,696,968 7.049,982 64,982.168
18 88,976,081 16.488.626 6,686,461 67,808,398
20 86.447.998 16.872.127 6,681,365 69,647,618
27 86,654,667 16,697,260 6,689,828 70,186,618
February 8 88.146,697 17,489,196 7.000,766 72,923.817
10 89,862,170 17,124,891 6,969,111 78,794.842
17 90,860.081 17.889.086 6,941,606 76,19&,636
24 91,590,605 16,870.875 6,968,562 74.544.721
March 8 92.886.125 16,681,279 7,106.710 76.968.844
10 92.881.789 16,870,669 7,181.998 76,259,489
17 92.447,845 16,933,938 7,061,018 76,522,227
24 93,050,778 16,602,729 7,462,281 76,289,928
81 98.684,041 16.018.106 7.887.688 75.600.186
April 7 94,499,894 14,968,004 7.771,684 77.818.908
14 94,140,899 14.890,979 7.623,628 77.282.242
21 93,632.898 14.866,041 7,610.124 76,744,921
28 92,606,961 14,282.424 7.610,985 75,219,961
May 5 98,093.248 14.326.060 8,087.609 78.214.169
12 • 91.642.498 14,685,626 7.804.977 76.860,692
19 91.675,500 16.225,056 7.688,680 77,851.218
26 91.160.518 3 6.814,581 7,489,687 76,766,740
June 2 91.197.662 16,897.674 7,656,609 76,848,286
9 92,109.097 16.006.156 7.502,568 77.128,789
16 98,100.885 14.978,559 7.462.161 77.849,464
28 94,029,425 14,706,629 7,836,668 79.118,186
80 96.686.424 15.640,146 7,896.119 81.9C4.878
July 7 97.862,491 15,881,092 7,743.069 86,647.249
14 98,521,002 16.676,606 7,516,724 85.664,186
21 99,029,147 16,918,999 7,407,086 82,079,690
28 99.088.799 15.920,976 7.409.498 81.625.788
* GouBtrj bank balanoea induded in depoaila by aU ; preTloui to this date only by a few
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Journal of Banking^ Currency, and Finance, 349
It 18 DOW two years since the statements were commenced, and the following will
show the total addition of the weekly averages for the year ending July 28, 1856,
compared with the total for the previons year : —
18S4. im.
Loans $4,690,181,881 $4,683,097,192
Specie 696,818,662 786,616,884
Circulation 479,876,178 402.419.678
Deposits 8,199,800,899 8,776,839,284
The following is the yearly average for each of the above items for the years
named. Year ending Jaly 28 : —
im. 1855.
Loans $90.1 95,806 $90,069,561
Specie 11,477,186 14,144.527
Circulation 9,228,888 7,738,840
Deposits 61,584,623 72,602,679
The above shows that while the average of loans for the year ending July 28, 1856,
is a little less than for the year ending at the same time in 1854, the average of specie
has very largely increased, and the circulation has dimmished.
CONDITION OF THE NEW ORLEANS BANKS.
In the Merchant^ Magazine for July, 1855, (vol. xzxiil, page 90,) we gave a table
(which we compiled from the ofl^cial statement of the Louisiana Board of Currency)
showing the condition of the banks in New Orleans for the weeks ending Saturday,
May 19 and June 2, 1865; also a comparative statement for the four weeks ending
May 12, May 19, May 26, and June 2. We now compile from the same official source
similar statements for each succeeding week, commencing with the week ending June
9th, and cloeiog with the week ending July 7th, 1855 \-~
ACnVK MOVEMENT — LIABILITIES.
WEEK ENDING JUNE 9. WEEK ENDING JUNE 16.
^Dtte die- Due dls*
tant and Unt and
Banks. Circulation. Deposits, local banks. Circulation. Deposfts. local banks.
Bank of Louisiana. $988,144 $2,468,210 $494,186 $893,989 $2,608,669 $659,241
Louisiana State... 1,090,880 2,909.768 838,787 1,091,750 2,796,105 296,849
Canal 929,856 898,170 200,691 914,810 911.829 206.660
Oitisens' 2,141,246 2,801,160 28,600 2,176.080 2,723.806 84,586
Mech.<k Traders'.. 863,870 700,885 40,808 846,610 706.149 62,286
Union 690,190 415,008 182,958 662,025 607,682 149,812
Bontbem 228,640 191,288 1,200 213,600 197.947 1,200
Kkof N.Orleans. 687,686 720,287 81,641 628,886 729,624 22,981
Total $6,810,409 11.089,6211,268,670 $6,716,599 11,081,110 1,321,454
RESOUaOES.
Banks. Specie. W-6«j paper. Exchange. Sppole. W-A«j paper. Exchange.
Bank of Louisiana. $1,918,246 $2,435,895 $461,513 $2,000,972 $2,427,9ul $476,158
Louisiana State... 1,690.267 8,269,291 142,188 1,504,828 8,196,921 161.462
Canal 749,468 1.694,977 766.869 718,628 1,604,256 728,258
Citizens' 1,625,180 8,397,167 598,132 1,691,635 8,836.943 698.132
Mech. A Traders'.. 288,689 1,079,470 61,009 812,846 1,042.281 61,098
Union 192,768 676.121 866,812 215,057 676,2«6 424,895
Southern 148,027 293,486 675,228 182.288 251.944 696.697
B'k of N.Orleans. 886,156 1,038,996 77,786 250.220 1,067,288 134,696
ToUl $6,949,896 18,888,4018,088,619 $6,880,974 18,609,800 3,115,279
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Specie.
Circulation
Deposits
Short loaot
Exchange
Due distaot banks.
OOXPABATiyB STATXM KNT FOfi FOUR WUSfl.
Jane 9. June 9. DecrMse. Jane : 6.
17,386,601 $6,949,896 1487,206 $6,830,974
6,920,424 6,810,449 110.016 6.716,699
11,814,728 11,089.621 726,101 11,081,110
14,198,024 18,888.401 809,628 18,609.800
8.469,060 8,088,619 420,431 8,116,279
1,166,006 1,268,670 282,881 1,821,464
LONG AND BHORT LOAMS.
Jane 9. Deereete*
$6,949,896 $118,422
6,810,449 94,060
11,089,621 8,611
18,888,401 280,601
8,088,619 ♦76,680
1,268,670 ♦67,784
June 2 $21,100,887
June 9 20,864,928
Total dec for week.
$286,414
June 16 $20,922,718
June 9 20,864.923
Total dec. for week.
$67,790
AOTIYE MOYEMBNT — LIABILITIES.
BankBi
Bank of Louisiana.
Louisiana State . . .
Canal
Citizens*
Mech. <& Traders*..
Union
Southern
B*k of N. Orleans.
Total
Banks.
Bank of Louisiana.
Louisiana State. .*.
Canal
Citizens*
Mech. <& Traders' .
Union
Southern
B*k of N.Orleans.
WEEK ENDING JUKE 30.
Dae dis-
tant and
Circalatlon. Deporits. local banks*
$896,714 $2,466,304 $662,626
1,041,776 2,632,178 886,898
911,696 722,181 169,841
2,174.400 2,646.810 46,978
866.436 637,424 28,821
670,680 496,888 66,606
214,946 193,410 1,200
499,480 683,680 82,166
Clrcalatloa.
$894,969
1,089,010
886,626
2,169,126
849,396
666.966
210,798
606,346
XMDINQ JULT 7.
Daedi^
tantaad
Deposits, local banks.
$2,304,024 $667,887
2,684,260 882,826
716.968
2,268,468
788,114
898,987
178,971
666,768
170.084
63,970
81,608
104,001
28,200
81.006
$6,686,842 10,816,166 1,218,121 $6,622,147 $9,884,471 1,824,677
EESOUBOES.
9(Ma3r paper. Exchange.
Bpede.
$1,971,782
1,466,624
604.387
1,763,891
801,061
184,128
179,071
221,816
$2,299,202 $444,281
8,062,672 196,844
1,618,760
8,118,088
989,916
620.168
188.996
946,882
696.613
436,604
148.976
414,976
676,467
142,866
Specie.
$1,966,771
1,680,086
617,147
1,489,898
848,084
168,660
149,926
288,721
9MM.y paper.
$2,269,222
8,009,163
1,666,980
8,047,977
816,619
626,647
189,461
888,897
Exchanfs.
$886,891
164,216
638,986
481,686
166,068
886,647
649,808
124,816
Total $6,672,196 12,678,687 2,968,066 $6,498,687 12,407,8812,776,461
OOMPAKATIYE STATEMENT FOE rOCE WEBKE.
specie. •••••.•••<
Curculation
Deposits
Short loana
Exdiange.
Due distant banks
June 30.
$6,672,196
6,666,074
10,816,166
12,678,637
2.968,066
1,218,121
Jane S3.
$6,741,686
6,686,842
10,764.117
13,129,418
8,269,966
1,284,269
Decrease.
$69,890
29,762
487,961
460,776
816,899
66,188
Jane 30.
$6,672,196
6,666,074
10,816.166
12,678,687
2,968,066
1,218,121
July 7.
$6,498,637 $187,668
6,622,147 42,927
9.884,471 482,686
12,407,831 270,806
2,776.461 177,696
1,824,687 ♦106,666
LONG AND SHORT LOANS.
June 80
June 28.
$20,868,209
20,684,496
June 80 $20,868,209
July 7 20.264.486
Total dec. for week.. $226,286 Total dec for week. . $108,728
For the purpose of fbrther comparison we give the condition of the banks of New
Orleans for the week ending Saturday, July 7, 1866, and the week ending Saturday,
July 8, 1864, as follows :—
July 8, 1854. July 7, 1855. July 8, 1854. Jaly7, 1855.
Specie
Circulation..
$7,616,916
6,798,919
18,101,221
$6,498,637
6,622,147
12,407,881
Deposits $10,887,606 $9,884,471
Exchange 8,086,921 2,776.461
Due dist. banks. 1,086,940 1,824,687
Increase.
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Journal of Bcmkmg^ Ourrency^ and Finance. 861
lliis thowa in some items oooddormble Tariation; say in specie a decrease of
$1,117,287 ; in loans of $698,890 ; in depomts of $658,185 ; in exchange of $310,460 '„
in oollection accounts an increase of $240,747 ; or a difiference, say decrease in exchange
balances of $551,000 at the present time.
8BMI.A1V9UAL DIVIDEITDS ON STOCKS 19 BOSTON.
The following dividends (according to the report of Joseph G. Martin, Stock Broker,
Boston,) were payable at the dates given in July, 1855, all in the city of Boston, ex-
cepting the Peterboro and Shirley Railroad, at Oharlestown, and the Worcester and
Nashua Railroad, at Worcester, but a large portion of these are owned in Boston or
the immediate vicinity. The dividend of the Berkshire Railroad is a quarterly one
at 7 per cent per annum, at which the road is leased to the Housatonic Railroad.
Tlie dividends of January, 1855, are also given for comparison, but such corporations
as have passed two or more dividends are omitted. Among these are the Boston and
Providence, Eastern, Fitchburg, and Manchester and Lawrence Railroads, and the
Ohicopee, Middlesex, New England Worsted, Nashua, Salmon Falls, and Middlesex
Manufacturing Companies.
The 6 per cent dividend of the Michigan Central Railroad, in January last, was for
the year previous, and payable in stock. The present is a cash one — the first semi-
annual dividend ever declared by the company, which is intended to be continued, in-
stead of annual payments as heretofore.
The Peterboro and Shirley Railroad, in Massachusetts, pays a cash dividend of 2
per cent, par $100 ; and all scrip of the 25 per cent stock dividend, declared some
months since, must be converted into shares and entered on the books of the corpora*
tiou before July 10, in order to obtain their cash dividend.
The dividend of the Douglass Ax Company is for a year on $300,000, the capital
having been increased from $120,000.
The dividend of the North American Insurance Company is for five months, the
time of making up the six months' accounts being changed from June 80 to May 81.
The Worcester and Nashua Railroad has resumed dividends, after having passed
one in January last, in order to pay off some maturing liabilities, and they will prob-
ably now be contmned regularly.
BAILBOAD OOMPAMm.
Dividends, Amonnt,
Parable. Stocks. Capital. Jan. *55. July, '55. July,*S5.
July 15 Berkshire $820,600 If If $5,609
2 Boston and Lowell 1,800,000 . 8 54,800
2 Boston and Maine 4,165,700 4 8 124,671
2 Boston and Worcester 4,500,000 8 8 185,000
Cape Cod shares 9,000 ^8 .
2 Cheshire 2,158,200 . 2 In bonds
2 Lexington and W. Cambridge, preH 120,000 8 8 8,600
2 Lexington and W. Cambridge, old. 120,000 2^ 2^ 8,000
17 Michigan Central 6,021,900 *6 4 240,876
2 New Bedford and Taunton... 800,000 8 8 15,000
2 Old Colony and Fall River* 8,016,100 8 8 90,468
10 Peterboro and Shirley 840,000 . 2 6,800
2 Pittsfield and North Adams 450,000 8 8 13,500
Providence and Worcester 1,500,000 8 .
2 Stoughton Branch 85,400 4 4 8,416
2 Taunton Branch 250,000 4 4 10,000
5 Western 5,150,000 8 Z\ 180,250
2 Worcester and Nashua. 1,800,000 . 2 86,000
Total dividends. $928,075
* Pajable In stocks.
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Journal of Banking j Currency^ and Finance,
MANUFACTURING OOMPAMIXS.
Pajabk).
July 16
2
Stocks.
Bates
Capital.
$800,000
2,000
140.000
800,000
2,000
2,900
1,800,000
700,000
1,000,000
400,000
1,250.000
Diridendf,
Jan. *55. July, *55.
8 4
. $18
12
6
$10
$80
4 4
2
5 6
8 4
Amount,
July, f5.
$82,000
Cocheco shares
86,000
2
10
Contoocook
Douglass Ax
18,800
18,000
Lancaster Mills shares
liowell ..•.. .shares
Manchester Print.
* 2
Naumkeai?
Perkins*
28,000
20,000
2
Sandwich Glass
20,000
2
Stark Mills
50,500
Total dividends
$220,800
Jnly 2
2
2
INTKREST ON
Albany city, 1866
BONDS.
$140,000
1,000,000
About
About
426.000
780,000
About
89,600
860,000
500,000
About
" iVV.OOO
28,000
About
About
966JB00
2i
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
2*
8
8
8
8
$4,200
Albany 6*8, Western Railroad
Boston city stock
80.000
87,000
8
2
2
Boston and Providence Railroad.. .
Boston and Worcester Railroad. . .
Cheshire 6*8
8,000
12,750
21,906
2
Concord and Montreal
6,000
2
Dorchester and Milton
1.185
2
2
Grand Junction, 1st mortgage
MasAacbusetts State 5's
10.500
12.500
2
Michigan Central
26,000
2
2
2
2
Norwich city
Did Colony and Fall River
Peterboro and Shirley
Portland city 6*8
1,500
5,250
702
15,000
2
United States Loan
50.000
2
Vermont <& Massa. 6*8, July, 1856. .
Total dividends
28,704
^265.197
MISOBLLAnEOUB.
July 2 American Insurmnce Company $800,000 8 8 $24,000
8 East Boston Dry Dock Company . 250.000 8 81 8.750
2 Franklin Insurance Company 800,000 6 6 18,000
2 North American Insurance Comp'y 200,000 6 4 8,000
2 United States Hotel Company.... 280,000 2 2 4,600
RTOAPITULATION.
Mltcellaneoos. Interest on bonds. Manuflactnring bonds. Railroad dividends.
$63,350 $265,197 $220,800 $923,075
The following are the totals for July and January in each of the years 1854 and
1855 :—
January, 1854. July, 1854. January, 1855. July, 1855.
$1,472,422 $2,240,680 $1,917,772 $3,021,440
ASSESSED TALUE OF PROPERTY m CONNECTICUT.
In the MerchanW Magazine for July 1855, volume zzxiti. page 92, we published a
table showing the several items of assessment in the whole State for the years 1863
and 1854. That table, however, did not embrace railroad stock and some bank stock.
From the grand list of the State of Connecticut for the Ist of October, 1864, prepared
by the Controller, and from the returns of the several Town Clerks, we are enabled
to make the following extracts and comparative exhibit of the assessed value of the
yarious items of the several counties, as follows :^-
* Payable on demand.
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Jimmal of Bctnkinff, Currency^ and Finance, 353
DwelllDg'boiuet. Bnk and Ifech. k. mlH
CooDttes. No. Value. ins. siock. Merchandiie. operalluns.
Hartford 11.519 f 12,498,498 $4,014,878 |2,22tf,646 $2,470,816
New Haven 10,197 14,048,191 5,895,012 1,986.191 2,993.948
NewLoodoo 7,064 7,680,lb7 2,279,797 685,877 450,408
Fairfield 11,203 10,064.021 2,084,407 1,186.200 1,269,098
WiDdham 6,098 2,091,649 677,988 186,140 330,648
Litchfield 7,688 4.459.866 1,661,720 879,492 1,076,145
MiddleMX 4.490 8,796,948 1,276.844 816,866 414.524
ToUaud 8,463 1,776,952 896,845 117,080 978,162
Total 67,267 $66,852,707 $17,685,481 $6,918,981 $9,678,748
The total value of horses in the State is $2,828,268; of neat cattle, $6,150,921 '
carriages, $887,276; clocks and watches, $484,095; of pianos and musical instru.
mcDts, $303,91 1 ; railroad, city, and other bonds, $6,978,61 1. The total value of prop-
erty in the State is $208,739,831.
THE SAV FRANCISCO MINT.
In February, 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill The gold produce for the
six following years we have estimated at 8, 26, 40, 66, 63, and 68 millions respective-
ly, amounting in all to $260,000,000, of which $220,000,000 were coined at the United
States Mints on the Atlantic before the let of January. 1854, leaving $40,000,000 —
nearly one-f>izth of the whole amount estimated to have been coined here — carried to
foreign lands, or to remain uncoined in the hands of the miners. The whole amount
of money coined at the United States Mints since their establishment has been
$881,000,000, of which considerably more than one half was gold from California.
More than $60,000,000 have been coined in this city, but a large amount of it has
been recoioed at the United States Mints. The only private coining establishment
now in operation here is that of Kellogg <& Richter, which is doing a very heavy busi-
The large amount of our gold produce, the distance of California from the Atlantio
mints, and the high cost of making remittances, made it early a matter of importance
to have a mint in San Francisco; but it wae not until the 8d July, 1852, that an act
was passed for its establishment The contract for the erection of the building wae
not taken within due time, and on the 3d March, 1868, the time for receiving proposals
was extended. Finally, during the last summer arrangements were made, though the
building provided for was far from being such a one as California deserved. It was
commenced last fall on Commercial street, near Montgomery, and is sixty feet square
and three stories high, of brick, and fire-proof.
The following is a sketch of the gold coining process — for the silver coining, thougti
some of it will be done, is of comparatively little importance. The mint will go into
operation on Saturday, and will be prepared to coin $80,000,000 yearly, or aboat
$98,000 daily.
DEPOSIT ROOM.
The first room in the regular order of the business of the mint is the deposit room.
Here the metal is taken and weighed, and a receipt given. The scales are very large
and nice, aiid cost in Boston about $1,000. The gold is then taken to the
MXLTINO EOOV,
Where each deposit is melted separately in a black- lead crucible, and upon the melted
mass saltpeter and soda are thrown and stirred round to oxydize the base metals, and
the gold and more Aerling metals, thoroughly mixed, are cast into a bar. After being
taken to the weigh room and wtighed, it is ready fur the
VOL. xxxiu. — NO. in. 23
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Z54 Journal of Banking^ Currency^ and Fuumee,
A88AT DXPAETXSNT.
TIm aatftyer, with a chisel, chips off a comer from the bar, aod the diip is melted
and cast into a battoo, to give a ronod form, so that it may be easily rolled oat. It
is rolled into a ribbon aod filed down until it weighs exactly ten grains, weighed by a
scale which turns at the thousandth part of a grain. The ribbon is rolled up with
sheet lead, placed in a cup called a cupel, made of calcined bone ashes, and placed in
a heat sufficient to melt the gold, and the base metals, copper, tin, etc, are absorbed
by the porous material of the cupel, or carried off in ozydation. The gold is theo
pure, except an admixture of silver, and perhaps a little iridium or platinum. The
button is again rolled out into a ribbon about as thick as ordinary letter paper, and
boiled in nitric acid, which diseoWes the silver aod leayes the gold pure, which is
weighed, and the amount which it has lost gives an exact measure of the quaotity of
impurity in the original bar. Thus, if the piece assayed weighs nine grains, then nine-
tenths of the bar is pure gold ; and the clerk of the deposit room can immediately
give a certificate of the amount of coin due the depositor.
OaANULATXNO MKLTINO EOOM.
After the bars hare been assayed they are, as a general rule, thrown in together
indiscriminately as the property of the mint The first process in the granulating
room is to melt the gold with twice the weight of silver, aod while melted i( is poured
into water mixed with a little nitric acid, and the metal falls to the bottom of the tub
in fine grains. The granulated gold is taken out and cast into large stone or porcelain
pots, holding about fifteen gallons of nitric acid. These pots sit in hot water heated
by steam, and the boiling acid soon leaves the gold pure from all silver, copper, lead,
tin, sine, or other base metals.
It is taken out, filtered, washed, dried, and again taken to the melting room, where
it is melted with one-ninth its weight of copper, which makes it the standard alloy of
nine hundred thousandths fine. No silver is used in the alloy. The gold thus alloyed
is run into bars a foot long, an inch thick, and of the proper width for coin, from an
inch and a half for double-eagles down to half an inch for dollars. The bars are de-
livered over to the coiner.
DEAWIIfQ AND OOTTD^a EOOM.
The coiner's first process is to put the bars through the rolling-mill, which has two
heavy rollers of cast-»teel, ten inches long and eight uiches in diameter, rolling to-
gether. The bars are thus rolled out a number of times, until they are nearly the
proper thickness for the coin. The rolling-miil is made so that the bars can be roUed
out to any thickness. The bars, when rolled out several times^ become somewhat
brittle, and are then taken to the
ANNEALING EOOM.
This room contains a furnace of brick work, with long chambers to reoeiye the bara*
which are placed in copper tubes, and heated to a cherry red. The gold is thus made
softer and more ductile, and is again taken to the rolling-mill and rolled sufficiently,
and again annealed previous to being drawn. The bars cannot be rolled out to an ex-
actly equal thickness, and to secure exactness in this respect the bar is drawn throogh
an orifice in a piece of steel, and this orifice being somewhat smaller than the bar aa
foiled, reduces the whole to the same exact width and thickness. The bar, not quite
so thick as the coin, is taken thence to the cutting machine, which, by a punch, eota
off from the bar round pieces, a little longer than the intended coin. Theee piecea
are called blanks. The blanks are carried to the annealing room, and washed with
aoap and water. They are then taken to the
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Jmi/nal of BoMmg^ Currently and Jf^mance* 855
ADJOmMO EOOM.
Here eadi blank is weighed separately, and made the exact weight for the eoin. If
too heavy, the blank is filed down; if too light, it ia thrown into a box to be remelted.
The work in (his room is done entirely by ladies.
OOIMINQ AMD MILLWO BOOIC.
The adJQsted blanks are run through the milling machine, which compresses the
ilank to the exact diameter of the coin, and raises the edge. The purpose of making
the edge thicker is to make the coin pile neatly, to protect the figures, and to improve
the general appearance. About two hundred and fifty blanks are milled in a minute.
The milled blanks are carried back to the annealing room, placed in an air-tight
cast-iron box, and placed in the furnace to be annealed, so that they may take the im-
pression welL When they are at a cherry red they are taken out and poured imme-
diately into water with a little sulphuric acid. This softens and cleans the gold. The
blanks are taken out, washed with cold water, put into hot water again, taken out,
mixed in with saw-dust, which is then sifted off, and the blanks are dried and per-
fectly clean. «
They are again taken to the coining and milling room, and stamped. Th^ coining
machine is elegant and massive. The blanks are placed in a tube or pipe, and from
this the machine takes them one by one, puts them between the dies, stamps them,
throws them out of the die, and carries them down into a box, and they are then de-
livered to the Treasurer, and are ready for circulation.
Such are the main features of the process. The treatment of silver is, of course
somewhat different The difference between the United States com and the Califor-
nia coin is, that the latter is alloyed with silver, the former with copper. The Oali-
fomia gold contains a good deal of silver, and it is troublesome and expensive to sep-
arate it from the gold ; besides, it is more difficult* to make a copper than a silver
alloy. The California coin being one-tenth silver, is worth more than the United
States coin, and a premiom is paid for it at the United States mints. There are aboot
seventy-five cents worth of silver in a hundred dollars of California coin. The copper
is a much better alloy, being harder, more durable, and more beautifuL
All the machinery is of the best quality, having been manufactured under the su-
pervision of George Eckfblt, of the Philadelphia Mint It has been put up under the
direction of John M. Eckfelt The officers of the mint are Dr. Birdsal, Superintend-
ent; John R. Snyder, Treasurer; CoL Harasthy, Assayer; John Heuston, Melter and
Refiner ; and John M. Eckfolt, Coiner, s^bont thirty men will be constantly employed .
THE FREE AID CHARTERED SYSTEMS OF BAIKIIIO COMPARED.
BT J. THOMPSON, BAMKSft, OP MBW TOaX.
We commence by defining the two systems . —
J^M i^anlrtfi^.— Full permission for any individual or assodatioo to bank, by com-
plying with general laws ; those general laws requiring ample security deposited with
the State authorities for all issues of currency. Engraving and printing only on order
from the State officer ; circulating notes received through the State authorities, se-
cured, registered, and countersigned; periodical reports of condition; specie payments,
or liquidation by the State officer.
Ohmrter^d i^anirtft^.— Special privileges granted to certain individuals, with power
to make a currency without security, and in many of the States without Umit; and,
generally speaking, the stockholders and officers of these dose corporations are exempt
from any liabilify on their corporate indebtedneen
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356 Jmnmal of B<mkinff, Current, and Finance,
The practical working of the two Bjttems is illustrated by reoeot failiiree, as
ibUows : —
OHARTKRSD BA1IK8.
Lewis Ooanty Bank, New York Worthiest.
Shipbailders* Bank, Maine - Worthless.
Ef.stern Bank, West Kiliingly, Connecticut Worthless.
People's Bank, Pnterscn, New Jersey Worthleea.
Bank of Milford, Delaware Worthless.
Erie and Kalamazoo Bank, Michigan. 25 cents.
Bank of Circleville, Ohio • 60 centa.
Cochituate Bank, Boston 50 cents.
FRBB BANKS.
Knickerbocker Bank, New York City Par.
Eighth Avenue Bank, da 98 cents.
Empire City Bank, do. Par.
Bank of Bainbridge, Penn Yan, New York Par.
Wheat Growers* Bank, New Jersey 90 cents.
Merchants' Bank, New Jersey 90 cents.
Oshkosh City Bank, Wisconsin Par.
Germania Bank, Wisconsin Par.
And five in Illinois All par.
We have not included broken banks in the Southern States, partly because the
chartered banks that have failed there were of the most extreme wild-cat diaracter,
and partly because no Southern free bank has failed. Thus, we clearly prove that
the free banking system is decidedly the least likely to throw a loss on the public.
We will now look at the feasibility or adaptation of the two systems of banking to
the wants of the community.
In the State of New York both systems are in active operatioa The Bank «f
Commerce, Republic, Metropolitan, (bo, were organized under the free banking law.
The Bank of New York, Pheniz, Mechanics', 4&C., reorganized under the free law
when their charters expired. The Manhattan, Merchants', ikc, are close corpora-
tions, their charters not havmg expired. The same parallels may be drawn between
the State banks— a portion of the best are under each systeoL
Had we space, we would take up the bank reports, and show that the banks under
the two systems are equally liberal in accommodatione to the public
In the State of New York, the free banking system being engrafted in the coustitu-
tion, must root out the corporation system as fast as their charters expire. In Con-
necticut and New Jersey the friends of doe^ corporations liave secured majorities id
the legislatures, and by giving charters to the free banks, have virtually repealed the
free banking law. In lUinois and Wisconsin the free is the only banking law. lo
Vermont^ Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee, both systems prevail ; and in Massachusetts^
New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Carolinas, and Georgia, the
close charter system prevails.
The three States that have the greatest interest in fostering the free banking sys-
tem are Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Missouri The first has a debt of forty millions,
one-half of which would be held by her own citizens if it were made the basis of ber
currency. The benefit of paj^ing interest on State debts to its own citizens, instead
of drawing off the amount every six months into the pockets of foreigners, must be
the subject of another article. Virginia needs some machinery thai will place and
sustain her stocks at par, in order to finish her programme of internal improvements ;
the adoption of the free banking system is the only thing she can do to accomplish
this. The same may be said of Mit»ourl
In re chartering the Bank of England, the British government engrafted the free
bank feature, by requiring the issue department to hold consols or bullion to the
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Journal of Bankin^^ Currmey^ and Fm&me, 357
MBocmt of drculatioo oatotaDding. This wm a meatare of oonttmunate policy. The
people look opoo oooeols as better Uiad aoy other paper security, because the bank
holds millioos on millions of them.
The fact that two-thirds of the entire debt of the SUte of New York b held by the
Bank Department for aooount of banks, in which the wealth, talent, interest, and
pride of the entire State is involved, places her credit on a par with the best on
earth. Foreigners often say, ^ No danger when so many of your own citizens are
interested."
In Missouri, Yiiginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, the banks are owned and used by
a few who are already rich and selfish. The public works of these States are the
desire and pride of the whole population. The banks never assist in prosecuting those
works. There is wisdom, then— there is a necessity in shaping the banking laws for
the benefit, as well as for the safety of the people at large. Not one in a hundred of
the people of aoy State has an interest in the banks, except to know the notes (money)
which they hold, and on which the bank gets interest, are good. Every person who
puts a banknote into his pocket helps the bank. Let the laws, then, be so made as
to compel the banks to do something beneficial to the State.
THE MIHT OF THE UNITED STATES.
8ILVSE FOE OOINAGK PAID FOE IN SILVBE COINS ONLT AT THE MINT.
Pbiladblpoia, Jaly 33, 1855.
The Director of the Mint gives notice, in pursuance of an authorization from the
Secretary of the Treasury, and in consequence of the present accumulation of silver
coin at the Mint, that from and after the first day of August next, and until further
notice, the purchases of silver for coinage will be paid for in silver coins only, and not
in gold.
The silver offered for purchase will be weighed, melted, and assayed, as usual, and
the standard weight determined therefrom, in ounces troy, to the hundredth part of
the ounce, and will be paid lor (at at present) at the rate of $1 22| per standard
ounce. He receipt given at the first weighing must be presented by the seller or his
order, and usually payment may be expected on the day following the date of receipt,
or the second day followrog.
For the information of bullion dealers, country banks, Ac, it may be stated that, ac-
cording to the above rate of purchase, the yield of various classes of coin or bullion
will be about as follows \-~
Five-franc pieces, each |0 99
Mexican and South American dollars 1 06^
Old Spanish dollars 1 06
Bevolutionary or ** hammered** dollars, (often mistaken for the trne Spanish
dolUr), 1 01
Half-dollar of the United States, coined before 1837 0 62 J
The same since 1887, to the last change of standard in 1858 0 62^
Quarter-dollars are proportionally less productive of premium, while dimes and
halfdimee, coined before 1887, have lost rather more by wear than the premium
would make up; those coined since 1887, to 1863, will average a premium of 8^ per
cent on their nominal value.
German, Swedish. Danish, and Norwegian crowns, each $1 11
Old French crowns 1 14
German florins. 0 41^
Prussian and Hanoverian thalers. 0 72
American plate, best manufacture, |1 20 to $1 22 per ounce.
Genuine British pUte, %l 26 per ounce.
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358 Jcmmal of Bankmg, Ourttney^ and Fm<me$.
These regQlatioot will take effect at the bnuddi of the mint at New OfleaiM when
the parohaee of eilfer ie resamed at that nifltitiitioD, of which Dotioe will be gireo bj
the Buperiotendeot
At Sao Francieoo the purchases maj be paid for in gold or silTer, at the option of
the Superintendent thereat, until a sufficient supply of silTer bullioo is reoeifed to
meet the puUic demand for silver ooin at that institution.
JAMBS ROdS BNOWDEN, DIreetor Unltad StetM iUat
TAXATIOil OF IirCORPOSATED C0MPAHIB8 III HBW YORK.
There is a law of the State of New York for remission and commutation of taxes
of iocorporated companies. It is under the provisions of title 4, chap. 18, part 1, of
the Revised Statutes, as amended July 21, 1858.
The act of July, 1858, provides ** that moneyed or stock corporations authorixed to
make dividends on their capital, and not in the receipt, during the preceding year, of
net profits or clear income equal to 6 per cent on such capital, after deducting the as-
sessed value of their real estate, shall be allowed to commute by paying dividends
directly to the treasurer of the county a sum equal to 5 per cent on their actual net
profits or clear income."
To entitle corporations, however, to this privilege of commutation, the necessary
proof must be submitted to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors.
It appears from this that the Committee on Annual Taxes — John Kelly and Henry
Hoffmire— made a report to the Board of Supervisors, July 18, 1865, growing oat of
applications under the law for relief, which report was, published in some of the pa-
pers, in which they state as follows : —
*" Since the operation of this law would virtually exempt a large amount of oorpo-
ration capital hitherto subject to taxation, your committee concluded to consult with
R. J. Dillon, Corporation Counsel, and suomit the affidavits for his examination and
report The affidavits attached have been returned by the Corporation Counsel, as
Justifying the remission of the tax, or the commutation thereof In all cases in which
net profit or dear income has been received, that amount is made subject to commu-
tation ; but where no profits or income have been received, the assessment must be
stricken from the assessment rolls.**
Under this decision of the Corporation Counsel, the said committee submitted two
resolutions— the first allowing the following named incorporations to commute by pay-
ing 6 per cent on their net annual profits or cle^r income during the preceding year,
via. :— The Sun Mutual Insurance Company, on $80,000 ; the Atlantic Bank, on $16,554 ;
the New York India-Rubber Company, on $1,000; and the New York Balao'*e Dock,
on $5,000. The other resolution^that the following incorporations be struck from the
assessment rolls, not having be^n in receipt, during the preceding year, of any net
profits or dear income whatever, via :-»The Union, New York, Commercial, Aator,
and Mercantile Insurance Companies, the Hamilton, St Marks, and People's Fire In-
•urance Companies, the United States Mail Steamship Company, the Third and Sixth
Avenue Railroads, the South-street, Dry Dock, Grand, Bowery, and South Ferry
Stage Companies, the Blank Book Ruling and Paging Company, Qas Regulator Com-
pany, Knickerbocker Life Insurance Company, Knickerbocker Ice Company, East
River Bank, and St Nicholas Insurance Company.
TBE BANK OF CBARLBSTOH.
The annual report of this institution has been published, from whidi it appears
that the net profits of the bank for the year, deducting current expenses, amount
to $256,182; dividends declared, $252,864 ; surplus, 12,068.
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Journal of Banking^ Cfurreney, and Finance. 369
Th« present number of ttockbolders amount to 2,018, held as follows: —
By individuals in their own names $1,910,000
By widows, gtuirdians, executors, Ac 262,600
By banks and incorporated bodies 988,800
Amounting in all to $8,160300
A great reduction in circulation has occurred within the last two' years. On re-
ferring to the reports of the two preceding years, it appears that at similar periods of
the year they had in circulation—
In 1868 $2,111,000
And in 1864 1.876,000
And by the present report, they have only 666,000
Showing a reduction within the above periods, of 1,466,000
CITT nUAlVCBS OF 8AV FRANCISCO.
DBBT.
10 per cents ef 1861 .• $1,600,000
Less sinking fund 126,069
$1,882,961
7 per cents school, of 1864 60,000
8 per cent scrip, unfunded 60,000
10 pw cento fire, of 1866 200.000
Mortgage on City Hall 27,000
FloaUng debt to be funded 1,600,000
Total to July, 1866 $8,819,941
RXSOUaOKS.
Taxables, $62,000,000.
Tax list, $1,118,000, good for 800,000
licenses «... 120,000
Fines and wharf rento 26,000
Annual total $946,000
Interest on debt $278,600
Sinkingfund 76,000
City expenses 821,400
Contingencies 1 10,000
186,000
Annual surplus $161,000
BRITISH REVENUE IN 1854 AND 1865.
We give below an abstract of the net produce of the revenue of Great Britain in
tfie years ended dOth of June, 1864, and 1866, showing the increase and decrease : —
Boorees. 1855*
Customs £21,242,796
Years ended June 30,
Excise.
Stamps
Taxes
Property tax .
Post-office....
Crown lands..
Miscellaneous.
16,976,897
7,187,892
2,987,289
11,466,171
1,289,424
270,672
901,904
1854.
£20,284,869
16,206,880
6,916,820
8,160,666
6,870,600
1,247,000
826,000
960,672
Year ended Jane_30, 1855.
iDcreaM.
£968,426
1,770,017
271,672
6,086,671
228,426
V,676
64,428
64,668
Total ordinary revenue.
Deduct decrease ....
Increase on the year.
62,212,894 64,470,806
8,086,686
' 844,098
7,741,688
844,098
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300 Commercial Hegulatians,
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.
THE BIGHTS OF CONSULS AND COMMBRCIiL AOBlfTS.
Notwithstanding the somewhat vague speculations of Vattel and some other conti-
nental authors, on the question whether consuls are quasi ministers or not, (Vattel,
IhoU de8 Oent, 1 iv., ch. 8 ; De Cussy, ReglemenU Conndairea, sec. 6 ; Moreuil, Agent$
ConnUaires, p. 848 ; Borel, De$ Oonsula, ch. 3,) it is now fully established by judicial
decisions on the continent, and by the opinions of the best modem authorities there,
that consuls do not enjoy the diplomatic priyileges accorded to the ministers of for-
eign powers ; that in their personal affairs they are justiceable by the local tribunals
for offenses, and subject to the same recourse of execution as other resident foreigners ;
and that they cannot pretend to the same personal inviolability and exemption from
jurisdiction as foreign ministers enjoy by the law of nations. (FcbUx, 1, ii, tit 2 ch. 29
sea 4 ; Dalloz, Die. de Jurispr^ HL Agents Diplomatiquet^ No, 86 ; Oh, dt Marteiut
Guide Diplomat,^ s. 88.)
In truth, all the obscurity and contradiction as to this |>oint in different authors arise
from the fact that consuls do unquestionally enjoy certain privileges of exemption
fbom local political obligation ; but still, these privileges are limited, and fall very
far short of the right of ex-territoriality. (Masse, Droit Commercial^ tome 1, Nos-
488, 489.)
Thus, in the United States consuls have a right, by the constitation, to the jurisdic-
tion of the Federal courts as against those of States. They are privileged from polit-
ical OP military service, and from personal taxation. In some cases we have, by
treaty, given to consuls, when they are not proprietors in the country and do not en-
gage in Commerce, a domiciliary and personal immunity beyond what they possess by
the general public law ; and the extreme point to which these privileges have been
carried in any instance, may be seen in the consular convention of the 23d of Pebro-
ary, 1858, between the United States and France. (Session Acts, 1853-4, p. 114.)
A consul is not such a public minister as to be entitled to the privileges appertain-
ing to that character, nor is he under the special protection of the law of nations. In
civil and criminal cases, where not otherwise provided by treaty stipulations, he is
subject to the laws of the country in which he resides. (I Kent, 44 ; Opinions of At-
torneys-General ; Ex. Doc. No. 55, 2d session 81st Congress, pp. 265, et teg. ; De Clercq»
Formulaire^ tome 2, pp. 82, 88.)
BUSINESS flOUBS AT THB CUSTOM-HOUSES OF THE UNITED STATES.
Jambs Gutheib, the Secretary of the Treasury, under date June 15 th, 1855, has
prescribed the following regulation in regard to the hours for official business at the
several custom-houses in the United States, to go into effect at each port from the
date of its receipt : —
" The custom-houses at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, New
Orleans, and San Francisco shall be open for the transaction of business with mer-
chants and others from nine o'clock, A. M., to three o'clock, P. M., and the office hours
for the functionaries belonging to said ports shall be from nme o'clock, A. M., to four
o'clock, P. M., and until the business of the day shall be accomplished, according to
the requirements of the collector of the port
** The custom-houses at each of all the other ports shall be open for the transaction
of business during the same hour^, and the functionaries shall keep the same official
boors if the businese shall require it^"
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Commercial BegvlaHona. 361
£ITftT OF MEECHAHDISE WITflOUT IIVOICE.
The WashiDgtoD Union states on the authority of the Treasuiy Department, that
in all cases hereafter where the importer desires to enter on appraisement, in the ab-
sence of an invoice, under the second section of the act of Ist March, 1823, he will
make a written application to the collector, ander oath or affirmation, setting forth the
circumstances under which the merchandise was imported, and the cause, if any known
to him, why the invoice is not produced ; and before any such entry can be allowed,
the merchandise must be sent to the appraisers* store, or to a bonded warehouse, for
examination by the appraisers, who will call upon the importer for the exhibition by
him of any letters, accounts, or other documents he may have in regard to the impor-
tation, and examine him on oath or affirmation touching any matter or thing which
they may deem material in ascertaining the true market value or wholesale price of
the merchandise thus presented for entry. The answer to these interrogations shall
be in writing, under oath or affirmation, and subscribed by the importer, and shall be
transmitted, with a report of the case, by the appraiser to the collector, who will for-
ward the same to the Secretary of the Treasury, who, from information placed from
time to time in his possession, as well in regard to particular importation as the gen-
eral Commerce of Uie country, may often advise collectors of facts and circumstances
not otherwise known to them, which might enable those officers to exercise a more
careful and intelligent discretion in such cases.
No entry by appraisement without invoice will, therefore, be permitted until the
case has been submitted to the department, and its views, and the facts which it may
think proper to communicate, received, except b cases of perishable goods, and where
the merchandise does not exceed one hundred dollars in value, the application of the
importer being made under oath ; in which case the collector, if he thinks it expedient,
may, under the direction conferred on him by the second section of the act of 1st
March, 1828, admit to entry on appraisement without submitting the same to the de-
partment.
It not unf^eqnently happens that articles are imported for the personal use of the
importer, and not as merchandise, which might be exposed to injury m the process of
opening, examining, and re-packing in the public store ; but which, nevertheless, ought
not to be delivered without examination. In such cases the collector, if he thinks it
expedient, will direct the proper officer of the customs to examine the package or
packages at the residence of the owner, or at such other proper place at the port as
be may designate. In no case, however, can snch examination be omitted without the
special permission of the department
OF UNCUIMED GOODS BY OWNER OR CONSIGNEE.
The Washington Union states on the authority of the United States Treasury De-
partment, that all goods unclaimed by the owner or consignee at the expiration of the
period allowed by law for the discharge of the vessel in which the same may have
been imported, shall be sent by the collector to stores owned or leased by the United
States, (of the first-class,) if there be any at the port If there be no such stores,
then said goods shall be deposited in a private bonded warehouse, the collector paying
to the proprietor the storage and labor for the time the merchandise remains in the
warehouse unclaimed, and charging the same on the goods, if sold, or entered in pur-
suance of law. The owner or consignee of goods thus sent to the public store, and of
which no entry has been made, may, at any time thereafter, within the period provided
by law, be allowed the privileges herein granted to bonded merchandise, on making
due entry thereof for warehousing.
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862 Commercial BegulatiofM,
€(JSTOM.HOnSB RIGUUTIONS III REGARD TO PASSENQERS' BAGGAGE.
Oo the arrival of any steamer from Europe, the collector is required to detail an
experienced entrj clerk, \7ho, with a similar clerk to be designated by the naTal offi-
cer, and an assistant appraiser or examiner, to be detailed by the appraisers, shall, to-
gether with the inspector on board, examine all the passengers' baggage, appraise the
dutiable value of the same, and assess the duty, if any. The duty thus assessed ia
to be entered by the co]lector*8 clerk in a record to be kept of such examination, to-
gether with the value, description of the articles, and amount of duty.
This record is to be checked with the initials of the three clerks and inspector, and
the amount of duty to be paid collected by the collector's clerk, who is required to
deposit his book and the money received with the cashier, as "* the entry of passengers*
baggage per steamer , from ," which amount of duties and entry is to
go into the cashier's daily receipts in the same manner as any other entry of merchan-
dise for consumption. After the examination and collection of duty, if any, the deliv-
ery of baggage is to be made to the respective owners by the inspector on board,
under the general baggage permit, it being understood that the assignment of clerks
above mentioned is made under that permit, to see that it is properly executed ; and
no baggage, with or without special permit, except when authoriied by this Depart-
ment, is to be delivered without an examination by all these officers.
Should any passenger's baggage contain dutiable articles to the value of over $500,
they are to be sent to the appraiser's store for regular entry and appraisement, as
provided by law. This regulation is issued by the Department to prevent any delay
to passengers from having small articles in their baggage which may be subject to
duty, and does not apply to any articles of merchandise regularly packed, or to sam-
ple packages, which must in all cases go to the appraiser's store.
OF THE AUTflfiJVTICATIOJI OF SHIPS' PAPERS AT BUEIOS ATRES.
DcrAftTHKirr or Statb, Wmhiiiotoii, June 1 1, 18Sfw
The following translation of a decree of the government of Buenos Ayres relating
to the authentication of ships' papers, is published for general information : —
[tbanslatioit.]
DtPAftTMKiiT or TBS TBKAtVRT, BvBNOB Atkki, JsDiiary 31, 1855.
All measures heretofore adopted for compelling captains of vessels sailing fhun for-
eign ports where there are consuls of this country to have their papers authenticated
by such consuls, having proved ineffectual, and the government desiring to make the
conveniences of Commerce harmonize with the obedience which said captains owe to
the fiscal regulations which have here been violated with impunity, it has resolved
and decreed : —
Art. Ist The custom houses of the State shall give entry to vessels arriving from
ports where there are consular agenu of the State, even when they do not bring with
them papers authenticated, as they should be, by said agents.
2d. lu the case mentioned in the preceding article, the captains of said vessels shall
be obliged to pay double the consular fees which they ought to have paid in the port of
their departure, which amount shall be received by the collector, he paying one- hall into
the treasury, and depositing the other half in bank to the credit of the consul to wbom
it belongs.
8d. This fine of a double fee, established in the preceding article, will begin to be
imposed five months after the publication of this decree, the regular consolar fees be-
ing collected in the meanwhile.
4th. Let this be communicated to those whom it may concern ; let it be puUisbed
and inserted in the Regittro Official.
I&SNBO PORTKLA.
A true copjr— J. W. Pvbhtb, Ohtof dark.
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Oommereial Regulation. 368
ElAMIVATIOll or 0BU08 BT THE CO8T0M.H0U8S AUTHOBITIBS.
To carrj folly ioto effect the provisioos of the act of Jnoe 2dth, 1&48« "* to preyeot
the importation of adalterated and sparious drugs and medicioee," collectors of cos-
toDM will require, in all cases of entrj of ** drugs, medicines, medicinal preparations*
ioduding medical essential oils used wholly or in part as medicine,** either for ware-
house or consumption, that all the articles named in the entry, and accompanying in-
▼oice or inToices, be taken possession of and sent to the appraiser's store, or some
eoorenient warehouse, there to be fully examined and tested by the examiner of
drugs in the manner required in said act A return is required to be made by that
officer, and approved by the appraisers, that the goods have been examined and found
fit for use as medicine, before the duty accruing on said goods can be received by the
eollector, or, if the same be warehoused, before they can be withdrawn for transporta-
tion or consumption.
If these drugs, ^ form part of an invoice, a separate entry may be made of such
portion, and the remainder entered under the usual provisions of law, to avoid the
dday required in the examination of the drugs.
Should the drugs, Ac, or any part thereof, on examination as provided in the act
referred to, be found unfit for use as medicine, the entry of such part, or the whole, if
all be so returned, shall be charged to the warehouse form, and the goods be exported
from warehouse, or destroyed by the eollector, as provided in said act.
OF PAS8EN6BB8 IV TES8ELS COMIVO TO THB CITT OF NEW TOBK.
The following act to amend ** An act concerning passengers in vessels coming to
the city of New York,** passed May 5th, 1847, was passed April 18th, 1866, is pub-
lished in the Merchant Magazine for the information of all parties interested in its
provisions: —
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and As8emhly,do enact
MifoUowe : — •
Section 1. The persons hereafter becoming chargeable upon any dty, town, or
county within this State, for the payment of any expense of whose maintenance and
Bupi>ort incurred by any such city, town, or county, it b made the duty of the Com-
missioners of Emigration to provide by the ** Act concerning passengers in vessels
coming to the city of New York," passed May 6th, 1847, or any act amendatory
thereof, shall be deemed and taken to uiclnde all persons otherwise within the descrip-
tion and provisions of such act or acts, who are or shall become the inmates of any
almshouse, lunatic asvlum, workhouse, hoepital, nursery, house of refuge, asylum for
juvenile delinquents, house of correction, penitentiary, jail, bridewell, or prison, under
commitment, sentence, or conviction, by any officer or officers, court or magutrate,
under any law of thb State, as vagrants or disorderly persons.
Sec 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
OF SEIZUBES FOB IfiFBACnOB OF TAB BBVEHUB UWS.
Cdlectoffs of customs are required to report all oases of seiaures made for infractioDS
of the revenue laws to the Secretary of the Treasury within three days after such
teisures shall have been made, specifying in such report the property seiaed, for what
offense, and how and on what terms it is kept, and a brief statement of the facts and
oircumstaoces giving rise to the seixure. This report, it should be distinctly under-
stood, is to be made to the Secretary of the Treasury, and is not to supersede the
report now required to be made by collectors to the Solicitor of the Treasury in re-
gard to fines, penalties, forfeitures, and seixures, which will continue to be made as
heretofore.
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864 (JommercuU Regulationi.
PORTS OF E5TRY, ETC., ON THB BORDERS OF CAIADA«
Od the 2d day of July, 1855» F&anklin Piebob, President of the United States of
America, issaed the foUowiog proclamation: —
• Whereas the act of Congress of the 28th September, 1850, entitled ** An act to cre-
ate additional collection districts in the State of California, and to change the existing
district therein, and to modify (he existing c<»llection districts in the United States,
extends to merchandise warehoused under bond the privilege of being exported to the
British North American Provinces adjoining the United States, in the manner pre-
scribed in the act of Congress of the Sd of March 1846, which designates certain frao-
tier ports through which merchandise can be exported, and further provides ** that
such other ports, situated on the frontiers of the United States, adjoining the British
North American Provinces, as may hereafter be found expedient, may have extended
to them the like privileges on the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasory,
and proclamation duly made by the President of the United States, specially desig-
nating the ports to which the aforesaid privileges are to be extended f —
Now, therefore, I, Franklin Pierce, President of the United States of America, in
accordance with the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury, do herebi^ de-
clare and proclaim that the ports of Rouse^s Point, Cape Vincent, Suspension Bridge,
and Dunkirk, in the State of New York ; Swanton, Alburg, and I&land Pond, in the
State of Vermont; Toledo, in the State of Obio, Chicago, in the State of Illinois;
Miiwaukie, in the State of Wisconsin ; Michilimackinac, in the State of Michigan :
Eastport, in the State of Maine ; and Pembina, in the Territory of Minnesota, are, and
shall be, entitled to all the privileges in regard to the exportation of merchandise in
bond to the British North American Provinces adjoining the United States which are
extended to the ports enumerated in the 7th section of the act of Congress of the 8d
of March, 1845, aforesaid, from and after the date of this proclamation.
OF THE IBTSPECTIOff OF FLOUR, BEEF, AHfD PORK 15 JEFFERSOlf , LA.
The following act of the Legislature of Louisiana was passed in 1866, and approved
March 16th, in the same year : —
AN ACT RELATIVE TO INSPECTION OP FLOUR, BEEF, AND PORR IN TBS PARISH OF JEFFERSON.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representativet of the State
of Louisiana in General Aisembly convened^ That it shall be the duty of the Qovemor
to appoint a suitable person to be flour, beef, and pork inspector in and for the parish
of Jefferson.
Seo. 2. Be it further enacted. That said inspector shall be entitled to the same lees
as are now allowed to the inspector of flour, beef, and pork in and for the city of New
Orleans.
SEa 8. Be it further enacted. That he shall have and exercise the same rights, priv-
ileges, and powers as are conferred by the several laws of this State upon the inspec-
tors of floor, beef, and pork for the city of New Orleans.
Ssa 4. Be it further enacted. That all laws contrary to the proviaons of this act,
and all laws on the same subject matter, except what is contained in the Civil Code
and Code of Practice, be repealed.
CUSTOM-HOUSE APPRAISEMENT OFHCB.
All commnnications and papers, whether invoices, appraisement orders, damage
warrants, or others, passing between the custom-house proper and the appraisers, are
required to be transmitted by an officer of the customs or an official messenger ; nor
shall any importer, agent, or any other person than one in the employment of the cos-
toms, be admitted to the appraiser's office without a written permission from, or ac-
companying a principal appraiser. From the places or rooms in the appraiser's de-
partment in which merchandise is examined, under the law reguUting appraisemsDls,
all persons are required to be excluded except the officers and employees of the ois-
toms or appraisers, whose duties under the law and instmctions of the Secretary of
tlie Treasury require them to have access to those rooms or places.
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Commercial Staiisties. 365
, SEA FREIGHT HOT A DUTIABLE CHARGE.
Upon consideratioD of the tariff act of 1846, as amended by the first section of the
act of the Sd of March, 1851, and the several decisions of United States courts upon
said acts, it is deemed proper to declare that when goods are shipped from the coun-
try of their production, and it shall appf ar to the collector by the bills of lading, or
other satisfactory proof, that they were intended for importation into the United Statef ,
whether by direct or indirect yoyage, by sea, through ports of another country, by one
or more shipments, uo part of the said freight from the country of their production to
the United States shall be added to the value of the said goods to make op the duti-
able value. If the practice at any port has been different, the collector at such port
will make known this decision to the appraisers, in order that their practice shall here-
after conform to the above construction. Collectors will, also, on application of the
parties, examine the cases of this class in which freight has been added to the duti-
able value, and duties thereon have been paid under protest, and report the fucia in
each case, and the amount of the excess of duty paid, in order that the department
may take the necessary action for the return of the excess.
COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.
SHIP-BUILDIVQ IN PHILADELPHIA.
From a lengthy history of ship-building in 1864, giving the names, tonnage, and
bailder of each vessel, the following summary is compiled : —
/ LAUNOHVn. X / OK STOCKS. v
Vessels. Tuonage. Vessels. Tunosge.
T.Bireley 18 1,429 2 600
VaughanALinn 1 1,600 1 1,200
WilliamCmrop 4 2,496 2 2,919
Hillroan <& Streaker 6 634 . ....
BireleyALiun 4 728 . ....
John K Hammitt 1 240 . ....
llVandosen 1 120 1 120
Reaney, Neafie <& Co 2 263 1 246
Stewart A Walters 4 1,060 2 466
Total 86 8,867 9 6,440
COMMERCE WITH CUBA.
The increase of the trade of the United States with the port of Havana over that
of all other nations, notwithstanding the bad feeling that has existed between the two
countries, is truly wonderful. The Havana Mercanlile Report^ of the 7th of August,
g^vee a statement of the number of vessels, their tonnage, and the nations to which
they belong, which entered the port of Havana during the first six months of the ten
years last past The increase in the total tonnage for the first six months of the year,
from 1846 to 1866, is a trifle more than 100 per cent While the American tonnage
has increased more than 200 per cent, the Spanish and Britbh is nearly stationary.
For the first six months in 1846, the American tonnage employed in this trade was
71,722; the Spanish, 66,628 ; and the British, 82,969. The total number of vessels
which entered that port during the six months ending July 1st, 1866, was 1,080, of a
tonnage of 864,988 ; and of these, 670, of a tonnage of 281,484 were American,
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Commereial StoHitios,
58,888 SpaniBli, and 82,165 British. Tho Froncfa tonnage hat increased from 1,761 , in
the first six months of 1846, to 8,260, for the same period of 1854, and 23,288, more
than two- thirds of the British, in 1855. In the tonnage of other nations— Belgian,
Dutch, Danish, Bremen, Hamburg, and o^ers — there has been no material increase.
We give in this connection a statement of the exports of sugar from Havana and
Matansas, in each of the last five years, as follows : —
xxpoaTs or sugar in bozss raoM Havana and matansas.
1861. 1862. m%, 18fi4. 186S.
United states 280,720 249,248 149,574 154.886 197,179
Great Britttin 82,702 9,655 14,858 67,410 42,058
Ck>wes and a Market 281.652 150,090 225^18 274,872 218,280
Baltic 101.654 85,617 89,886 15,486 28,968
Hamburg and Bremen 20,969 82,529 15,171 44,277 88,688
Holland 6,974 11,156 8.826 7,980 10,992
Belgium 15,009 22,451 11.626 24,908 21,817
Spam 72,812 102,729 81.750 81.880 196.848
Prance 25.882 48,077 50,680 67,580 118,808
Trieste and Venice 14.068 82,080 29,682 41,866 19,785
Leghorn and Genoa 5,218 2,500 7,507 8,428 5,568
Other parts 10.285 7,420 5.889 4,787 15,256
Total 767,440 698,502 685,861 787,765 908,177
COMMERCE OF BRITISH, IRISH, AND SCOTCH PORTS.
The proportionate trade of the various ports of England, according to the London
5tm, is not generally known, and the comparison is in some respects curious. If ton-
nage were to decide the question, London would stand above Liverpool ; bnt when
exports are brought under notice, the latter stands almost doubly as high as the
former. The tonnage inwards, and the declared value of British and Irish exports in
1854 were as follows: —
Tonnage. Exports.
London 2,667,828 £22.8»0,872
Liverpool 2,190,404 46,719,177
Hull ..... 604,818 10,008,122
Bristol 162,588 751,718
Newcastle 441,198 1,521.551
Southampton.. 262,276 2,884,U1
Tonnage. Exports.
Leith 185,586 £527,697
Glasgow 125,481 4,905,557
Greenock 144,152 554,508
Dublin 71,602 41.474
Cork 87,828 148,096
Belfast 58,887 28,756
The extraordinary amount in lavor of Liverpool must arise mainly from its prox-
imity to the textile manufacturing districts, and the great trade with the United
States.
IMPORTATIOBT OF 6UA50 INTO GREAT BRITAIH.
The imports into Great Britain of guano, as far as can be ascertained from official
documents, since the commencement of the trade in 1841, have been as follows : —
rears.
1841..
1842..
1848..
1844..
1845..
1846..
1847.,
Tons.
2,881
20,8 U8
8,002
104.251
288.800
89.220
82,892
Years.
1848..
1849..
1850..
1851..
1852..
1868..
1854..
Tons.
71,416
88,488
116,926
248.014
129.889
128,166
201,628
Total 1,554,915
The imports for 1854 embrace only eleven months.
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Commercial Statistics, 307
HAVIOATfOV AT 8AV FRANCISCO.
8TATBMBNT OF THB TONNAGE ARRIVING AT TBB PORT OP SAN FRAN0I80O, FOR THE FIRST
BIX MONTHS OF 1866, OOMPARBD WITH A- 0ORRB9P0NDINO PERIOD OF 1864 : —
> 1855. > , 18S4. ,
VMsela. Tons. VeMels. Toot.
ERAtern domestic ports 76 81,466 97 90,680
PAGi6c dumestio ports. 470 96,788 48 24,614
GreRtBritain 19 9,863 29 17,787
GootioeDt of Europe 16 6,072 12 6,661
Vancoover's Island 7 1,662 12 2,196
RussiAO possessions 4 1,696 8 1,018
Ohili 10 4,028 26 11,147
Peru 2 248 8 426
Mexico 10 1,469 14 2,818
SaDdwich Islaods 29 6,801 20 8,071
Other Pacific isles 18 1,766 11 1,842'
Panama 12 22,806 19 26,920
Central America „. 16 16,907 18 16,891
Rio de Janeiro 8 1,660 2 466
China ^... 20 8,728 80 16,660
Australia 12 8,281 18 6,111
Whaling voyages 4 742 .,
Other ports 8 2,416 6 1,811
Totol 781 266,160 868 226,674
THE BRITISH FISHERIES.
The report of the commissioners for the British fisheries for the year 1 864 is just
out The herring fishery of 1854 presents a few features calling for remark. The gross'
catch during the year amounted to 746,86 1^ barrels, being— from various adverse cir-
cumstances— less by 168,449^ barrels than the catch of 1868, which was a most re-
markable one. The quantity of herrings cured in 1864 was 686,562^ barrels, and the
quantity branded, 211,844 barrels. The proportion of the quantity branded to the
quantity cured was higher than in 1853, indicating improved and more careful curing ;
and the quantity exported actually exceeded in 1864 what had been known in any
previous year, having amounted to 861,696| barrels, or 19,06d more than the export
of 1853. The increase of export indicates a growing confidence in the superiority of
Scotch-cured herrings. The demand was steady throughout the year, at high prices,
in the face of the Russian war.
The returns of the cod and ling fisheries indicate an increase ; the gross produce
was 167,762^ ewt and 6,166^ barrels, being an increase of 900^ cwt and 1,044 bar-
rels over the cure and produce of 1868.
The fishhigs thus reported on were fortunately accompanied with few fatal acci-
dents to the men employed ; but those that did occur show the necessity of forming
places of refuge on different parts of the coast for fishing boats only, which might be
done if Parliament would vote a more liberal sum than the £8,000 at present voted
for the erection of harbors. The improvement in the habits and characters of the
fishers is discernible, but slow. Many difficulties have been experienced by the Board
in administering the act against trawling.
In 1854, 10,891 boats, manned by 40,869 fishermen, and boys, were employed in
the shore curing department of the fisheries, and the total number of persons engaged
in the fisheries reported on was 67,884, being a decrease on 1868 of 83 boats, 686
fishermen, and 2,796 persons in the total number employed. The tonnage employed
in carrying salt amounted to 32,649 tons, and the number of hands to 2,404. The
tonnage employed in exporting amotmted to 42,964 tons^ and the number of hand* to
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Commercial Statistics,
8,499. The tonnage of fishing -boats was 72,414 ; the number of square 3rard8 of net-
ting employed in the fisheries, 77,210,671 ; the number of yards of linen, 80,519,664;
and total value of boats, nets, and lines. '£687,420.
PRICES OF FLOUR IBT PHILADELPHIA FOR SIXTY TEARS.
The following table shows the average prices of flour in the Philadelphia market in
June of each year from 1795 to 1856, inclusive :~
1856
110 12
1885
$6 25
1815
.... $8 76
1864
.... 8 72
1884
.... 6 50
1814
.... 6 75
1858
4 62
1888
.... 5 62
1818
.... 8 25
1852
.... 4 20
1882
.... 6 00
1812
.... 8 50
1851
.... 4 25
1881
.... 5 60
1811
.... 10 12
1860
.... 6 27
1880
.... 4 62
1810
.... 9 00
1849
.... 4 55
1829
.... 6 62
1809
.... 6 25
1848
5 44
1828
.... 4 50
1808
.... 5 00
1847
.... 8 25
1827
...; 5 00
1807
. . . . 7 26
1846
8 91
1826
4 87
1806
.... 8 00
1845
.... 4 25
1826
5 26
1806
. ... 11 00
1844
4 10
1824
1828
5 87
.... 7 50
1804
.... 7 00
1848
6 00
1808
.... 6 25
1842... ^.
6 50
B 00
1822
6 87
1802
.... 7 00
1841
1821
. . . . 4 00
1801
11 50
1840 4 76
1820
.... 4 76
1800
. ... 10 00
1889
.... 6 25
1819
.... 6 00
1799
. . . . 9 50
1888
7 62
.... 9 18
1818
.... 10 26
1798
. ... 6 75
1887
1817
.... 11 26
1797
8 50
1886
6 81
1816
.... 9 00
1796
. ... 12 50
COMMERCE OF KERTCH.
The distance from Yenikale to Kertch is about nine miles, across a verdant plain
Ktrtch is completely built of stone, and the houses are handsome. It contains a pop-
ulation of about ten thousand souls. It was a place only of slight importance when
it was ceded by the Porte to Rufsia in 1774, but it soon after recovered its original
splendor, to the detriment of Theodosia, the ancient Kafia. All the Commerce car-
ried on at Theodosia was removed by the Russian government to Kertch, where all
vessels bound to the Sea of Azoff were compelled to undergo a quarantine of four
days. The larger vessels had their cargoes brought to them in lighters from Taganrog
or from Rostof ; but those of lighter draught of water crossed the bar and loaded at
Taganrog. On their return tbey were obliged to transfer half their cargoes at Teni-
kale into lighters, and to re ship it at Kertch, after having passed over the shallows
Notwithstanding these difficulties, the Commerce of Kertch and of the Sea of Asoff
rapidly increased, and in 1851 not fewer than 1,000 vessels entered the Sea of Aaoff
EXPORT OF PORTER FROM DUBLIN.
The Dublin Freeman's Journal has compiled, with a considerable amount of labor,
the following statement of the total export of Porter for twelve months, from the 6th
of May, 1854, to the 4th of May, 1865 :-
Arthur Guinness, Sons & Co.
Robert Manders <& Co
Joseph Watkins <& Co
John D'Arcy A Son
P. <& J. Sweetmaii
Brenan, Price <b Ca
Fiodlater 4 Co
Hhds.
42,866
19,068
6,662
6,018
4,919
4.418
2,808
N. CaffreyA Sons..
Edward Smith wick.
Jameson, Pirn & Co.
Lynch <& Co
W. Cairns
WoolseyACo
Hhds.
839
800
667
169
128
68
87.906
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JRaUroad^ Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.
369
BRIMSTONE TRADB OF SfCILT.
The export of brimstone -from Sicily to Earope and the United States in 1858 and
1864 id gi?en in the following table : —
, 18SJ. > , 18M. .
Jan. to July to Jan. to July to
June. Dec TotaL June. Dec Total.
England cantan 8H6,522 227.272 663.749 676.U94 219,215 895,809
North France 76,838 82,282 168,116 90.977 61.870 162,347
South France 176,198 76,808 262.601 96,095 67.168 162.258
Rest of Kanipe 104.712 181,858 286.670 225,819 70,507 2rf6.82e
United Sutea 26,604 10,278 85,877 60,408 84,205 84,608
Total 718,864 627,998 1,246,857 1,137»888 452.456 1,690,848
SUGAR, COFFRE, AND IIDIOO IN JAFA.
THE rOLLOWIHO ARE TBI KSTIMATBD OROPli OF JAVA rOE THK LAST TBAE I—
Private
accuuiit
CoflTee picola 84.800
Sugar 776,000
Indigo 828,400
Govern-
Total
Total
menu
ItfM,
1853.
993.000
1,077.800
748,296
860,000
1,635.000
1,683.000
682,700
961,100
987,000
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
TAXABLE VALUE OF RAILROADS IN OHIO.
TABULAE 8TATBICBNT EXHIBITING THE TAXABLE TALUATIOIf AT WHICH THE PEOriBTT OF TSX
BAILaOAD OOSIPANIBS OK OHIO WAS BMTEEED ON THK DIJPLIOATB OP 1854, TOOKTHKE WITH
THB AMOtJ.MT OF TAXK8 OBAEORD THEREON, IN THE SEVERAL COUNTIES IN WHICH RAIL-
EOAOS ARE LOCATED, DISTINQUISHINQ BETWEEN THE TAXES FOE STATE PUEPOSES AKD
THOdE ASSESSED UNDER A LEVY BT TOWN, CITT, OE OOUNTT AUTHORITY.
Taxea for oooQ-
Total Cltj, ty, township,
Goontles. taxable town, and road, bridge, -
TaluaUon. State toxee. borough tax. poor, Slc Total taxes.
Allen ' $179,711 $637 V7 4 |5 86 2 $1,548 74 ? $2,192 08 8
Ashland... 1U3,815 86>) 54 8 68 4 669 28 0 988 85 7
Aahtttbula.. 861,894 1,284 72 4 20 88 9 1,818 96 9 8,124 08 3
Athens ... 9,887 85 09 8 48 6 80 61 7 116 20 1
Belmont ... 75.229 267 06 8 866 86 1 683 42 4
Butlt-r. 475,255 1,687 15 6 146 66 7 1,142 74 8 2.975 47 0
OarroU* ... 64.737 229 81 6 9 4 176 69 0 406 60 0
Obainpaign.. 889.984 1,206 94 8 60 00 0 1,227 06 2 2.494 00 6
GUrk 541,719 1,923 10 2 751 7L 2 1,845 15 6 4,519 96 9
Clermont... 76,846 271 02 8 49 54 8 288 97 7 609 55 8
Clinton*. .. 252,211 895 84 9 17 16 2 992 49 8 1,906 00 8
Columbiana. 596,806 2,116 88 6 128 61 6 2,041 82 6 4,281 82 7
Coshocton.. 51,800 188 89 0 800 810 484 20 0
Crawford.... 838.682 1,202 14 8 126 62 1 2,104 49 9 8.483 16 8
Cuyahoga... 1,456,818 5,171 70 4 8,007 58 8 5.166 61 9 18,845 90 6
Darke 841,399 1,211 96 6 46 20 0 1,781 87 7 8,010 08 8
Defiance ... 12.012 42 64 2 8 88 7 119 58 7 171 06 6
Delaware .. 871.535 1,818 94 5 81 51 0 8,089 15 0 4,489 60 6
Erie 745,^27 2,645 66 6 783 97 2 4,448 610 7,878 18 8
FairtieM* . . 103,522 867 60 8 14 96 4 888 84 0 760 80 7
Fajrette.. .. 70.991 252 01 8 17 41 1 851 44 8 628 87 7
Franklin ... 887.112 2,971 74 7 401 95 6 2,464 48 8 5,839 18 6
Fulton 46,878 166 39 9 762 93 4 918 88 8
Gttaoga..... 500 177 6 2 4 160 6 8 40 6
VOL. xxxni. — ^NO. ui. 24
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870
Bailroadj Ccmalj and Steamboat StatUUof.
Counties.
Greene
Guernwy • •
Hamilton ..
Bartcock . . •
Hardin ....
Harrison.. . .
Henry
Highlund .. .
Hiicking.....
Hulmeo.....
Huron.
Jackeon
Jffferfton....
Knox*
Lake
L twrence. ..
Licking*...
Lo^an
Lorain
Lucas
Ma<ison* ,.
Mahoning...
Marion ....
Mercer ...•
Miami
Montgomery
Monow... ..
Muskingum .
Ottawa.....
Pttulding. ..•
Perry
Pickaway.. .
Portage..,,
Preble*....
Putnam...,
Kicbland...
Boss
Banduhky.. •
Scioto.
Seneca ....
Shelby ....
Stark
Summit... .
TruBibull ..
Tuscarawas .
Uiiion
Vauwert ...
Vinton
"Warren ....
Wushingtoo.
"Wayne ....
l^illiams...
"Wood
'Wyandot...
Total
tsxiibFe
TaliiatiOB.
$488,850
201,608
1,500.965
85,818
899.899
265,868
19,188
42,160
11,580
1*20,558
825,082
148.472
886,854
195.954
881,882
82,428
64 8,'! 54
482.974
870,252
504,420
298.758
125,929
268 987
12,000
219,786
787,2HO
818.6*26
610.798
268.820
1,580
84,510
97.159
209.150
420,720
1.850
798.050
817.645
606,178
187,725
202,144
198,624
497,410
875,777
(»,200
804 028
188,971
26.057
17.002
450.612
27.461
557,845
7,468
149.561
296.458
State taxes.
$1,715 89 2
715 85 8
6,828 42 6
125 86 1
1.417 86 6
906 65 6
68 12 5
149 66 8
41 10 9
606 46 4
2.929 04 1
527 07 6
1.878 88 2
695 68 6
1.858 90 6
292 61 1
2.808 07 6
1,714 55 7
8.089 89 4
1.790 69 1
1,0«0 59 0
447 04 7
954 90 6
42 60 0
780 06 2
2.794 66 6
1.181 11 8
1,81."^ 88 8
952 58 6
5 42 2
122 51 0
844 91 4
742 48 2
1,498 65 6
4 79 2
2.815 82 7
1,127 28 5
2,151 98 2
666 42 4
717 61 1
706 11 6
].7ti5 SO 6
1,834 01 8
22 01 0
1,079 28 2
658 09 9
92 60 2
60 85 7
1.599 67 2
97 48 7
1,978 67 6
26 49 4
5X0 94 1
1.062 42 6
City,
town, and
boiMugli tax.
$481 90 4
54 19 8
8,667 11 0
11 61 6
22 m 0
6 94 6
161 46 6
96 69 0
21 83 8
78 10 8
122 87 0
185 86 4
667 99 8
78 88 0
1,142 06 0
88 00 0
2 19 1
24 64 0
76 ii'o
1,817 67 6
600 72*6
11 79 0
49 81 8
81 85 6
848 51 1
87 80 0
862 41 4
68 01 7
78 77 7
9 10 8
14 81 8
Sb4 75 9
1 00 0
7 99 6
6 07 6
92 6
22 88
68 84
1
0
159 00 0
Taxes of eoiin-
ty.iowiMhip,
.road, brltlHe,
poor, &e.
$1,470 68 7
784 94 4
12,456 78 1
146 64 8
2,428 72 0
1,116 00 1
178 22 8
160 45 4
84 74 0
1.028 22 8
4,576 48 7
887 12 2
1,666 81 4
767 85 6
1,689 67 6
867 88 6
2.444 76 2
1.677 26 4
4,226 84 1
5.9&6 40 6
1.072 78 2
669 18 0
988 68 8
66 4U 0
1,296 54 2
1.990 41 8
1,158 85 6
1,769 41 2
1,979 77 5
28 27 8
122 89 4
882 65 0
1.014 02 4
1,621 94 9
9 72 0
2,788 61 0
1.822 45 8.
4,846 87 5
627 29 9
875 18 7
1,283 80 6
1.862 66 6
1,846 16 8
27 86 0
1,504 47 8
888 86 7
277 26 8
105 89 6
1,896 81 6
128 66 0
1,696 92 5
55 97 0
2.182 47 8
1,656 68 2
Total taxes.
$8.6'«8 48 S
1.654 49 0
21,452 81 7
282 62 4
8.868 68 6
2,022 66 7
241 84 8
810 12 8
76 84 9
1.655 68 8
7.656 98 Z
1.864 19 8
8,186 88 6
1.486 88
8.116 58
788 35
4.988 69
4,059 81
7,894 61
8.889 14
2.166 87
1.018 41 8
1,9(.8 18 Z
99 00
2.158 19
6,602 76
2.289 97
4.088 47
2,944 10
28 71
245 40
7^7 88
1.888 86
8,115 60
14 61
6.902 44 8
2.487 64 S
6.860 72 I
1.261 74 0
1.666 52 6
1 997 62 4
8.6SS 28 4
8,044 98 0
50 87 0
2,588 76 0
1,549 46 8
875 84 5
166 67 8
8496 98 7
143 97 8
8,788 84 0
82 46 4
8.872 41 4
2.708 05 8
ToUl, 1854. $28,878,877 $84,770 01 4 $21,581 21 6 $115,770 90 2 $222,122 18 1
ToUl, 1858. 17.591.898 89,718 68 6 I2,b04 12 8 100,2x5 94 6 202,748 70 4
Id the counties marked that (*) the penalty of 60 per oent ia ioduded in the tax-
able ▼aloatioo.
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JUuIroady Canal^ and Steamboat SiaH$iks. 3)1
FRE10EIT OYER THS PfiMSTLFAHIi RAILROAD.
We compile, from the official etateroent, tbe entire tonnage of the PemisjlTtnia
Railroad fur 1868 and 1864. We Uke tbe toUl of eadi claw of freight^ from first to
ibarth, botb inclueive. The toaoage is gireii in pounds : —
COMPARATITI STATBMCMT Of THE FBMNSTLYAIflA BAILROAD TONNAOV FOB 1868 AND 1864.
Bent from Phlladefphta ReoeWed at Philadelphia
s to PiUttbuivh. I'rom PitUtoofKh.
18^4. 1861. 1864. im.
Total first class 46.982,640 48.044.036 8,487.666 2,268.401
second 22,977.912 17,086.824 11.087.660 8.984,118
tiard 8.667,662 6,816.885 21.101,680 9,280,964
fourth 17,657.124 2,207,778 72,026,149 67.151,181
During year 89,986.838 77,674,604 107,651,906 77,674,604
Sent from Phi]ad«lph<a Received si PhUadetphIa
k> way sUiiuns. from way atmluDii.
18)4. 1861. 1864. 1861.
Total first class 6,897.800 4.650.423 2,016,897 2,049.486
second • 8,707.412 9,833,668* 4.710,706 1.971,958
third 6,934,798 8,844,904 3,526.209 6.041,400
fourth 6.0h2,008 8,476,290 85,679,»84 7,580,264
Duringyear 26.682.018 21,305.285 95,983,156 87,593,158
The increase over 1858, it will be perceived, is enormous— tbe freight sent frem
Philadelphia to Pittf>burgh showing an increase of 12,260.784 pounds; to way stations
an iocrea»e of 4,926,788 pounds; from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia 29,977,801 pounds;
and from way stations 58,839,998 pounds — total increase. 107,504,766 pounds. The
tonnage between tbe different way stations exhibits an increase of 78,422,579 pounds
— making a grand total of 180,927,845 pounds freight more carried on the road in
1854 than in 1858.
BARIffNOS OF RAILROADS IJS 1854 AIVD 1855.
The following is a comparison of the earnings of some twenty different railways for
tbe first six months of tbe years 1854 and 1855 : —
\m 1864.
Bellefontaine and Indiana $184 428 $111,214 Inc. $28,209
BiUiimore Mnd Ohio 1,886,807 1,922.799 Dec S6,49a
Baltimore and Ohio Washington Branch. . . 219.519 181,983 Inc. 87,586
Chicago and (lock Uland 579.008 552,636 Inc. 26.867
Cleveland and Pittsburgh 236,275 226,621 Inc. 9,654
ClevelHud and Toledo 442,768 888.988 Inc. 108.786
New York and Erie 2,645.350 2,571,168 Inc. 74.197
Oalvna and Chicago 898.398 526.015 Inc. 872 383
Hud:M»o River. .« 954.562 928.1)72 Inc. 26,490
Illinois Cfotral 516.900 New
ludiiuiapolis and Cincinnati 176,438 1 1 9.865 Inc. 56.568
Michigan Central 1.278,689 86(»,788 Inc. 417,901
Michigan Southern <fr Kortbem Indiana .... 1,184.480 944,202 Inc. 240.228
Milwaukie and Mi«<siB8ippi 256,91 9 125,425 Inc. 80.494
Macon and Western . .' 158.255 165,077 Dea 11JB22
New York and Harlem 502,619 452.876 Inc. 49.748
New York Cfntral 8,067,528 2,669,058 Inc. 498.470
Norwich and W«rt-cesUr 185.870 150,580 Dec 15,160
Ohio and Pennsylvania 577.675 445,859 Inc. 182,216
Pacific (MitMuuri) 76.864
SUNjington 122,866 128,614 Dec. 6,248
With few exceptioos^ it will be seen, tbera has been a eoosiderable increaaf as ooa-
pared with last year.
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3^2 Hailroady Canal, and Steamboat StatUUa,
THE COOTSACT SYSTEM Off TR IVEW TORI CAWALS.
Daring ibe past winter William J. MoAlpixk, E^^ late State engineer, and other
assoctatee, made a proposition to the Senate to keep the canals of the State in repair
for |70«».000 per annum; $432,000 less than the codt of repairs for the previous year.
This general proposition was not accepted, but a partial trial of the system has been
made on section No. 1 of the Erie OAual. Thia section, eighteen miles long, has now
been under trial since the openifig of the canal this season, under responsible cootract-
ors, and has been found to operate in the most ' satisfitctory manner. The repairing
for this section during each of the previous three years cost flOO.OOO, and the contract
was taken to keep it in repair for five years for |4S,000 per annum — saving to the
State $57,000 each year. This section has been kept in better condition, and boats
have experienced less delay and trouble in passing the locks than during any former
year.
The following is an extract from a recent report of the State Oanal Board on the
contract system, and shows what its members think of it : — .
** The continually-increa^ng cost of the canal repairs admonishes us that this lavish
expenditure must be arrested, and greater economy exercised in their management^
or their revenues will be soon entirely swept away.
** The results of the experiment of letting the repairs by contract are thus far of
the moet encouraging character, and affords strong sroonds of hope and belief that it
will ultimately be found to be the only system under which the canals of our State
can be made productive of revenue."
KIII6SW00D TUffilEL OF THE BALTIMORE AUD OHIO RAILROAD.
This tunnel is 4,100 feet in length, cut through slate rock, the excavation being 28
feet in width, to accommodate two tracks. The side walls are of solid masonry, laid
in cement, and extend ten feet above the tracks. About 8,000 feet of the tunnel will
require arching. For more than 2,000 feet the side walls are now completed, and are
being rapidly extended for the remaining l/)00 feet The ardi is to be composed of
brick for the greater portion, and of iron for some 1,800 feet The iron arching is
already nearly completed, about 1,000 feet having been placed in the weakest and
most troublesome parts of the work. The greater portion of the weak section of the
tunnel which had been interrupting the business of the road during the month of
Joly is embraced in this, and is now permanently secured. The iron castings which
form the arch are in two pieces, each three feet wide, and strengthened by broad lati-
tadinal ribs. Each piece weighs one ton, making some 900 tons of iron in the 1,800
feet This forms a very substantial as well as a novel ceiling.
MERCHAHDISE IH BOND TO PASS OV THE GREAT WE8TERV RAILROAD.
The Washington Union states, on the authority of the Treasury Department, that
merchandise in bond may be allowed to pass over the Great Western Railroad, fh>m
the port of withdrawal to its port of destination in the United States, through that
part of Canada between Niagara and Detroit, only in United States bonded cars,
«onhtructed and secured in the manner hereinafter prescribed ; the cars to be locked
on their departure from the port of withdrawal, the collector at that port retaining
one key, and unlocked only at the port of destination, the collector of the latter being
provided with another key. The conductors appointed as inspectors of the revenue
by the collectors at Detroit and Niagara, under the authority heretofore given by this
Department, to take charge of baggage and freight ctrs in transit over the Oanaditn
•ectioo of the roate fromrooe port to another in the United States, wiH have also the
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Journal of Insurance. 873
charge of the United States bonded care, and will be reqaired to see that the locks
and faBtenioge remain undisturbed, and will be provided with a manifest, as required
in other cases of transportation in bond, to be delivered to the collector at the port of
destination, and on which they will duly certify that the bonded cars have not been
opened, nor any access to their contents had on the route.
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.
UW OF IBTSCRAVCE COUPAIIIES Iff HEW HAMPSHIRE.
The following act in relation to insurance companies in the State of New Harop-
Bhire was paseed at the last session of the Legislature of that State, and approved by
the Governor July 11th, 1856. It takes effect from and after its passage, and is of
course now in force : —
AN ACT IN BILATION TO IN8UBAN0I OOMPANim.
SxonoN 1. Be it enacted, dtc^ That the directora of any insurance company incor-
porated by the laws of this State may appoint such agent or agents for the purpose
of taking applications for insurance, as they may from time to time deem expedient,
under the following limitations and directions: —
Sbo. 2. Such directors before appointing any sneh agent or agents, shall fix and
limit the fees to be paid to him or them by the applicdnts fur the taking of applica-
tions, and the cash premium to be paid by the applicant for insurance and in pay for
the policy ; and every policy issued upon an application shall state the fees for the
application, amount for the policy, and cash premium that should, by the rules so fixed
by the directors, be paid prior to, or on receipt of such policy.
Sso. 8. The directors shall, upon appointing any agent or agents, prescribe to him
or them the town or towns in which he may take applications, and shall specify the
same in the citmmission issued to him, and no agent shall be permitted to take any
application except in the town or towns named in his commission, nor shall any com-
pany appoint more than two agents in a county to take applications other than in the
town in which the agent resides.
Sec. 4. Every agent appointed by any board of directors under the provisions of
this act shall, t>efore taking any application, give a bond to the company, with good
and sufiittient sureties to the satisfaction of the directors, conditioned fur the payment
of all premiums due from the agent to the company, and to repiy upon demnnd any
further or larger fees received by him than the rules of said directors prescribe ; and
such bond may be sued in the name of such c«)in|iany fir the benefit of any perfton
Irom whom any money has been taken contrary to said rules, and if any company shall
neglect to take such bond from any agent, said company shall be directly liable to the
person from whom such agent shall take any money contrary to said ru1e<i, and the
form of action in such cases may be assumpsit for mouey had and received, or a special
action on the case, at the election of the party.
Sko. 6. Any corporation or individual that shall violate any of the provisions of this
act shall, for each offense, in addition to the liabilities before specified, be sulject to a
fine of not less than $50 nor more than $200.
Sec. 6. No policy issued by any insurance company upon any application taken by
any such agent shall be void by reason of any error, mistake, or misrepresentation,
ODless it shall appear to have been intentionally and fraudulently made ; but said com-
pany may, in any action brought against them on said pt^licy, file in offt^;t any claim
for damages which they shall have actuully suffered thereby, and the jury may
deduct from the claims of the plaintiff the amount of said damages as ihey shall
find it.
Sio. 7. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are
hereby repealed.
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3f 4 J[cumal €f Insurance^
TAXES OH INSURAilCS COMPAIIES 15 OHIO.
TABULAR STATBVSIIT SXIIBITIKO THE TAXABLK TALUATION AT WBIOH THE PBOFEBTT OV
THE 1N6UBAN0B OOMPANIGS Of OHIO, ANP Of TUB A<9BNCJBS OF FORBION IMSUBAMOE OOM-
PANIE8, WAS BNTKEED ON TUB DUPUOATE OF 1864, TOOETUBE WITH TUB AMOUNT OF
TAXES OHAEOED THEEEON IN TUB SKVBEAL OOUNTIBS IN WHICH BAID 0OMPAMB8 AND
AOENOIBB AEE LOCATED, DlSTINOUlttUINO BETWBBN THE TAXES FOB STATE PUEFOSBS AND
THOSE ASSESSED UNDER A LEVY BY TOWN, CITY, AND COUNTY AUTHORITr : —
TouU City, town, Taxes for couoiv,
Uxable and borough township, road,
Coonttes. Yaluadua. State taxes. uxes. pour, etc Total taxes. .
Ashland $2,600 $8 87 6 $10 00 0 $18 60 0 137 87 5
Ashtabula 2,464 8 74 7 9 82 7 18 67 4
Athens 140 49 7 10 5 174 8 2 84 6
BrowD 2,200 7 86 9 ' 16 40 0 16 29 S 38 66 2
Butler* 4,747 18 86 2 27 78 5 9 17 8 68 816
Champaign 66,680 201 14 8 ' 169 98 0 184 14 5 656 26 8
Olark 4.714 16 78 8 87 712 14 87 9 68 82 4
CkrmoDi 6,604 28 08 9 5 61 8 17 61 S 46 22 0
Columbiana 14,009 49 78 8 9 80 6 94 66 2 164 10 0
Cuj^ahoga 166,704 688 24 9 1,864 17 0 847 97 8 2,800 89 7
Erie* 24,216 85 96 6 94 60 4 172 88 6 862 86 6
Fairfield* 6,708 28 79 6 14 24 4 86 42 1 74 46 1
Franklm 26.429 98 82 2 86 89 2 104 89 7 284 11 I
Himilton 508,422 1,787 14 8 8,231 96 9 8,418 00 1 8,482 11 8
Harrison 104 86 9 10 4 66 2 1 12 5
Highland. 240 85 2 24 0 99 6 2 08 8
JefiE^nwn 8,820 18 54(1 1146 0 24 68 9 49 66 0
Knox 1,691 5 64 6 6 86 4 6 44 6 18 85 6
Lake 8,182 1129 6 1118 8 8 48 1 80 86 6
Lawrence 687 2 26 0 8 60 8 8 82 1 9 58 4
Licking 2,278 8 08 7 15 77 8 10 014 88 87 4
Logan 200 710 50 0 144 0 2 65 0
Lucas 80,080 284 28 4 1,199 24 6 797 86 6 2,280 89 6
Medina 4,184 14 67 5 18 89 7 88 07 ft
l&iami . 8,142 1115 2 10 67 0 ^ 82 85 0 54 17 2
Montgomery... 5,182 18 89 6 84 45 9 10 62 1 68 47 6
Moskmgum..... 19,777 70 21 8 142 89 1 84 05 6 296 66 6
Pickaway 2,198 7 78 6 6 57 9 14 68 4 28 94 9
Portage 940 8 38 6 8 76 0 8 99 5 11 09 1
Preble 678 2 88 8 2 019 4 17 4 8 58 1
Eichland* 5,204 18 47 8 86 42 7 15 87 5 70 27 6
Ross 14,632 5194 6 6146 4 94 87 4 207 77 4
Sandusky 484 176 7 8 19 4 2 66 5 7 616
Scioto 8,174 1126 6 26 97 8 7 77 9 46 02 8
Seneca 100 86 5 76 0 410 1516
Stark 9,478 88 64 6 87 910 48 88 7 119 89 6
Summit 2,966 10 49 0 11 66 4 11 81 6 82 45 9
TrumbuU 1,614 6 87 8 8 02 8 7 10 4 16 510
Tuscarawas..... 533 189 2 3 012 4 90 4
Warren 1,486 5 27 2 7 46 8 12 78 6^
Washington 1,263 4 44 8 10 64 4 5 76 9 20 86 1
Wayne* 667 2 86 7 2 00 I 5 78 6 10 10 4
Wood 864 8 06 7 12 96 0 19 89 7 86 42 4
Total in 1864. $990,928 $8,617 79 4 $7,122 29 2 $5,690 12 7 $16,880 21 8
Totalml868. 897.064 4,674 ^$ 5 7,161 75 9 5,885 98 8 17,112 68 0
In the coontieB marked thus (*) the penalty of 50 per cent is included in the taxaUii
valuation. ^^^
THE IffSURANCB LAW OF KEOTUCKT.
BROM THE 8TATDTB LAW ADOPTED IN 1840 AND REVISED IN 1850.
Ssa 1. The tax on an agent of any insurance company or association of individuals,
acting without the authority of an act of incorporation granted by the Commonwealtli
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SkttisHei qf P&ptUaiion^ etc. 8)5
of Kentucky, to effect insaraoce fts^mt loss or damaee of an j Irind to^life or property,
00 w^ter ur oo Un I, in or out of tbU Oiimm mvrealth, in any way or manner, or on
agencies to jo^raot annuities, shall be two dollari and fifty cents npon each one hun Ired
doll era of the premium rec-^t^ed or agreed to be received by sach agent or other per-
eoQ fi>r him for insurance effected or up m policies gr mted.
Sco. 2. The asrents referred t<V in the foregoing section shall, on the first Mondays in
May and Ifavember in each year, file with the Clerk of the County Court of the countr
in which he resides and tran^ets business, a true and correct lift and statement of all
tuch premiums received or agreed to be received within the six months next preceding,
Terifidd by his path before the clerk, and p ly to the clerk the tax aforesaid.
Tbe agent or person who violates any of the provisions of this and the preceding
■action, or fails to comply with the same, besides the amount of tax, shall forfeit and
l>ay one thousand dollars; and the principals of such agents shill also be liable to the
ike penalty, and may be proceeded agiinst by proper remedies in law or equity,
whereby to secure and compel the payment of the same.
Ei
STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c.
RESULTS OF THE CElfSUS OF GREAT BRITiI]l.
RUMiaa viiL
GBfflBAL BXSULTt Or THE Oimua.
The inquiry exhibits, up to the present time, the area and the population of every
county, town, parish, township, or place, having a defined boundary, at the date of
each of the six censuses that have been taken smce the year 1801, as well as the pro-
portions of the sexes and the rate of increase of the p«)pulation. The constituent parts
of the English family are then indicated, as well as the proportional numbers of fami-
lies to dwellings. The distribution of houses and of towns of various orders over the
country is shown ; the populations of the towns and of the country are separately enu-
merated. The density and proximity of the population, on the hypothesis of equal
distribuiioQ, are set forth. The origin of the territorial divisions is discussed. The
population of each of the islands in the British archipelago is stated. An account is
rendered of the changes and the population of the ancient sub iivisions of the country ;
their irregularities are pointed out ; and the iniptness of the hundred, for modern pur-
poses, is recognized. The subdivision of the counties into districts, or unions, and sub-
districts, under the acts f jr the amendment of the poor law and for the registration of
births deaths, and marriages, is described, by which, with the addition of the small
districts which were allotted to each enumerator in taking the census, a series is
fiormed of nine orders of territorial division, each including all that precede it — house,
enumeration district, township (or parish,) subdistrict, district (or union,) county, di-
vision, country — as England and Wales, or Scotland, and, finally, Great Britain.
The moi>t important result which the inquiry ei^tablishes is the addition, in half a
century, of ten millions of people to the Britisih population. The increase of popula-
tiou in the half of this century nearly equals Uie increase in all preceding ages ; and
the addition in the last ten years of two millions three hundred thousand to the ia-
habitants of these isUuids, exceeds the increase in the last fifty years of the eighteenth
century.
Contemporaneously with the increase of the population at home, emigration has
proceeded, since 1750, to such an extent as to people large States in America, and to
give permanent possessors and cultivators to the land of large colonies in all the tem-
perate regions of the world, where, by a common language, commercial relations, and
the multiplied reciprocities of industry, the people of the new nations maintab an in-
dissoluble union with the parent country. Two other movements of the population
have been going on in the United Kingdom — the immigration of the population of
Ireland into Great Britain, and the constant fiow of the country population into the
towns. The current of the Celtic miration is now diverted from these shores, and
chiefly flows in the direction of the United States of America, where the wanderers
find friends and kindred. The movement of the country population to the towns
went on unnoticed by the earlier writers, and it has never yet been clearly exhibited ;
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876 Statistics of Population, etc.
•
bat it is believed that the tables of the birthplace of the inhabitaDts of the towns and
coanlries will determine its extent and chariicter. It b a peculiarity of this move-
ment in these latter times that it Is directed to new points, where the towns engage
in a manufacture as one vast undertaking, in which nearly the whole population it
concerned, as well as to the county towns and to London.
Amidst all these great and unexampled changes in the population, two questions
arise of great importance : ** Can the population of Great Britain be sustained at the
rate of emigration which is now going on, and which will probably be continued for
many years !" To assist in solving this problem, the new question of ** matrimonial
condition " will enable us to show, in the final publication, the comparative numbers
of unmarried and married men and women in the country at each age of life in each
district The solution of a different question of equal difficulty and importance. ** Can
the population of England be profitably employed T will be facilitated by the new
classification of the people at each a^e, according to their occupations.
It is one of the obvious physical effects of the increase of population, that the pro-
portion of land to each person diminishes ; and the decrease is such that within the
last fifty years the number of acres to each person living has fallen from 6.4 to 2.7
acres in Great Britain ; from four to two acres in England and Wales. As a counter-
Tailing advantage, the people have been brought into each other's neighborhood ; their
average distance from each other has been reduced in the ratio of 8 to 1) ; labor has
been divided; industry has been organized in towns; and the quantity of produce,
either consisting of or exchangeable for the conveniences, elegancies, and necessaries
of life, has. in the mass, largely increased, and is increasing at a more rapid rate than
the population.
One of the moral effects of the increase of the people is an increase of their mental
activity, as the aggregation in towns brings them ottener into combination and col-
lision. The population of the towns is not so completely separated in England as it
is in some other countries from the population of the surrounding country ; for the
walls, gates, and castles which were destroyed in the civil wars, have never been re-
built, and the population has outgrown the ancient limits, while stone lines of demar-
cation have never been drawn around the new centers of population; tolls have been
collected since a very early period in the market- places, but the system of octroi, in-
volving the examination by customs officers of every article entering within the pre-
cincts of the town, has never existed. The freemen in £ome of the towns enjojed, an-
ciently, exclusive privileges of trading, but the freedom could always be acquired by
the payment of fines; and by the great measure of Municipal Reform (1885) every
town has been thrown open to settlers from every quarter. At the same time, too,
that the populations of the towns and of the country have become so equally balanced
in number — ten millionsand-a-half against ten millions- and-ahalf— the union between
them has become, by yie circumstances that have led to the increase of the towns,
more intimate tlian it was before ; for they are now connected together by innumerable
relationships, as well as by the associations of trade.
It will be seen in the final publication, that a large proportion of the population in
the market towns, the county towns, the manufacturing towns, and the metropolis,
was born in the country ; and that in England town and country are bound together
not only by the intercourse of Commerce and the interchange of mtelligence, but by a
thousand ties of blood and affection. -
The town and the country populations are now so intimately blended, that the same
administrative arrangements easily apply to the whole kingdom.
The vast system of towns, in whicn half the population lives, has its peculiar dan-
gers, which the high mortality and the recent epidemics reveal. Extensive sanitary
arrangements, and all the appliances of physical as well as of social science, are neces-
sary to preserve the natural vigor of the population, and to develop the inexhaustible
resources of the English race. The crowding of the people in houses in close streets,
and the consequent dissolution of families, arising out of defective house accommoda-
tion, are evils -vhich demand attentive consideration.
The activity of the intelligence and religious feelings of the people has led to an
increased demand for instruction and for places of public worship, llie extent to
which this demand has been met has hitherto been imperfectly known, and is not
easily determined ; but we believe, that as far as the inquiry can be prosecuted in a
statistical form, the returns ref pecting schools, literary institutions, churches, chapels,
and congregations, will throw much light upon the educational institutions and the
■piritual condition of the people of Great Britain.
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Statistics of PopuJatum^ etc. 877
SMIGBlTIOiV FROM GREAT BRITAIV.
It appears by Uie Fifteeoth Oeueral Report of the Colonial Land and Emiprration
Oommieaiooers, dated SOtk of August, 1854, lately, printed by order of the British
Parliament, that daring the forty years between January, 1816, and December, 1854,
the whole number of emigrants who left the United Kingdom was 4,11 6,958, of which
iramber nearly three-fifths emigrated during the last eight years, and nearly one-third
in the last four years.
The total number who emigrated in 1864 was less than in the two preceding years.
The following table will show the destinations to which the emigration has fallen off,
and the extent of the decrease : —
British North United Auatrallan Other
Yean. America. Stales. Coloiites. plHcen. TotaL
1862 , 32.878 244,261 87,881 8,749 868,764
1863 84,622 230,886 61,401 8.129 829,937
1864 43,761 193,066 83,287 8,866 823,429
The great decrease is in the emigration to America, and almost entirely in the num-
ber of Irish. 01 the emigrants who left the United Kingdom in 1863, there were
192,609 Irish, but in 1864 only 160,209.
The Commissioners examine the causes of this falling off in the Irish emigration. A
decrease to some extent, they say, might ha?e been expected under any circumstances,
from the reduction which* took place in (he population between 1841 and I860, viz.:
from 8,176,134 to 6,616,796, followed by an emigration in the next three years, which
must have left the population uf Ireland at the beginning of 1864 at little more than
6,000,000. But this does not sufficiently account for the change. The decrease can-
not, it seems, be explained by any falling off in the funds applicable to emigration, as
the Commissioners found that the amounts remitted through the banke^ and mer-
chants, who supplied him with inibrmation on the subject, were in 1864 larger than in
any previous year. The Commissioners reproduce the returns since they first obtained
them — •* a testimony of generosity and self-denial unparalleled in the world." The
amounts were in —
1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. 18J!. 18SJ. 1851.
£460,000 £640,00(» £967.000 £990,000 £1,404,000 £1,439,000 £1,730,000
The real causes of the decrease are to be found, the Commissioners believe, "* m the
improved position of the laboring classes in Ireland ; and secondly, though in a less
degree, in the diminution of employment in the United States, arising from ihe recent
commercial crisis, and to some extent also in the operations of the ' Know Nothing '
party."
The Commissioners infer that the secondary causes alluded to have had some effect
in stopping emigration, from the effect they produced on those who had already reached
the United States. ** In former years the human current flowed only one way ; b the
last year a considerable return current has set in." During 1864, the number of emi-
grants who returned from the United States to Liverpool alone amounted to no less
than 12,678.
With respect to the general emigration to Australia, it appears that there sailed
from Great Britain for Australia in 1864, exclusive of ships chartered by the Com-
missioners, 162 passenger ships, carrying 35,949 passengers. In addition to which,
there were 871 ships, (not carrying a sufficient number to bring them under the Pas-
sengers* Act,) carrying 6,228 passengers.
The emigration carried on to the Australian Colonies by the Board of Commission-
ers, and at the expense of the government, in 1864, was as follows:— 127 ships, car-
rying 41,066 passengers. The total emigration to Australia in 1864 was 88,287 aoub,
conveyed in 650 ships.
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POPDUTIOV, DWEIXmOS, AID FAMILIES Iff KEW TOBK.
The following table, made up from the returns of the Marshals, exhibits the Dom-
ber of people, dwellings, and families, and the average number of families to each
dwelling in the several wards of the city of New York :—
Av. No,
At. No.
(umilies
fomilies
to a
toa
Ward
B. Popalailoii. DwelllDgs. FarolUes. house.
Warda.
Popnlatfon. Dwelllnga.
Families, house.
^
18.268
699
2,708
8*
12.
18,461
1,776
2,808 H
2.'
8.249
298
448
li
18.
26,298
1,787
6.471 8i
8.
7,000
. • • •
. . . •
14.
24.000
. • • •
.... • •
4.
28,660
1,177
4,690
*'i
16.
23,776
2,269
8,685 1{
5.
21,661
1.691
4.246
H
16.
40,680
8,059
8,180 H
6.
28.689
1,270
6,099
H
17.
60,962
8,479
12,626 8t
•7.
82606
2,488
6,861
2*
18.
89,861
2,689
7,661 8
8.
84,612
2,660
7.109
n
19.
40,000
• • . •'
.... • •
9.
87,069
8,849
7,788
}
20.
46,925
2,927
10,096 8|
10.
26,000
....
. • . •
• .
21.
20,476
2,865
6,065 2f
11.
68,834
2,498
11,087
H
22.
28,078
2,882
4,867 2i
The average number of persons to a family in the respective wards may be ascer-
tained by dividing the population by the families. Thus, for example, in the Seven-
teenth Ward, the largest in population, numbering 60,952 souls, according to the re-
turns, there are 8,479 dwellings and 12,626 families^-whicfi averages some eighteen
people, and four families to each house, and about Awe persons to each family. In
this ward, however, as in some others, there are dwellings whose occupants may be
counted by fifties and by hundreds, crowded together as on shipboard. In the Fifteenth,
the aristocratic ward, par excelUnee, the people number 28,776, the houses 2,269, and
the families 8,686, being an average of about three families to every two bouses, and
something over an average of six persons to each family.
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
PUBLICATIOV RESPECTING THE MARKING OF THE WESER CHANNEL.
The Chamber of Commerce of Bremen, referring to the publication of the 20th of
July last, respecting the alteration in the marking of the channel of the mouth of the
Weser, hereby informs all whom it may concern that the alteration of the first Weeer
Key Buoy, announced in said publication, has taken place : —
"The Weser Key Buoy, lying in the mouth of the Weser, (the first buoy on enter*
ing,) and which was formerly painted red, has been taken away, and in the place
thereof a buoy of similar form and designation, but painted black, haa been laid
down."
The Chamber of Commerce farther informs all whom it may concern that, in conse-
quence of the laying down of buoys, which has lately been completed, the following
alterations have taken place in the marking of the channel of the Weser >—
** a. The first white outside buoy in the new channel, which was marked No. 1, and
which lay at the extreme point of the red lands, has been removed.
** 6. In place thereof a oUck buoy has been laid down, but somewhat more to Um
northward and further inwards."
This buoy is marked A, and lies in seven fathoms at low water. The bearinga
thereof are as follows : —
The steeple of Wangerooge, S. W. by W. i W. The red A, or Pear Booy, 3. W.
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JfauHcal Intelligence. 879
by|W. TbechurchatWBn8eo,S.b3r W.4 W. The White Buoy, Na 1, S. E. The
Weaer Key Buoy, W. | N.
Ships coming from the northward, and sailing towards the Black Buoy, marked A,
will hare to steer their course south-east from this buoy through the new channel.
"e. The white buoys, formerly marked with Nosl 2, 8, 4, and 6, are now nuurked
with Nfie. 1. 2, 3. and 4.
**d. North-easterly from the White Buoj, No. 1, (formerly Na 2,) lying in the new
channel, a black buoy has been laid down.*^
This buoy is marked B, and lies in six-and-a-half fathoms at low water. The bear-
ings are as follows : —
The steeple of Wangerooge, W. 8. W. i W. The White Buoy, No. 1. a W. | W,
The church at Btinsen, S. S. W. i W. The Black Buoy A, W. N. W. i W.
The soundings are in English measure.
PRI5CES CHA55EL| ENTRANCE TO THE THAMES.
Trinitt HoDfB* LoMDOH, Msj 30, 1855.
It having been considered advisable that the alterations hereinafter specified should
take place in the positions of the light vessels, and also in the buoya^^e of the Princes
Channel, notice is hereby given that the same will take place on or about the first of
August next; that is to say, as respecta Light Vesseb, the Tongue Light Vessel will
be removed about seven cables N. W. by W. from her present position ; and the Gird-
ler Light Vessel about three cables S. i W. from her present position, juid on the
sane Une of bearing from the Maplin Light as at present. And as respects the
buoyage — a buoy, colored red, to be called ** West Oirdler," will be laid on the S. W.
end of the Girdier Sand ; and a buoy, checkered black and white, to be called ^ East
Tongue," will be laid on the east end of the Tongue Sand, as a day mark for the en-
trance to the Queen's Channel
Further particulars will be published as toon as the said alterations have been car-
•ried into effect By order,
J. HERBEnT, decretary.
niED LIGHT AT GIJON, NORTH COAST OF SPAIN.
The Spanish government has given notice that on the 16th June last, 1865, a fixed
light, of the natural color, wimM be exhibited in the vicinity of the Hermitage of
Santa Catallna, near the entrance of the port of Gijon, in the province of Ovledo, od
the north coast of Spain.
The height of the light is 170 feet above the level of the sea, and it will be visiUe
from the deck of a ship from ten to twelve miles in clear weather. The position of
the light tower is in latitude 48° 86' 18" north ; longitude, 6° 87' 46" west of Green-
wich.
' JOHN WASHINGTON, Hydrograpber.
BrDaooRAFHic OpncB, ADMiaALTV, LoirDON, July 10, 1856.
This notice affects the following Admiralty Charts :— Bay of Biscay, Na 64 ; Gijon
Bay, Na 77 ; and Spanish Lighthouse List, No. 165, (a.)
FIXED U6HT AT MARSEILLE, SOUTH COAST OF FRANCE.
The French government has given notice, that on and after the Ij^th August next,
a fixed red light will be exhibited on the tower recently erected on the southern head
of the mole of the Port de la Joliette, at Marseille. The light stands at an elevation
of 81 feet above the level of the sea, and will be visible at a distance of 8 miles, io
clear weather. The tower is in latitude 48® 17' 66" N., longitude b^ 21' 26" W. of
Greenwich.
JOBN WASHINGTON, Hydrographer.
flTDaooaApHXo Opnoa, Admiralty, London, July St7, 1855.
This notice affects the following Admiralty Charts: — Mediterranean, General, No.
2,168; Palamos to Ventimiglia, No. 1,188; Banduff to Riou Isle, No. 149; Port of
Marseille, No. 160; — also Mediterranean Lighthouse List, 81a.
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380 Journal of Mining and Manufactures,
THE MARITIME DISASTERS OF 1854.
E. Merriam, the indefatigable gatherer of facts and figures, has been employed for
seven months in compiling the accounts of shipwreck and loss of life and property on
the ocean in the year 1664 — his manuscript pages already number 1«245, exclusive of
those of a large volume covered by the Index. The number of vessels which have
been lost or injured are 6,882, exclusive of steamers and boats upon the lakes and
rivers yet to be added, which will probably swell the aggregate to about 6,000. The
loss of life has been very- great, and will exceed 9,000 persons, and the loss of proper-
ty may be set down in the round sum of forty millions of dollars.
The several and respective cases of loss are being classified and arranged under
separate heads, embracing losses by fire from lightning, from spontaneous combustion,
and from other causes, loss by ice, by collision, by steam, Ac
JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
THE LIFE-SHIP— PROPOSED TO BE PATENTED.
2b Freeman Hunt, Editor Merchants^ Magazine: —
Sir : — It k established in the history of marine architecture, that the first or simple
principle of 'floating bodies is immutable as a law in nature, and can be subjected to
DO change, whether we consider the raft, the canoe, the river boat or the baiige,
when navigation in its infancy was limited to the mouths of rivers and the indented
bays or creeks of a home coast, or contemplate the noble fleets of commercial enterprise
equipped to encounter the stormy seas and oceans of the world. In all the same
principle remains, and that is aerostation ib its weight, volume, and active resistance •
of any force to which it could be subjected.
Air although invisible b known to be a substance possessing the properties 6f matter*
It is impenetrable, ponderable, compressible, dilatable, and in every state perfectly
elastic. It acquires force in proportion to its compression ; and, unlike all other bodies,
its elasticity is increased in proportion to its weight, when brought in contact with
any resisting body. It is 816 times lighter than its own bulk in water. At a meao
temperature, 1,000 cubic inches weighs 805 grains; and it is remarkable, that while
it presents itself as the most powerful and secure agent of navigation under control,
that it has never been studied but in connection with the construction of a ship's sails:
science dire<:ting all its energies to improvement in the huU^ so far as relates to
strength, capacity, and symmetry, without reference to that available power which,
akillfully employed, not only affords a positive and reliable security to ship, cargo
and human life, but also a sensible reduction in the wear and tear of sails and rigging,
and a greatly increased speed in traversing the waters.
It is not contemplated to question strength and beauty of model on which practical
akill and science have been so successfully elaborated, more particularly in our own
country, with an ardency and zeal unrivaled, but to point out the means by whidi
those majestic works of mechanic art may be protected in their strength, against the
destructive storms and tempests of elemental warfare — a protection only to be found,
in a graduated diminution of resistance ; that is, by infusing a lifefulness to the ship's
timbers ; in other words, a power of respiration, corresponding with the action of the
wind upon the sails, or motive power of the steam engine.
It is self evident on inquiry into the nature of causes and effects, that nothing can
be more erroneous than the system of counterbalancing buoyancy by ballast, without
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Journal of Mining and Manufactures, S81
aoy adequate proTisioo of a ooanterrailing power, bj which its downward or BinkiDg
pressure in excess, might be checked or restrained in a heavy swell of the sea, with a
strong gale straining on the canvas. The object of ballast is to reduce so much of
buoyancy as,is necessary to seat the floating body with a consistent draught or hold
upon the waters, securing a trim riding under sail, preventive of pitching and rolling
in stress of weather, and keeling over in a storm. Now these are the real objects of
ballast and the balancing of cargo ; and it must be admitted on all hands, by nautical
men, that the means are not perfectly adequate to the end. Ballasting is necessary,
but the positive counteraction of its baneful influences imperative: to which I have
directed my attention for many years. By my process, which is that of aerostation
by certain horizontal cylinders so placed as, in connection with the kelson, to form a
perfect triangle, and certain stancheons so arranged fore and aft as a lifting power,
with certain other auxiliary aids not stationary, but immediately available under any
emergency. All those ends can be answered which will expedite sailing or steaming
under any stress of weather, with the most perfect security against foundering at sea,
by collision, or wrecking on shore with the loss of cargo and life.
In the firbt place, my horizontal cylinders are so disposed of as to become suspen-
Mve and adjustive ; and they will prevent the possibility of the ship or other vessel
pitching or rolling in a storm. Preserving a due and equal balancing power, their
action must be consistent with the natural laws of elasticity and fluidity, immutable to .
change, as found in the rebound or regressing motion of antagonistic bodies impinging
on each other and retreating with elas^c force.
In the second place, that elasticity, which is in fact buoyancy restored without di-
minishing the ship's necessary draught, assimilates the action of the hull with the wind
in the sail, and available to the orders of the ship's master, either of crowding or
taking in sail as circumstances may require.
' In the third place, a sailing ship so constituted and appointed could not fail, head
wmds and dead calms alone excepted, of making the shortest trips by a reduction of
at least one third of the ordinary passage in fair weather. Argument in this matter
is supererogatory : the diminution of the resisting power producing as of consequence,
a proportional increase in speed.
It is now nearly twenty years since I built the first life-boat that ever floated on
the waters of New York Bay. My object then, however, was not a mere boat, but an
exhibit of my theory of supplying the ship itself with its own means of safety under
the most afflictive storms, and the preservation of human life by a less equivocal
means than that of boats, with the disastrous consequences too frequently attending
them in the hour of danger and alarm. I have, since that period, at repeated intervala,
enlarged and improved upon my original design.
Very respectfully yours,
WILUAM BARLE.
THE USE OF UME.WATER IN MAKING BREAD.
It has lately been found, says Dr. Sheridan Muspratt, in his new work on chemistry,
that water saturated with lime produces in bread the same whiteness, softness, and
capacity uf retaining moisture, as results from the use of alum ; while the former re-
moves all acidity from the dough, and supplies an ingredient needed in the structure
of the bones, but which is deficient in the cerealia. The best proportion to use is,
five pounds of water saturated with lime, to every nineteen pounds of flour. No
change is required in the process of baking. The lime most effectually coagulates the
gluten, and the bread weighs well ; bakers must therefore approve of its introduction,
which is not injurious to the system, like alum, <&c. A large quantity of this kind of
bread is now made in Munich, and is highly esteemed.
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382 Journal of Mining and J£anu/aeturt$.
THB COAL FIELDS OF ARKAV8AS.
Dr. Sbuhard, of Fort Smith, and the wellknowo geologist of Captain Marcy's ex-
peditions, publishes in the Fort Sntith Herald the following statement in relation to
the extent of the Arkansas Coal Field, which extends, according to his* obeerTatioDr»
to Fort Belknap, four hundred and fifty miles fVom Fort Smith. The great Arkansaa
Pacific Railroad will run immediately through this inexhaustible field of coal: —
I. On Poteau Rl?(r several seams have been discofrered. Thickness and character
unknown.
8 OtMid coal is found in the greatest abundance on Bayouceil (Brazil) Creek. In
eharacier it is the same as that found near Fort Smith ; thickness of seams, from ^?e
to eight ff et
8. In the Narrows, about sixty miles west of Fort Smith, bituminous coal and of
good quality — thickness of Beanin, from one to two feet.
4. Near Ga^ne's Creek, ninety miles west of Fort Smith— character bituminous, coal
of fair quality and very abundant
6. Six miles west of the last locality a seam of good coal, one foot thick, has been
discovereii.
6. Twelve miles west of Oaine's Creek, several seams have been found — character,
bituminous; thickness of seams, firom one to two feet
7. Eight miles west of Mr. BlackburnV, quality good — thickness of seams, over ten
feet.
8. Twelve miles east of Botrgy Depot, quality good — thickness of reams unknown.
9. Twenty miles north of Boggy Depot, an extensive outcrop of the very best char-
acter of bituminous coal has been dibcovered — thickness of seams, from five to eight
feet. ^
lU. Six miles east of Red River— quality good; thickness of seams unknown.
II. Between Fort Wabhita and Fort Ai buckle — quality good; thickness of seams
onknown.
12. Twelve miles west of Preston, Texas, good coal has been discovered, and of
thickness sufiicient to justify the working.
18. Thirtv miles we>t of Prei-ton— q||a'ity good; thickness of seams unknown.
14. Ninety miles west of Prestou— tliicknet-s of heams ui known; quality go«»d.
15. On the Bnts'is Hiver, at Fort Belknap, Texas, an extensive outcr<ip occurs —
ooal of the very best quality ; thickness of seams, from ten to fifteen, aiid protmbly
twenty-five feet
THE GROWTH AND MANIFACTURE OF FUX IN BELGIUM*
The linen industry is the most ancient branch of Belgian manufactures. It bat had
numerous vicissitudes, but nevertheless remains one of the most impctrtaot sources of
wealth to that country. It possesses the advantage of obtaining the chief portion of
its raw material at hi me. In 1846, ti hen the In^t agricultural leturns were collected,
there were 74,698 acres under fiax, or f<ne*eighth of the entire arable lands of Bel-
gium. The produce was estimated at 465,918 bubhels of seed, and 11,405 tons of
fiber. Hemp was grown to the extent of 4.800 acres, yielding 1,S01 tons of fiber,
and 48,100 bu^hels of seed. According to the best authorities, the culture of flax has
increased one- sixth since 1846.
Formerly, weaving was carried on exclusively in the cottages of the weavers, bnt
of late years, in Flanders, factories have been e8tabli>hed, where the w« avers come
daily to work, and this system is found to work well both as to the quantity executed
and the quality of the weaving.
By the census of 1846, it appears that the number of persons employed in the
Belgium lintn manufactures was 60,028, as follows: —
Men 18.568 I Boys. 8.862
Women 7,848 | Gills 20,193
The total wages paid amounted to £864.405. The average earnings of the men
wms 8d. per day ; of women, 4|d. ; of boys, 4d. ; and of girla, Sfd.
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Journal of Mming and McmufacturtB. 888
TAB AMBRICAir ?£RD AUTIQUE MARBLE,
We letrn from the Oreen. Mountain Freeman that at the October SessioD of the
Legtslature (id 1863) of Vermoot, a compaDj was iocorporated under the ab«ive name
iat the purpose of working marble in Roxbury. There are as fioe marbles in Ameri-
ca as there are io the world, and we have do' doubt but American works in marble
will yet be more extensive than all the rest of the world put together.
The difference between Verd and other Vermont marbles, however, was not at that
time, nor is it even now generally, but vefy imperfeelly understood. It id described
by the editor of the Freeman as being like no other marble in Vermont, like no other
in the United States, and, indeed, it is like no other known quarry in the world. It is
the green antique marble — the verd antieo of the Italians, the same that has been
found in the ruins of the Orecian or Roman temples; but from what part of the East-
ern Ountinent it was brought, or whether any more remains in its original hicality, is
at this day wholly unknown. The discovery of such a splendid marble, therefore,
was no ordinary occurrence, and led very naturally, as soon as the existence of such a
quarry was clearly afcertained by the discoverers, to the furmation of the company
IB question. The quarry was first found, il is said, by a gentleman from Bethel, in an
examination, probably, of the well known Serpentine Ledge, which lies on the railroad
in Roxbury, nearly a half mile south of this quarry, but which is altogether a different
thing. Serpentine, however^ is one of the components of the verd antique marble,
and limestone the other — a combination that takes the highest possible polish, and
then presents, with its irregular sprays of white, on a field of green, much the appear-
ance of the dark green ice of a newly froaen pond, fractured by a slight blow from
tbe bead of an az.
The editor of the Freeman informs us that he visited this remarkable quarry, and
tbe works put in operation by the company to avail themselves of its valuable pro-
ducts. There are now about twenty five bands in employment in blasting and getting
out tbe stime from the ledge, trucking it down on their wooden railway to the factory,
fifteen or twenty rods distant, and. attending tbe machinery, which consists of five
gangs of saws and polibhers, driven by a thirty-five horse power steam-engine. We
were fthown by tbe kind and intelligent superintendent, Mr. Rundlett, a great variety,
of specimens ot all khapes and sices, and in all the different steps of manufacture,
from the rough block to the mirror like surface of the polished cenotaph or table.
Am«>ng this waii a table, four feet square and about two inches thick only, which was
worked to meet the order of the Governor Qeneral of Canada, and which, we will
Tenture to say, will b ^ pronounced equal in finish and beauty, to say tbe least, to any
marble table to be found either in America or Europe.
These marbles readily sell at %\ per foot surface; and as the demand for them in-
creases as fast as the knowledge of them extends, and as the quarry seems inexhaust-
ible, this establishment must soon be an important and noted ooe, alike advantageous
» to tl»e State and the enterprising company, under whom the works are being so per-
•everingly prosecuted.
ALUMIfiUAl, OK FREilCH SILVER.
Tbe public have been interested lately ref^pecting a new method of obtaining in
large quantities from that most abundant of deposits— common clay— a metal which
rivals in beauty with silver, and surpasses it io durability, not to mention other quali-
ties. Tbe discoverer, fur so we must call him, is Mr. Sainte-Clair Deville. Alluminum,
which hitherto existed only in small quantities, and esteemed rather as a curiosity,
can now be produced in quantities sufficient and cheap enottgh to replace copper, and
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884 Statistics of Agriculture, etc.
even iron in many respeclB, and thus place **the new silver ** superior in some
points to the real article, into such common use, as to suit the means of Uie poorest
persons.
The Nationcd Intelligencer learns from Paris that the members of the Academy of
Science and the numerous auditory were loud in their admiration and surprise at the
beauty and brilliancy of many ingots of aluminum, presented by Mr. Dumas, the
celebrated chemist. It was impossible to believe they were not silver until taken into
the hands, when their extraordinary lightness at once proved the contrary. That a
metal should weigh so little seemed almost incredible.
The price of aluminum a short time since in France was about the rate of gold I
but owing to recent dbcoveries, reducing the expense of extracting it, the cost of pro-
duction was now about one hundred times less ; and there was little doubt that the
effect of competiiion in its manufacture, together with the advantage of throwing it
open to the industrial resources of the world, would be to reduce the price as low aa
five francs the kilogramme, or about forty cents a pound.
STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE. &c.
THE TAR518H TREK OF TEXAS.
A letter has been received from a correspondent in Texas, in whi<^ he alludes to a
varnish- tree which they have cultivated, and eays that they are ignorant of the manner
of obtaining the varnish from it Believing the varnish-tree of which he speaks to be
the same as the rhu9 verniei/era of Japan, the Union gives the method recommended
at the Patent Office, as given by Thunberg.
The very best Japan varnish is prepared from this tree, which grows ro great abun-
dance in many parts of that country, and is likewise cultivated in many places on ac-
count of the great advantages derived from it. This varnish, which oozes out of the
tree on being wounded, is procured from stems that are three years old, and is re-
ceived in some proper vessel At first it is of a lightish color, and of the consistence
of cream, but grows thicker and black on being exposed to the air. It is so transpa-
rent when laid pure and unmixed upon boxes or furniture, that every vein of the wood
may be seen.
For the most part a dark ground is spread underneath it, which causes it to reflect
like a mirror, and fur this purpose recourse is frequently had to the fine sludge which
is got in the trough under a grindstone, or to ground charcoal ; occasionally a red sub*
stance b mixed with the varnish, and sometimes gold- leaf ground very fine. This var-
nish hardens very much, but will not endure any blows, cracking and flying almost
like glass, though it can stand boiling water without any damage. With this the Jap-
anese varnish over the posts of their doors, and most articles of furniture which are
made of wood. It far exceeds the Chinese and Siamese varnish, and the best is
collected about the town of Jassino. It is cleared from impurities by wrmging it
through verj fine paper ; then about a hundredth part of an oil called toif which ia
expressed from the fruit of bignonia toinentoBo^ is added to it, and being put into
wooden vessels, either alooe or mixed with native cinnabar, or some black substance,
it is sold all over Japan. The expressed oil of the s^eds serves for candles. The tree
is said to be equally poisonous as the thus venenata, or American poison tree, com-
monly called the swamp sumach.
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Statistics of Agriculture^ etc.
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888 Postal Department.
THE SORGHO SUCRE : A RIVAL OF THE SUOAR-CAHB.
We published \u a former number of the Merchants^ Afagazine some account of this
newly discovered plant, and now give the opinion of Count David de Bauregard, who
transmitted the report of the French Agricultural Oommission at Toulon to the French
consul at Cork, in Ireland. This opinion was sent to Hon. James Buchanan, United
States Minister to England, by Mr. B. James Hackett, from whom it was received hj
the United States Commissioner of Patents : —
** I hasten to forward you by this post the report drawn up by the Agricnltaral
Commission at Toulon respecting the holciis saccharatus, an article introduced into
France from China in the year 1851, by Mr. De Montigny, the French consul at
Shanghai No new feature has appeared, but I continue to think that the plant is
one of the most valuable which exist ; that it will yield the greatest advantage not
only in Europe, wherever the climate permits the late maize to grow to perfection,
but even under the tropics, where it m:iy replace with advantage the sugar-cane, be-
cause it will there grow three crops in the same space of time as is required for one
of the sugar-cane, and that besides it is more exempt from the injuries of the white
ant, which destroy its rival."
POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
STATISTICS OF POSTAOE 15 THE PRINCIPAL CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
The following is a comparative statement of the amount received for letter postage
at the principal cities in the United States, during the years ending 81st March, 1853
and 1865. To make it more intelligible, the population in 1850 and the increase per
cent, are also given :-<-
PopulaUon, Letter postage. Inc'te
Post-offices. 1S50. 1S53. 1855. p.o.
Boeton. Massachusettts 186,881 $149,272 64 $188,822 88 23
New York« New York 515,647 455,188 05 564,580 34 26
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 121,876 151,96170 179.669 79 18
BalUmore, Maryland 169,054 86,578 98 107,840 11 24^
Washington, Dist of Columbia. . 40,001 26,449 26 80,045 50 13^
New Orleans, Louisiana 116,875 74,804 52 77,819 80 6
St Louis, Missouri 77,860 82,041 87 46,021 52 45
Cincinnati, Ohio 1 15,485 58,046 05 76,514 80 38^
Chicago, Illinois 29,968 20,521 94 44,892 48 116
It will be seen that the increase on letter postage is much greater in Northern cities
than in Southern. A statement of the amount of postage on letters sent to the re-
epective offices named, and there to be remailed and sent to other offices, shows the
same disparity, as follows : —
I8f}. 18SS.
Boston $250,887 04 $813,494 88
New York..... 781,878 25 918.971 64
Buflfala 87.002 08 112,200 91
Philadelphia.. 71,489 26 95,991 90
Baltimore .... 86,256 04 48,648 46
New Orleans.. 68,897 78 68,264 22
185}. mi.
St Louis 86,211 81 89,461 22
Louisville.... 48,825 84 56,284 06
Cincinnatii.... 50,098 77 62,880 29
Cleveland.... 61,202 64 88,616 8S
Indianapolis.. 50,841 20 76,659 22
Chicago 141,202 64 282,876 90
WHY LETTERS ARE NOT RECEIYED.
Recent investigations in the city of New York ehow, says the Washbgton Union^
that the removal of postage stamps from letters, and then dr(»pping the letters unpaid
into the office, ii practiced there to a great extent, chiefly by the lads with whom they
are sent to be mailed. The stamps thus fraudulently acquu-ed are exchanged for
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Postal Department. 389
fhiita or other refireefanMnte, and then resold below their legal value to ench as are
willing to buy. Ooe individual has thus bought from the proprietor of a single fruit-
stand some sixty or seventy of these stamps. Letters thus deposited, bearing no evi-
dence of prepayment of postage, are of course not mailed ; and the public, as well as
those immediately interested, blame the Post- Office Department because they fail to
reach those to whom they are addressed.
€OHP£VSATION OF POSTMASTERS IN THE UJflTED STATES.
When the commissions and allowances of a postmaster taken together (as charged
in his quarterly account) «>xceed |500 in amount, he is required to render, with his
quarterly account, an account to be called the commission account ; stating on the one
side the amount of the commissions and allowances, and on the other his own com-
pensation for the quarter, as limited by law, and the incidental expenses of his office
necessarily and actually incurred during the quarter. The proper vouchers and re-
ceipts mu.st accompany the charges for incidental expenses, and must specify distinctly
the several objects — whether for rent, fuel, light, stationery, Ac. — and the names, ages,
sex, and rate of compensation and time paid for, of each and every person employed
as assistant or clerk. If the amount of the commissions and allowances fall short of
the amount of the compensation and expenses, the postmaster has no claim on the
United States for the deficiency ; and if the amount exceed such compensation and
expenses, the postmaster is required to add the excess to the balance to be acknowl-
edged by him as due the United States on his quarterly return for the same quarter.
REGULATIONS AS TO FOREIGN LETTERS.
When a postmaster finds that a vessel is ready to sail, by which it will be conven-
ient to send letters to their place of destination, he should carefully examine all such
letters, and see that there are none among them destined to another place. He should
then count them, and enter their number in a bill. If there are few letters, and no
mail-bag is furnished for them by the QQaster of the vessel, the postmaster muy make
them into a bundle like a common mail, taking care to inclose the certificate with
them, and sealing the wrapper with the office seal. If a bag is furnished, the string
is required to be sealed with the office seal ; and if there are many letters, and no
bag is furnished by the master of the vessel, it is the duty of the postmaster to furn-
ish one, and charge it to the department.
CORRECTED FROOF-SHEETS.
The Union learns from the Department that the postage charged for corrected
proof-sheets sent by mail is the same as pamphlet postage, in case the corrections are
only those of typographical errors. If new matter is introduced by the corrections^
or any notations made by which information is asked or conveyed, or instructions given
in writing, the sheets are subject to letter postage.
NEWSPAPER POSTAGE IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Union, speaking on the authority of the Post-Office Department, says : —
*' In determining newspaper postages, the distances are to be computed from the office
of publication, and by tne route over which the mail is carried, and not from the coun-
ty line of the county in which the paper is published. The postage is chargeable by
the newspaper, not by the sheet, and if two or more newspapers are printed on one
sheet, full postage must be charged on each."
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390 Mercantile MiseeUanies.
MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
CHARACTER: A5 ESSAY FOR MERCHAITS.
[bT BIOHaRD IMITH, BIQ., KDITOR OP TIHC CIHCIRRATI PRICB CURRKMT.]
lo buBioess traoaactioDs there is for most articles a measure of value, and the im-
portance of property to the possessor is usually estimated by the price thus arrired
at. Mouey is the standard legal commodity by which value is determined and ex-
changes effected, and the preference that is gi?en to money over all other articles that
compose property or the basis of wealth, renders it easy for the possessor of the former
to secure anything real or personal that may be desired. Thus everything of a mate-
rial nature is regarded as liable to change of ownership— all are saleable and pur-
chaseable commodities ; and it is for this reason that iprsperty is of itself not sufficient
to secure to the possessor peace or happiness. Although there is, to a certain extent,
a connection between mind and matter, there are some things peculiar to the former,
which are not subject to the control of the latter, and these are essentially necessary
to happiness. Without them life proves a burden, and the possessor incapable of en-
joying anything, however well calculated it may be in itself to secure temporal enjoy-
ment Their character being, as remarked, essential to happiness, and not being ob-
tainable for money, they are exceedingly precious ; still, in many cases, the slender
cord by which they are held is often trifled with, and few realize their full importance
until they have permitted them to depart
Among the features to which we have referred, the reader will readily discover
OHAEAOTKa as standing most prominent This, to a man of business, and indeed to
every person, is as dear as life itself— and one that should, therefore, be guarded with
as much care as the other ; sometimes people, who are devoid of a good character, be-
come possessed of wealth, and the latter secures for them, in many cases, a poeitioQ
in society to which they never could have attained if compelled to rely for promotioo
on merit. But this at best is but a forced position, and the respect rendered in such
cases, proves merely nominal The place is held entirely by the strength of dollars,
and in the event of this failing, the feelings of contempt that were previously sup-
pressed, are manifested without restraint ; and even if the money-power should con-
tinue to the end of life, the memory of the characterless rohn would be buned with
his body, and his epitaph, if written at all, would refer to one whose absence could
not be lamented ; or its sentiments, if otherwise expressed, would be in keeping with
the principles upon which in life he was respected. But feelings of genuine respect
ean only be rendered to the man whose character is unstained. Such respect as is
awarded to the possessor of an unspotted character is not purchaseable, nor does it
require a pecuniary effort to command it As well might a human being lift bis voice
in derision of nature, when arrayed in all her splendor, as attempt to withhold respect
from an honest man. To the latter nothing in the world can be compared ; such a
character approaches nearer than anything else to the perfection of the Creator, and
it therefore tends to secure to man that unalloyed happiness enjoyed by the fother of
our race when in his perfect state.
Character should therefore be, as already remarked, carefully guarded. No amount
of prosperity can compensate for a character lost in the pursuit or acquirement of
wealth. Yet how few, comparatively, succeed in so guarding it ; and how many sac-
rifice it for that which cannot in any degree compensate for it Stand aside from the
bottling scenes of business lor a few years. Mark the young man at he aotert tlic
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Mercantile MisceUanies. 801
arena of mercaotile life. He commencet with buoyant hopes and pure intentions ;
but as he falls in with what are termed the "customs of trade,** he begins to compro-
mise that strict integrity with which he commenced the world, and step by step he
descends, and finally he emerges from active life with a character deeply spotted, and
a mind terribly barrassed. To avoid this end requires a purity and steadfastness of
purpose, and apparent sacrifices in the beginning and throughout the entire course of
business. The grasping deeires and avaricious propensities peculiar to the age are the
main difficulties in the way of sustaining a good character. These evil features lead
men to cast not only their property but their standing into the scale of chance, and in
■uch cases if both do not disappear together, the latter rarely rises. Business may be .
conducted on strictly correct principles, but this can rarely be done under the influ-
ence of an bsatiable desire for wealth. This b the great besetting sin of business
mea It induces them to misrepresent in selling, to deceive in accordance with the
various unhealthy customs of trade, which countenance a departure from the rules of
strict integrity, and tolerate stealing on a small scale in almost every shape, except
that of extracting money directly from a customer's pocket. There is but little differ-
ence, morally^ between stealing direct and selling wood for merchandise, or taking ad-
Tantage in any way of parties whose confidence may induce them to trust their inter-
ests or property to the care of another. Yet in almost innumerable shapes the latter
is practiced, and so general have these practices become that, as already intimated
they are, by common consent, classed among the customs of trade. But custom can
never make wrong right; and in the practice of such acts it were unavailing to refer
for justification to the course of others. To sustain a good OHAaAorsR, therefore, the
man of business must be unyielding in his opposition to everything wrong, whether
contrary to, or in accordance with, the rules tolerated by custom or common permis-
sion.
COUNTINO-ROOM EDUCATION.
In looking over the life of Alexander EEamilton, by Dr. Renwick, says our cotem-
porary of the Philadelphia Merclutnt, we were struck with a just acknowledgment
made by the distinguished writer respecting the influence of counting-room education.
It is seldom that literary men have a favorable word to say of tlie initiatory depart-
ment of mercantile life, and all who have read the introduction to Hawthorne's
** Scarlet Letter," have met a good specimen of the severity with which day-bouk and
ledger life can be treated, as though it were adverse to everything dignifying and
noble. But in the Life of Hamilton, by Dr. Renwick, we have an admission no less
remarkable than just It appears that in early age Hamilton's father became embar*
rassed in his pecuniary matters, and the son looked about him for self-maintenance.
A situation was secured for him in a commercial house in St. Oroix, and he entered
the counting-room of an eminent merchant
He advanced so rapidly in the acquirement of the knowledge of business affairs and
the tact of ^ood management, that while very young most important trusts were com-
mitted to his keeping. But mercantile affairs did not suit him, and those fine abilities
which he afterwards displayed were permitted to find a fitting sphere of rapid de-
velopment Means to pursue classical studies were furnished him, and the world
knows that one of the ablest and most influential minds of America was that of Alex-
ander Hamilton. Dr. Renwick says : —
** We cannot, however, but consider his early introduction to the business of a
counting-house as having a favorable influence on his subsequent career. The habits
of order and regularity in a well-conducted commercial establishment are never
forgotten, and are applicable to every possible pursuit Nor is the exercise of mer^
oantUe correspondence without its value in a literary point of view. To those with
little previous education, or who have nut an opportunity of improving themselves
afterward, this exercise may communicate no elegance of style, but where the use of
language has once been attained, the compression of thought and conciseness of ex*
presdon on which merchants pride themselves, give a terseness and precision of di&>
tion which those educated in any other prolession can rarely equaL"
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392 Mercantile Miscellanies,
Now this 18 high praise, coming as it did from within the walls of a college. It is
a broad view of counting-room education, and suggests many ideas that it would be
well to dwell upon. Too many minds, especially those inclined to literary porsoitB,
regard the counting-room merely as a sort of magician's retreat, where the art of
changing the dollar into a double eagle is taught and learned — where the faculties of
the mind are trained into a sort of dray-horse business, and what is learned there has
to them no more connection with any other portion of life than the blotter has with
the prayer-book. They see the clerk, his pen and ink, his invoices and his books, his
letters, and they deem the copying-pre»s a capital invention to break up the monotony
of the pen-and-ink life of the poor drudge. As to the training of the faculties, the de-
veloptoent of habits of order and regularity, the stern discipline of the moral fwwers,
the aids afforded to induce a ready, clear, concise expression of what must be said, and
kindred matters— these are all overlooked, and they must be indebted to some dis-
cerning and comprehensive mind for any means of seeing how a counting-room educa-
tion may exert a "favorable influence** on any subsequent career. We have frequently
been struck with the rapid advances made by those who have left mercantile life fcr
the bar or the pulpit, attributable only to the tact by which they were able to seise
opportunities promptly — tact developed in the counting-room, where emergencies
sometimes stir a man*8 soul as no college examination or trial sermon ever roused up
human nature.
Much of the results of which we have been speaking depends on the aims with which
the counting-room is entered by the young man. If the young man goes in as to a
treadmill, only a treadmill will he find. He will shirk everything beyond the simplest
routine of prescribed duties. The boundary of his vision will be exceedingly limited ;
and instead of seeing in him the promise of the intelligent, influential, and honored
merchant, you behold almost certain evidence that he will never attain to anything
beyond the narrowest conception of mercantile life, and will furnish a good model for
the satirist who hates everything like Commerce, because it suggests the possession of
money, which he has not.
It is a good sign of the times that so increased and improved have become the fa-
cilities for preparatory commercial education. Commercial institutes and colleges are
increasing m all our large cities. In these the young man finds his ideas of counting-
room life radically changed. He discovers that the more accomplishments he can
carry to the desk, the better the promises of true success ; and instead of the old no-
tion of confining attention to book-keeping and penmanship, we have now, in these
educational establishments, professors and lecturers on commercial geography, com-
mercial law, political science, Ac, and such an education is imported as impresses the
student with the great fact that no enlargement of his mental acquirements can fail
to be of use to him in the long run of mercantile life. We are beginning to bring back
the agcient idea of the merchant when he was deemed the paragon of accomplish-
ments, furnished with all forms of knowledge, and holding himself bound to acquit
himself nobly not only in possessing a comprfjhensive knowledge of the little world
about him, but also of the greater world, with all its diversities, bringing from afar
knowledge that poured the best light on things near.
Every day the ideal of the true merchant is increasing in dignity and attraction.
The " almighty dollar '* is no symbol of him ; but treaties, laws, courtesies, and ameni-
ties, binding discordant nations and peoples in bands of amity, makins? the int^resta of
Commerce far better for man's regard than the fortunes of war. And however we be-
hold the confusion of war now impeding the progress of mankind, it is to the merchant
that we owe the most potential influence to preserve peace where it is now enjoyed,
and to hasten the end oi wars where they are raging.
STICK TO A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS.
Well directed energy and enterprise, says the Merchant, are the life of American
progress, but if there is oue lesson taught more plainly than others by the great iail-
ures of late, it is, " safety lies in sticking to a legitimate business.** No mao — mer-
diant, trader, or banker — has any moral right to be so energetic and enterprising as
to take from his legitimate business the capital which it requires to meet any emer-
gency. When a crowd of creditors stand vainly waiting for their dues, it is little com-
fort to them to be told ** Well, one thing must be remembered, and that is, the money
has been wide spread to aid important enterprises 1** The old maxim — *' Bejutt be-
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fore yon are generous "—comes up at snch times "with great force, and the creditor
naturally asks, " What right had this bouse to be enterprising with my money outside
of thei| legitimate business ?**
Apologies are sometimes made for firms who have failed by recurring to the im-
portant experiments they have aided, and the unnumbered fields of enterprise where
they have freely scattered their money. We are told that individual losses sustained
by tbose failures will be as nothing compared with the benefits conferred on the com-
munity by their liberality in contributing to every public work. We do not see the
force of this reasoning. A man*8 relations to a creditor are vastly different from his
relations to what is called " the public" The demands of the one are de6nite, the
claims of the other are just what the ambition of the man may make them ; and it is
DO excuse for any house in their time of failure to set up as an apology that in serving
"the public" they have wronged individuals.
The histories of honorably successful business men unite to exalt the importance of
sticking to a legitimate business; and it is most instructive to see that, in the greater
portion of the failures which we are permitted to analyze, the real cause of diftaster
was the branching out beyond a legitimate business in the taking hold of this and that
tempting offer, and for the sake of some great gain venturing where they did not
know the ground, and could not know the pit-falb. They would have escaped all
this had they kept to operations within the field of their legitimate business ; or should
they fail in some time of sudden and stem trial, it will be to their honor to be able to
say, " We have lost by the vicissitudes of trade, and not by rash and foolish attempts
to play a side game."
The lesson of the times is — stick to a legitimate business. Concentrate attention,
abilitiesC operations there ; and bridle those imaginings which send fancy abroad to
gather false promises and lure to ruiu.
AN EXTENSIVE LIVERPOOL MERCHANT.
The editor of the Pennsylvania Inquirer^ Philadelphia, publishes the annexed fig-
m^s, bhowing the operations of James MoHsNar, of Liverpool, for a single year, viz.:
from September, 1858, to September, 1854— or rather, the imports by that house
from the United States during the time specified. The aggregates are as follows : —
Bacon, in bulk cwt. '7,731
Haras hhds. 198
Lard tierces '7,187
Cotton bales 59,140
Flour bbls. 848,871
Wheat busk 424,188
Indian corn 1,066,071
Indian meal bbls. 1 2,442
Bacon boxes 81,230
Bacon .... hhds. 865
Lard bbls. 7,923
Lard kegs 160
Beef tierces 7,441
Pork «..bbl8. 1,669
In addition, large quantities of other American products, amounting in value to
many millions of dollars. Not a dollar of the immense totals has been lost to the
American shippers — and although Mr. McHenry was compelled, temporarily, to sus-
pend in consequence of the defalcation of other parties, we are glad to learn that he
has recommenced business without the slightest loss of character, and under the most
&vorab]e auspices.
The //i^iurer adds: "We have enjoyed his acquaintance for upwards of twenty
years, and we never ^new a more honorable man, or one of more rectitude and cor-
rectness in his dealings. We bear this testimony with especial pleasure, and with the
fullest confidence. He has our best wbbes for a long and happy life, and a truly
prosperous career. He is yet young, active, and vigorous — and although his character
has been submitted to a fiery ordeal, it has stood the test in triumph and without a
spot or blemish."
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THE GlNADIAir RECIPROCITT TftEATT.
The Oswega 7%mes says no class of our citizens will probably derive greater bene-
fits from reciprocal free trade than our millers. To say nothing of the OAnadiaa
wheat crop, the removal of the twenty per cent duty opens to them the flour markets
of the St. Lawrence, which are frequently better than the Eastern markets of the
seaboard, as has been the case the present season. Most of the flour manufactured
here is now being shipped to Montreal and Quebec, their market being better than
the New York market This will not always be the case when prices are reduced to
the export value ; but the large consumption of the Lower provinces, which buy most
of their breadstuff^, will alv^ays give importance to the markets of the St Lawrence.
COPPER ORE AND C0TT05 : DAATOEROUS FREIGHT.
The ship Georgia, says the Liverpool Albion^ from Savannah, arrived at Liverpool
on the 8th of June, brought some cupper ore in cases, which proves to .be an exceed*
ingly dangerous cargo, for so great was the heat evolved during the passage, from the
sulphur contained in the ore, that some of the cases were taken out of the ship com*
pletely charred, the lids being a mass of charcoal ; while the cotton stowed imme-
diately above them was partially burnt, and when landed from the ship was so much
heated as to make it painful for a man to thrust his hands into the bales. We believe
the copper ore from Adelaide, continues the Albiofit when first shipped to England,
was of a similarly daogerous character, till means were taken to destroy the pulphor
by roasting the ore. In its present state, the ore from the mines of Georgia is not fit
to be brought across the Atlantic, and must undergo a process similar to that of the
Australian ore to remove all danger fr^m it. ^
COMMERCIAL TAUJE OF GIRLS IBT CHI5A.
The Charleston Mercury ^ays the present condition of China is a melancholy de-
monstration of what conservatism may do for a family. The lowest rung on the social
ladder is occupied by the oldest living nation — a nation that claims to be the only
civilized. The poorer classes in ita neighborhood of Hong Kong are selling their
children for twenty four cents each. This price applies to girls of seven to ten years,
and the purchaser must take them away at once and support them. They are chiefly
employed as servants. 01 er girls beiog more — or, to speak commercially, " we quote
girls from seven to ten years at twenty-five cents ; ten to fifteen years, one dc41ar.
Fifteen to twenty years are more in deoiaud, and cannot be had under seventy to one
hundred dollars.*'
THE MERCHANT'S CLERK.
Too seldom is this impo <ant character do ced with the honor that is due him.
He is to business what the wife is to the order and success of home — the genius
that gives form and fashion to the materials for prosperity which are furnished by
another.
Wealth descends best when it falls into the hands of the merchant's son who has
been also his clerk, for thus received riches are made the instruments of enterpriaa
and public good, instead of dissipation, evil example, and ruin. There is no such rel-
ish in expr nditure as that which comes from the consciousness of having had an hoc-
o: able part in the acquisition.
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THE BOOK TRADE.
1. — A 7VeatU0 on Pneumatie$; being the Physics of Ghues, iDcladiDg Vapors. Il-
lustrated by numeroQs fioe Wood EngraTiogs. By Martih H. Boyle, M. D., A. M.,
Professor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the Ceotral High School of Phil-
adelphia, Member of the American Philosophical Society, <&&, <£c 8vo.» pp. 123.
Philadelphia: E. A 0. Biddle.
The frequent inquiries made in regard to the principles, Farious constructions, and
Diodes of using the different meteorological instruments, which come within the sub-
ject treated of in this comprehensive little volume, and increasing interest felt in the
material, natural, or physical sciences, induced the author to prepare the present work.
It contains a full description of the difi^rent air-pumps, and the seyeral experiments
which may be formed by them ; also, the different barometers, pressure gauges, hy-
drometers, and other meteorological instruments, explaining the principles on which
they act, as well as the modes of using such instruments. The work is systematically
arranged, and the explanations appear to be clear, full, and intelligible. A series of
tables for the use of the different instruments is added. The volume contains uomer-
0O8 appropriate wood-cut iHustrations, made expressly for the work, many of them
entirely original The work supplies a gap in scientific literature which has been much
wanted.
2. — An American among the Orientals; including an Audience with the Sultan, and
a Visit to the interior of a Turkish Harem. By Jambs E. P. Boulden, M. D. 12ma,
pp. 178. PhiUdelphia: Lindsay <fe Blakiston.
It is well remarked by the unassuming author, in his brief and pertinent preface,
that the novel characteristics of the Turks, theur singular observances and beliefs, and
the attitude in which they now stand before the world, owing to the complicated con-
dition of the Russo-Turkish question, involving in a bloody struggle, not only Turkey
and Russia, but the great western powers of Europe, render authentic accounts of
their manners and customs peculiarly interesting. The author resided several months
at Constantinople, and appears to give a truthful narrative of what came under his
own observation, rather than borrow from the writings of former tourists. The work
is written in a pleasant and readable style.
8. — Mountains and Molehills; or Recollections of a Burnt Journal By Frank
Marrtat, author of the ** Eastern Archipelaga" 12mo., pp. 898. New York : Har-
per <fe Brothers.
The author was in California some two years, from the spring of 1850 to the spring
of 1852, and revisited that country in the winter following. He has produced an
agreeably written and vivacious account of life in California, the journey across the
Isthmus, Ac It furnishes entertainment to the adventurous, and to all those who
wish to become acquainted with the state of society in California at the time of the
antbor's visit The numerous engravings are designed to portray the characteristics
of the people.
4. — Harper's Story Books, A Series of Narratives, Dialogues, Biographies, and
Tales, for the Instruction and Entertainment of the Toung. By Jacob Abbott.
Embellished with numerous beautiful Engravings.
The third volume of " Stories,'* by the inimitable Abbott, the most successful, in-
structive, and entertaining writer of children's books in our day. The present yolume
contains three stories, yiz. : ** Virginia ;" ** Tamboo and Joliba, or the Art of being
Useful;" and **Timboo and Fanny, or the Art of Self Instruction.** The books are
handsomely printed and beautifully illustrated with engravings on wood.
5. — Harper's Magazine, YoX, X^ December, 1854, to May, 1855. 8vo.,pp. 864. New
York : Harper <fe Brothers.
The tenth semi-annual volume of this popular periodical before us, will not lose br
comparison with any that have preceded it The volumes already published furnish
an amount and variety of reading that could scarcely be obtained in any other form
for the same outlay. With more than a hundred thousand purchasers, we may fairly
estimate that it has at least one million monthly readers.
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6. — Cone Cut Comers; the Experiences of a Coneervative Family in Fanatical
Times. By Bknault. ISmo., pp. 456. New York : Mason <& Brothers.
The pictures of New England life exhibited within these pages are remarkably
vivid and faithful. We see at once, in the portraitures and scenes described, a sample
of many a village in our midst — the characters invested with a life-like power. " El-
der Grains," and the account of the donation party, are excellent It is a book for the
times, relating to a prominent subject of interest, now being discussed, and ought to
have a wide circulation in temperance circles, yet there are other moral lessons to be
learned from its perusal The follies of fashionable life, and the foibles incident to
obscure villages, are naturally depicted, and we feel that people who lived in and
came from the city to " Cone Cut Corners," are a £air representation of many a New
England village. The story, as a work of fiction, has great merit, but the greatest in-
terest lies in Uie moral mfluence which is diffused, so skillfully and truthfully.
7. — Mary Lyndon ; or Revelations of a Life. An Autobiography. ISmo., pp. 888
New York : Stringer & Townsend.
We find in these pages the honest utterances of one who has lived, loved, and suf-
fered. She has dared to record her experience of life, and reveal her wrongs, with
an earnestness and depth of feeling which such sufferings only could prompt The
work may be said to be devoted to the wrongs of women. Many may not agree with
some ideas expressed, scill none can gainsay the fact, that it is a work of considerable
merit, and written with an intensity of purpose, which the reader will perceive in
every page. The author appears to be an ultra-reformer, and her criticisms on exist-
ing society are often as just as they are severe. Some important truths can be learned
in this recital of wrongs, although we are not prepared to receive all that is suggested,
though it is done with apparent truth and honesty of purpose.
S.—Doesticks—What he Savs. By Q. K Philandee Doe8TICKb, P. B. 12mo., pp.
880. New York: Edwarcf Livermore.
The humorous sketches of Doesticks which have widely appeared in newspapersf
together with many that have not before been published, are included in this volume*
The style of the author is original, eccentric, and some of these ** airy nothings " are
capital. These pieces will be appreciated by the good-natured and fun-loving, and
will serve to dispel the clouds that hang around the brow of the sad and the care-
worn. " A New Patent-Medicine Operation,** " Doesticks on a Bender," " Running with
the Machine," " Disappointed Love,^' " Mysterious Secrets of the K. N.V " Keeping
the Maine Law," "The Kentucky Tavern," are some of the matters treated of. Doe-
sticks also visits the Baby Show at Bamum's. The volume is handsomely printed and
illustrated.
9. — Star Papert ; or Experiences of Art and Nature. By Heney Ward Beechx&.
l2mo., pp. 869. New York: J. C. Derby. Boston : Phillips & Sampson.
Many are familiar with these papers, all having been published in the Independent^
and designated by a star. We welcome their appearance in this neat, readable, and
attractive form. Some of the articles are home letters, written while visiting hbtoric
places in Europe ; most of the other pieces were sketched during vacation, in the soli-
tude of the country. The reader cannot but enter into the enthusiasm, beauty, and
naturalness of the scenes which Mr. Beecher has described in his own masterly, spur-
ited, and original style.
10. — Waikna ; or Adventures on the Mosquito Shore. By Samuel A. Bard. With
Sixty Illustrations. 12mo., pp. 866. New York : Harper A Brothers.
This is a readable narrative of adventure on that part of the eastern coast of Cen-
tral America known as the Mosquito Shore. The character and habits of the people,
and the scenery, are described, and the artist has illustrated the descriptions with
spirited engravings. An historical sketch of the Shore, which has been invested with
interest on account of the controversy between Qreat Britain and the United States
concerning it, is given in the appendix.
11.— /oy and Care : A Friendly Book for Young Mothers. By Mrs. L. 0. Tothill
12mo., pp. 222. New York : Charles Scribner.
A series of letters and answers, being the correspondence of an inexperienced young
mother and an experienced relative, concerning the care and management of children.
Written in an offhand, natural, epistolary style, and calculated to give many friendly
and useful hints which can be made practically beneficiaL
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12. — The Six Day$ of Creation ; a Series of Familiar Letters from a Father to his
Children, describing the Natural History of each day's Mercies. With particular
reference to the illustration of Scriptural Truth. By W. G. Rhind. 12mo., pp. 347.
Philadelphia: Parry <b McMillan.
This finely-printed and handsomely-Ulastrated volume purports to have been writ-
ten by one whose head and heart were full of one ** great thought " — ** salvation through
Christ ** — whom he sees in all his works. In order to adapt the work to American
readers, certain modifications and emend ttions.with additions, have been made by th«
American editor. The work, we are assured, remains entire. Besides the steel- plate
engravings, illustrating the six days of creation, we have numerous wood-cuts of the
animals supposed to have been created during the six days.
18.— TTAicA: the Right Way or the Lefti 12mo., pp. 686. New York: Gar-
rett <fc Co.
The difference between true and false religion is ably illustrated in this work — an
earnest seal for the right, and power of discriminating good from evil in individuals
and society, is here presented. It lays bare fashionable religion, and exposes many
of the sins in business life. The story is well told, the incidents and scenes naturally
drawn. We think the moral and religious tendency of the book excellent. The con-
trasts of character are striking and impressive, and while it interests for its vivid and
life-like portraitures, it will have its^ influence for the great truths so ably and ear-
nestly set forth within its pages.
14. — Pergonal Recollections of the Stage, Embracing Notices of Actors, Authors,
and Auditors, during a period of Forty Years. By William B. Wood, late Director
of the Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and Alexandria Theaters. 12mo., pp.
477. Philadelphia: Henry Carey Baird.
The author of this work, now seventy-six years of age, retired from the stage in
November, 1846, a veteran in theatrical life, as an excellent actor and able manager.
In the course of the author's professional life of so long a period, occur many interest-
ing reminiscences. The historical sketch of those theaters with which Mr. Wood was
connected will be found interesting to many readers, and the work as a whole is a
valuable contribution to the history nf the American stage.
16. — Abridgement of the History of England. By John Lingard. With continuation
from 1688 to the'Reign of Queen Victoria. Bv James Burkb, Efq., A. B., to which
is added Original Notes with Questions. By M. J. Kxrnet, jL M. 12 mo., pp. 693.
Baltimore : John Murphy <fe Co.
This abridgement of the celebrated history of Lingard appears to contain the im-
portant and most interesting portions of the original work. The continuation com-
prises a period of deep interest in England's history. The abstract of geography of
England in Saxon times, the list of eminent men, natives of that country, and the
marginal notes, are useful features of the work. There is, too, a sketch of the British
Constitution.
16. — The ArtuCe and Tradesman's Companion,* With Illustrations. Compiled by M.
LAPArsTTB Byrn. M. D.. author of the ** Complete Practical Brewer," " The Com-
plete Practical Distiller," Ac, Ac. 12mo., pp. 214. New York : Stringer A Town-
send.*
This volume contains information on the manufacture and application of varnishes
to painting and other branches of art ; instructions for working enamel, foil, and in
the art of glazing, imitation of gold color, tortoise shell, marble, and the art of stain-
ing wood and metal, imitation of fancy woods, granite, precious stones, silver, brass,
and copper, house and carriage painting, and other matters relating to the arts — the
whole presented in a simplified manner.
Vl. —Harper ds Brother^ Book List, With an Index and Classified Table of Contents.
12mo., pp. 186. New York: Harper A Brothers.
Copies of the several works named in this catalogue would form a most valuable
library, embracing in its range nearly every department of literature and science. In
history, biography, voyages and travels, theology, art, science, and general literature,
the collection is quite complete. The Harpers are n(»t only the most extensive pub-
lishers in the world, but the most varied and general. They are not confined to any
•ingle class of publications, but range over the whole universe of subjects, illustrating
in their long and successful career that ** to the making of books there is no end."
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IS.—The Eicaped Kvn ; or Disclosures of CoDvent Life, and the OoDfessions of a
Sister of Charity. 12mo., pp. S44. New York: De Wilt A Dayeoport
This book purports to have been written bj a nun, who entered a convent and took
upon herself the usual oaths reluctantly, and with a thorough distaste for the claims
which Buch an institution has upon its members. She professes to give a more minute
detail of their inner life, and a Dolder revelation of the mysteries and secrets of nun-
neries, than have ever before been submitted to the American public. Beeides the
history of the author, the book contains the history of the Orphan Nun of Capri —
also confepsions of a Sister of Charity. Although we have no predilection for con-
vent life, and this book records many startling immoralities which might be transacted
within its walls, still we cannot take this experience as a criterion of the life of a Sis-
ter of Charity, or a just view of the government of such communities.
19. — London Art Journal /or JWy, 1866. New York: Virtue, Emmons & Co.
The three quarto steel engravings given in this number are, ** The Princess Amelia/*
from the picture by Sir T. Lawrence in the Royal Collection, painted m 1792. This
is in the artiflt*s best style, ** playful in fancy and sweet in expression.** The second
plate, the *' Gate of the Metwaleys, Cairo," from a painting in the Royal Collection by
D. Roberts, is a good picture. The third is *' Hope," from the bas-relief by J. Gibson,
R. A., a beautiful work of art Hope is symbolized as one of the Christian virtues.
A few psges of engravings of works in the Paris exhibition are given, paged separate
from the journal. There are twenty- two articles on art and art literature in this num-
ber, interspersed with fine wood engravings. We are pleased to learn that the circu-
lation of this work in this country is increased with the issue of every new number.
It b well worthy the most liberal support.
20. — Peeps from a Belfry ; or the Pariah Sketch-Book. By Rev. F. W, Shiltow,
author of the "Rector of St. Bardolph's," "Salander," etc. 12mo., pp. 294. New
York : Charles Scribner.
Interesting reminiscences in the experience of a pastor, written in a simple and ge-
nial style, and with a great deal of quiet humor. Some of the sketches are very
amusing, particularly •* Father Boyle, or the Danger of Pulling Down High Churdi
Steeples," the " Square Pew,** etc Other incidents are marked with a sweetness and
pathos which are peculiarly attractive, and will win the admiration of many a reader.
Among those, we would refer to the chapters, ** A Burial among the Mountains," " The
Child's Funeral," " The Heart of Adamant," all simply and touchingly related.
21.— The Missing Bride; or Miriam the Avenger. By Mrs. EinfA D. E. N. South-
worth, author of the " Lost Heiress," the ** Wife's Victory," etc 12mo., pp. 686.
Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson.
Mrs. Southworth has a wide reputation as a novelist Many of her works have
had an extensive sale, and have been so much read that whatever comes from her pen
is eagerly sought for by thoee who apj^reciate her writings. The scenes of this work
are founded on fact, and are portrayed with much vigor and naturalness. In all her
works, we find that she has a just appreciation of human nature, and her descriptive
powers are excellent This story may be commended for its high moral tone, as well
as for its beauty and originality of style.
22. — Panama in 1866. An Account of the Panama Railroad, of the Cities of Pana-
ma and Aspinwall ; with Sketches of Life and Character on the Isthmus. By Roa-
■RT Tomes. 18rao., pp. 246. New York: Harper A Brothers.
The author of this book went out as an invited guest of the Panama Railroad Com-
ain January, 1866, and resided on the Isthmus a short time. He has written a
that will no doubt be useful to the traveler, and instructive to those interested
in the commercial development of the Isthmus under the auspices of the Panama
Railroad. The writer's picturesque descriptions and lively sketches will render the
book acceptable to the general reader. It contains a map of the railroad and a nom-
ber of appropriate illustrations.
28. — Principles of the Revolution : showing the Perversion of them, and the conse-
quent Failure of their Accomplishment By Joshua P. Blanohard. Boston : Dan^-
rell <b Moore. 1866.
An aged Boston philanthropist has thus ^iven the world a sad contrast of oar
country's promise with her performance ; its ability demands notice; its spirit deserves
eulogy ; its conclusions are too gloomy to be readily accepted.
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24.— 2TI« Law of C<mttact9. By Thxofhilus Parsons. 8 vols. Boston : LitUe
Brown A Ca
If merchants would take pains to familiarize themselves with the leading principles
of commercial law, they might often save themselves from heavy losses, and iiitener
still from heavy law expenses incurred in defending their rights; and if any merchant
is disposed to try the experiment, he will find Parsons on Contracts an excellent work
of study and reference. It is a reliable authority, is unusually full and comprehensive
in its view of the subject, and is written in a clear, lucid style, by no means always
to be found in law books. Moreover, the non professional reader is not bewildered by
the contradictory quotations from authorities, with which professional treatises are
commonly to a great extent filled. These are confined to the foot-notes. In the text
he will find simply a plain, straightforward, intelligible statement of the law as It
stands, on each topic under consideration. Volume first of this work was published
about two years since^ and has become the standard work upon the subject of con-
tracts with the legal profession. Volume second, which completes the work, is just
published. A work on " Commercial Law," by the same author, is announced.
26. — Land, Lahor^ and Oold; or Two Years in Victoria, with Visits to Sydney and
Van Dieman*s Land. By William Howitt. 2 vols., 12mo., pp. 440 and 426. Bos-
ton : Ticknor & Fields.
We have abundant evidence in the volumes before us that Mr. Howitt's two years
in Victoria, and his visits to other lands, were not unprofitable. The information is of
the most varied character, just such as every emigrant would desire to possess, and it
is conveyed in a pleasant and familiar style. The condition of the British Australian
Colonies is described by the writer as singular and anomalous beyond conception, and
what is not the less extraordinary is, that it is almost totally unknown either in Eng-
land or the United States. We commend the work particularly to merchants in the
United States, who have commercial intercourse with these colonies, and the states-
man and politician, who would study the philosophy of '' land, labor, and gold." The
handsome style in which the work is published adds not a little to its attractions.
2(J.— C/«?« Hall By the author of " Amy Herbert," *' The Experience of Life," etc
12mo, pp. 485. New York : D. Appleton <b Co.
Those who have read Miss Sewell's former works will welcome this, and those who
have not read them, will, in a perusal of Cleve Hall, get an insight into the pure and
fascinating style which characterizes her writings. The present story is not behind any
of the others in the refined, moral, and religious sentiments which are inculcated.
Each character— whether base, mean, noble, or beautiful — is delineated with a view
to a beneficial moral tendency. Roland is finely represented, and indeed many others,
showing what changes can be made in characters, where there is a true aim, and life
is consecrated to a noble purpose. The scenes are well sustained and vividly pre-
sented ; the interest is kept unflagging to the end.
27. — Le Cure Manqtte ; or Social and Religious Customs io France. By EuoEm Di
CouROJLLON. 12mo., pp. 255. New York: Harper A Brothers.
There is much to interest the reader in this volume. It is a good story, besides be-
ing a sketch of travel ; and one will be led not only about the metropolis, but into
the rural di^itricts, where French life, with its social and religious manners and cus-
toms, is faithfully represented. The writer shows the influence of Romanism upon
the humbler classes, who still cling to the old usages and superstitions which have
been di^rarded by the more enlightened people ; that when this religion is received
as the priests would have it received, it has a tendency to keep them ignorant and
superstitious. The author draws his convictions from his own experience, having been
bmn and reared in the provinces.
28. — Putnam*8 Monthly : a Magazine of American Literature, Science, and Art VoL
v., January to July, 1865. Svo., pp. 668. New York : Dii ib Edwards.
The volume before us completes the fifth semi annual issues of this truly American
serial Under the auspices of that accomplished publisher, George P. Putnam, it ac-
quired a reputation and a popularity as just as it was deserved, and its value and in-
terest hai< not been diminished in the least since it has passed into the hands of its
present liberal and enterprising publbhers. The best talent in the country has been
enlisted in its support, and it numbers among the contributors to i(^ pages many of
the best names of our American literature.
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400 The Booh Trade.
29.— The CfDoherty Papers. By the late William Maoimn, LL. D. Annotated by
Dr. S HELTON Mackenzie, editor of " Sbiel's Sketches of the Irish Bar," ** The Noctea
Ambrosianas," etc 2 vols., 12mo., pp. 874 and 888. New York: J. S. Redfield.
Dr. Maginn, well known as the Sir Morgan O'Dohertj of Black wood^s Magazine,
and as the leading contributor fur many years to Fraser*/! and other periodicals of note,
may be regarded as one of the most popular magazine writers of bis time. The com-
bined learning, wit, eloquence, eccentncity, and hamor of Maginn, obtained for him,
long before his death, (iu 1848,) the title of *'The Modem Rabelais." His magazine
articles possess extraordinary merit He had the art of putting a Fast quantity of
animal spirits upon paper, but his graver articles — which contain sound and serioua
principles of criticism — are earnest and well reasoned. The present collection coa-
tains bis Facetioe, (in a variety of languages,) Translations, Travesties, and Original
Poetry ; also his prose tales, which are eminently beautiful, the best of his critical ar-
ticles, including his celebrated Shakspeare Papers, and his Homeric Ballads The
periodicals in which he wrote have been ransacked* from ** Blackwood " to " Punch,"
and the result is the two volumes of great interest The editorship of these papera
could not well have been intrusted to better hands, or a more discriminating mind,
than Dr. Mackenzie, a countryman and cotemporary of Dr. Maginn. The biography
of the latter is highly creditable to the scholarship of Dr. Mackenzie, the aocomplished
writer.
80. — Speeches and Addresses, By Henbt W. Hilliaed. Svo, pp. 497. New York:
Harper <& Brothers.
The twenty-eight speeches and orations contained in this volume were, with the ez-
• ception of one oration on Charles OarroQ, of Carrollton, delivered in 1832. spokea
since 1838, and a majority of them m the National House of Representatives, of
which body Mr. Hilliard was an able and prominent member for many years. His
speeches in the House are upon important and interesting topics. The others were
delivered either in bis own State or in different parts of the Union. Mr. Hilliard ia a
gentleman of excellent judgment and broad views, and his graceful productions evince
great ability, cultivation, and fine scholarship. We have perused some of them with
much gratification. The oration delivered before the citizens of Montgomery, (Ala.,)
on the " Life and Character of Henry Clay," is a discriminating description of the
*' Man of Ashland " as an orator and statesman, and an account of his life, services,
and principles, and a beautiful tribute to his imperishable fame. ** Daniel Webster:
his Life and Character," also furnishes a theme for an able address before the Literary
Club and citizens of Montgomery.
81. — History of the Crusades; their Rise, Progress, and Results. By Major Peoo-
TOE, of the Royal Military Academy. 8vo., pp. 480. Philadelphia : Lindsay A
Blakiston.
lliis is an able work on the Crusades, which constituted such interesting ebaptora
in the worldW annals. When at this time four of the great powers of Europe are en-
gaged in war from a misunderstanding relative to the Holy Places at Jerusalem, tfad
mind naturally reverts to the Holy Wars of Palestine during Uie Middle Ages. The
work is written in a vigorous, entertaining style. The American editor has revned
the work, and made some additions. There are over one hundred and fifty beaatiliBl
illustrations.
82. — A Visit to the Camp be/ore SebastopoL By Rioqaed C. MoCoemick, Je., of New
York. 12ma New York : D. Appleton <& Co. '
The author visited the Crimea, and in these pages describes the camp of the Alltet
and the interesting localities in the vicinity of the besieged city, and tells us of many
things that he saw and heard. The volume contains a number of map and illnstra-
tion.>i» which will contribute to impart a better understanding of the relative locatiooa
of places, the positions of the contending armies, and the appearance of the surround-
ing country.
83. — Nanette and her Lovers, A Tale of Normandy. By Talbot G wtnmi. 12mo.
pp. 818. New York: Riker, Thome &, Co.
The plot of this tale is laid at the time of the French Revolatioo, and many of the
incidents have a relation to the political affairs of that stormy period. Nanette is aa
interestmg heroine, and the events of her life are simply portrayed, showing that cir^
cumstances, beyond which we have no control, often tend to the rewurd of thoee vho
are truly good.
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PIANO-FORTES.
JACOB GHIGKERING,
300 WASHINGTON SIRciET, BOSTON,
Has recently invented new machines for manufacturing PI A NO- FORTES, by which
be w able to make trn^e instruments in the nooat perfect manner, and with far greater
rapithty than thev have been made beretoftire. He has spared neither labor nor ex-
pense in e8tahU>hing one of the first i5TEA.M MILLS in the country for tht^ir manu-
facture, the steam used affording increased facilities for the seasitning of 8tock, which
is done in a mo^t thorough manner. He is now able to supply orders at wholesale or
retail. Per^ns wis^hiug for Pianofortes of the Jirst elans, warranted to give entire
s^sfaction, arc invited to call and examine his instruments, or send their orders,
wnirb will be punctually attended ta
British Commercial Life Insurance Company,
LONDON AND AMERICA.
OFFICE No. 65 WALL STREET, NEW YORK.
ESTABLISHED 1826.
Capital $3,000,000, with a Labge Accumulated Surplus,
Alfw York i?^<jrfM— His Excellency Hamilton Fish, late Governor erf the State of
Kew York ; Anthony Barclay, Fsq^ H. B. M. Ctwsul ; Stephen Whitney, E^q , James
6allatin« E(>q,Sarauel Wetmore. E>q., Henry Grinnell, E»q., Hon. Judge Oampbell
John Cryder, Emj^ J. Phillips Phenix, Esq., John H. Hicks, Esq. '
Medienl Exami'ners.-'Jobn 0. Cheesitao, M. D^ 478 Broaiiway ; F. tJ. Johnston
II D^ 28 East Fourteenth Street Geo. M. Knbvitt,
General Agent for the United States.
Monarch Fire Insurance Co., of London,
ESTABU8H£D in 1835.
OFFICE No. 4 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK.
Sttbdcribtb Capital anb dnrploa Itinlr, $2,000,000,
SPfiClAL fVmbf $150,000,
Held by Sew York Trustees to meet Lessee.
liOSSES ADJUSTBO I^ NEW YORK AND PKOIIIPX£.Y PAID.
GEORGE ADLARD,
Resident Secretary and General As^ut. No. 4 Broad St., N. Y.
FIRE INSURANCE.
The Providence Washington Insurance COi,
AT PROVIDENCE, R. I.
Chartered, 178*7. Capital, $200,000, all paid in (in caah) and seeorely invested.
Take risks againut Fire on application at their office in Providence ; and on MereMMt
diae and Buildings in the city of Kev York, on application at the office of
ASA BIGCl^OW, Jr., 46 Pine-atreec, corner off William*
Providence, fL I. April 1 1847. SULIJVAN DORR. Frtmdent
HOME INSURANCE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.
CASH CAPITAL $500,000.
BmLDiNQS, Merchandise, and other Property, Insured againbt
Loss OR Damage by Fire, on Favorable Terms.
OFFICE NO. 4 WALL-8T.,
!• P. WaLMARTH, CHARLES J. MARTIJf,
Secrttary. Vice-PresidmU
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MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
Establivlicd July, tsno.
BY FREEMAN HUNT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
PUBLISUED MONTHLY.
it I4S Fnlton-areet, New fork— At Five Dollars per ADBom.
Tha mSRCHANTS' MAQAtlNE A iS D COMMERCIAL REVIEW
is devoted U» TRADE, COMMERCE, and NAVIGATION— BANKING. CUR-
RENCY, and FINANCE— MERCANTILE and MARITIME LAW— FTllE
MARINE, and LIFE INSURANCE— OCEAN and INLAND NAVI-
GATION—NAUTICAL INTELLKJENCE— INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS—
includinff CANALS, RAILWAYS, and - PLANK ROADvS— RIVERS and
HARBORS, and in general all aubjecta involving the great Commuioial and Ikdus-
TRiAL bfTBEBHTs of Uie CouotTj and the Wurid.
It hat been ever the ooncitaot aim. and antmng effort of the Editor and Pro-
prietor to make the Work, at once, a journal of the lateBt Commercial Intelligence,
and a Atainlard Library of Reference on ail Umics of IVade, mtt lef« tndi<»peot«iible to
the Statcbman, PoLrriCAL Economist. Juanrr. Financieu, BANEica, BaoKKa, Ship Mas-
TEa. Ship Buildbe, x^]KcUANio,aud MAMurAuruaca. than to the MEECHAMraDd BuaiKsaa
Man ; and from the neceaaarily oomprehetiKive ran^e of ite dincuwiitios and its Statia^
tics, taking in. as it doea. every subject in the wide Held of Commerce, the pages of the
Magazine will always be found to embtnly a vast fund of Kmiwlege for tl^e Farmer,
abK»— for Uie Cotton Planter of the South, and Uie Grain Gniwer <»f the North.
The Editor and Proprietor liaa endeav(»red to infune into hia Magaziue a national
spirit and chanicter. bv securing the aid of able corret^ponilentainall pMrti* of our wide-
spread Republic, and by exluliiting the rcMmroes of every State ana Territory of the
I Uni<iiL On miKHed pomts in political economy, banking, and the principles of trade,
• he baa freelv admitted articles advocating antagonistic doctrines and opinions ; and,
while it is hih great aim to exhibit facta, and embody the scientific and practical opera-
tinoe of Commerce, the Magazine will be ever open to the free and fair discossioo of
every subject legitimately Calling witliin its general scope and ita original design.
The number fi>r Juoo. 1856, completed tlie triety second acmi-annual volume
of the Merchants' Magazine. Tl>e work lias been enlarged more than one- third since ita
commencement in July, 1889, and eadi volume now oontaina nearly Eight Hundred
octavo pages. A few complete aeta of the Blagazine may be obtained at the publif^h-
er's office, 142 Fulton-street, New York, neatly and substantially bound, for Two Dol-
lars AiTD A Ualp per volume.
OsAiraaE or ComiBacB or Paeis. Paris, 96 December. 1BS0.
Mr. Fekem an Hrirr.
8ia :— The Chamber of Commeroe of Paris, having had oooaslon to eaosuH Ilia Magtzhie which
you have |Miblliihed for so many years nat4. ohiM oat but fully apppedtite ftp frreatmtvit. Il hnare-
tDHTked the sustained seal and care with which vou havi* brouKbt ttiffethc r to Ita pfcires, atatiailcal
motier of the highest interest, aa well an dlMquismuiis of the atmnal Imfioruince aiid utility : and the
Chamber knows ul no better wav uf testifying ita appreeiation of )uur work, than by subwribing for
the Magaaine for its Library. The Treasurer ha been 4(i«ctMl tct charge one of our eonvapoitdmta
ID New Vork with this dmv, and alao tu r<>rwardato jrou thia letter, which we eoaolude Sir, by uflbriog
you the aaHuranoes of our bigbest ounaideimtioa.
II oaACBiSAV, Secretary. LECEWTIL, Praakteat of tbeChambaf.
At a atated roeetinff of the Philadelphia Board of Trade, hehl on Monday evenlni. April Slat, 1851,
tho fdllowlngrasuliitions were adopted, without a dlteentinsr voice:—
ftMo/vaif. Thai the Board of Trade viewiiifr the importance of a publication, which oimdeoaea In aa
attractive ami enduring form, fren<'ral iiiformatliai nod 0tatf)4ica nebittug to the c«»mfBeHiM and lndtta>
trial pureuitaoftmrcouiiir}-. venture to rocommemi ** Humt^t MtrcimnU'* Mufuitit^ aarf ComwrrctAt
! ltrrtVi0.**aapoaBWMlnrtke8erei|Uu«ltea in an emmmt deicrce, and tnwt their felkiw*citismi> may be
induced to enooan^^aaMAM llvirr. Esq., in hlaardaeus labora by beouming aubacribeiatu hla
|ienodicaL
ResUmtdy That a copy of the foKgotagBeaoiutlOB ha ftimiihed Hr.lliniT* by the SecnMaty of tha
Hoard.
TU08. P. COPE. Prealdeat. a C. CmLaa .fiieeretary.
— ^— •
I CiRcntNATi Cham aat or OowmEanu IVbnmry 4th. I8SJ*
At a neetteg of thedacinaati Chaaiber of Commeroe. February 4(h« leSUlho fuQowing reaohi-
liont ware aiiaainioiialy adopted v—
R*!soltied, That ilraT^f Mrrehmmtt* JUnjnnne mni Otmwereiat Review-, ia a wt>rfc of (creat Intoeai
nd utility, and la •ignally adapted to Inform the merchants npon Die numeroua fada relatlTe to the
»relffa and internal trade of the country. Ita manulucturea and agricoltaral atatiatlca ; and UuM the
hanks of the mercaatlle community are due to its editor. PaasMAK lleirr. Ea^.. for the industry and
ibility with which he haa conducted it for ao many years.
Res9tff€d^ That we rectHsmend ita more general alrculatlon, and that a copy of tbean KaaolutlonB be
brwarded to Ma« HrifT. Riciuao Sarrm SocraCary.
Cieonr* W. Wo4»A frint^rt !%«»• 9 I»itusiA*Air«.»a.
HUNT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE.
EatabllBhed JulT« 18S0»
BY FREEMAN HUNT. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
VOLUME XXXIIL OCTOBER, 1868. NUMBER IV
CONTENTS OP NO. IV., VOL. XXXIII.
ABTIClfiS.
Art. rA«B.
I. THE SOUND DUES OP DENMARK: AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE COM-
MERCE OF THE WORLD. Translated from the Gennao 403
11. MERCANTILE BIOGRAPHY : WALTER RESTORED JONEa By William A.
JoNBi, A. H., LlbrarUn of Columbia College 4S3
III. COMMERCE OP THE UNITED STATES.— No. xviii. Taxes upon Trade— The Wa^-
Oswogo— Prlvateere— Rule of 1756 regarding Neutrals— Scarcity in England— Louisburg
— FruDtenac— Indian Treaty— Canal In England— English Successes— Oherokees— Trade
during the War to English West indies— To French West Indies— To Europe— To Eng-
land—Exports of Sundry Articles— Slave Trade — Paper Money— Canada— Tne Prospect.
By Broch HALB,Jr., Esq.yOf New York 431
IV. THE CULTURE OP TEA IN BRAZIL. Translated tram the Jomal de Commerdo. ... 443
V. COMMERCE OF CANDIA. The Island of Candia— Imports and Exports— Commercial
Importance— Manners, Morals, and Customs of the People, etc 446
VI. TREASURE TROVE: OR THE DISCOVERY OP GOLD AND OTHER COINS IN
MAINE 448
JOURNAL OF MERCANTILE LAW.
Guaranty-Liabilities of Banks 453
Shipment of Goods — Consignments, etc 45S
Libel to Recover for Salvage Services 456
Commercial Law of Partnership 457
What Constitutes a Draft or Inland Bill of Exchange 459
COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND RBTIEW:
SICBKAOING A FINAN OIAL AND COMMKItOIAL BKTIEW OF THI UXTTID 8TATB8, BTO., ILLUSTKA-
TBD WITH TABLB8, BTO., AS VOLLOWS :
Revival of the Shipping Interest— Prospects for Breadstoflh in France, Germany, Great Britaio,
and the United SUtes— State of the Money Market— Bank War at the Northweai— Bank Move-
ment in New York, Boston, and Ohio— Business at New York Assay Office and New Orleaui
Mint— Imports at N^ew York for Augost* aod from January Ist- Imports of Dry Goods— Ex-
ports l>om New York for August, and from January Ist— Exports of Produce -Receipts for
Gash Duties- Exports fh>m New Orleans for the Fiscal Year- Foreign Exchange, etc. . . . 460-468
H«w York Cotton Market By Ulhorn k, FRxniRicKsoa, Broken, New York. .« 468
VOL. XXXIII. — ^NO. IV. 26
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402 CONTENTS OF NO. IV., VOL. ZZXUI.
PAOI.
JOURNAL OP BANKING, CDRBENCT, AND FINANCE,
Finances of the Principal CltlM in the United suites 470
The United States Assay Office In New York 472
The New York Country Banli Exchanffe 475
The Main Brace of &>tate Credit. By J . Thompson, Banker, of New York 477
Real and Personal Property of Brooklyn 478
Coinage of GoM and Silver in Mints ol Mexico fVom 15S1 to 1853 478
The Bank of England and its Notes.-Coinage of the British Mint 479
Bank of Matnal RedempUon 4SI>
COMMEKCIAL BKGDLATIONS.
Of Imporiations into the United States from the British ProTinces a 480
The Value of Merchandise must be Indorsed on the Bond. 481
Duties of Officers in Charge of United SUles Warebonees.— Seized and Unclaimed Goods 483
Duty of Superintendent of Public Warehouses.— Delivery of Goods sold at Auction, etc 4tj3
Bonds may be given by an Importer to an interior Port 484
Time of Transporution Bond in United States.— The Storekeeper of a Port In the United Slates 484
Regulations at Frontier Ports of the United States.— Trant)porution Routes for Merchandise in
Bond.— Rates of Labor and Storage in the Public Stoi es 485
Packing and Repacking Merchandise.— Penalties if Good are Reianded in the United States. ... 486
Ezporis to Canada and other British Provinces. — Warehouse and Transpf)rtatk>n Entry 466
Oartage, Drayage, or Lighterage of Goods in Bond.— Entry of Merchandise for Consumption.. . 487
Importers* Bond for MerchaMUse 4tj7
TheRetumof Custom-House Appraisers 488
POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
Modification of Prussian-American Postal Treaty 488
Accounts and Returns of Postmasters In U. States. — Postage on Back Numbers of Newspapers.. 49^
Publications eent to the Library of Congress and Smithsonian Institute.— The Duties of Postmas-
ters in regard to Waste Paper.— Registration of Letters.— Lost Drafts or Warrants 490
COMMERCIAL STATISTIC!^.
ImporUof Cloths into the United SUtea— Ships of the Worid 491
Comparative Navigation of Great Britain and the United States —Exports of Tea from China to
the United SUtes.-lron Imported into the United States In 1850-54 493
Wool Imported Into Great Britain 494
JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
Coal Fields and Products of the Ohio Valley. By Mr. Smith, of ClndnDatl Railroad Record.. . 494
Statistics of Breweries in the British Islands 496
New Process of Tanning Leather 497
The Ct>al Trade of Pennsylvania: Its Past, Its Present, and Its Future 499
The Manufacture of Watches.— Cotton Manufaaure in the South 499
Progieseof Iron Manufactures in Ohio 500
Salt Manufacture at Syracuse. -Prices of Boiler Tubes 500
The Manufacture of Paper in the United States.— Carpet Manufacture 501
What Is Amondiillado Sherry T-First Woolen Manufactures In America 501
The Manufactures of LoweU. 503
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.
Law of Life Assurance 503
STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, &e.
New Bcutchhig Machine for Flax 505
Com Crop of each County In the State of Ohio 506
STATISTICS OF POPULATION, be.
The Immigration since 1790 : a Statistical Essay. By Louis Scbadb, of Washington, D. C 509
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
Brazilian Regulations In relation to Signals— Signals from Flag-staff near Point Atalata 513
Iron Light-houses for the Florida Coast 515
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
8 allroads In Germany 516
iaclpline on board Steamers and Ships 517
Statistics of the Railroads In Maine 518
American Steamboats.— The ^ Great Eastern "Steamship ul9
MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
The Relation of Merchants to National Independence 530
Fabricated Trade Mark 533
First Books in America.— Paris Fuel Shops.— How to make Jujube Paste 534
THE BOOK TRADE.
HotSoetofSSnewBookBorBewEdltioiM ..•••..« 53S«538
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LUNT'b
MEECHANTS' MAGAZINE
AND
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
OCTOBER, 1855.
Art. I.— THE SOUND DUES OP DENHAKI:
An inquiry into the history of Sound Dues, much discussed, often dis-
puted, frequently opposed as they have been, imperturbably exacted as
they are, will teach a momentous lesson of great powers rendered impo-
tent by splitting their energies, of diplomacy missing its ends through ig-
norance and levity, and of great advantages, prejudicial to the interests ol
general Commerce, plucked by a small and feeble country from the quar-
rels of her powerful but discordant neighbors.
That roads thrown open by nature should not be closed by toll-barriers
is a demand as just as it is simple.
The Black Sea has long been open to trade ; the Mediterranean naviga-
tion is tributary no more to piratical States ; the Baltic remains locked up.
Denmark, hardly more than a parcel of scattered islands, holds the key in
her hand, and ransacks the trade of the world of yearly millions. The
* The foUowiD? tranflatlon of an article on the Sound Dues of Denmark, published by F. Het*
eenland, Stettin, PrusaiH, has been sent us from Washington. It presents the German view of the
question in a rather strong and perhaps somewbat exaggerated light. In the Merchants* Magazxve
for Marchf 1844, (vol. x., psges S18 to 233,) we published an able and interesting paper relating to
^ The Origin and History of the Danish Sound and Bt^ltTolb," which was translated from the Dan-
ish of J. F. Schlegel for the Merchanta* Magazine by that accomplished statesman and scholar, the
Hon. GioROK P. Marsh, at that time Representative in Congie«s, and since United States Minister
to Turliey. The translation of Mr. Marsh discussed the sovereignty of Denmark over the adjacent
seas and sounds, hud the t^ound and Beit tolls, gave the ground of the right of toll, the rules accord-
ing to which toll was anciently exacted and is now imposed, closing with a full reference to the lit-
erature of the Sound lolls. It will be seen, by rerereuce to that article and the present, that this
question, like most others, has two sides. -fdiCor Merchants* Magazine,
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404 The Sound Dues of Denmark :
only distinguishing features between the tribute levied at the Sound and
the involuntary present exacted by the Emperor of Morocco are the enor-
mity and the regularity of the former.
All the natural entrances to the Baltic Sea — the Sound and the two
Belts — are guarded by custom-house officers and fortifications. The whole
of the transit, whatever its origin or destination, is there subjected to an
assumed right of sovereignty ; vain would be any attempt to elude that
scourge of the trade. A shot across her hawse reminds tne forgetful ves-
sel to lay to and pay ; if she disregard that, a ball is presently sent into
her hull. The powers that be connive at the sway exercised by the guns
of Kronenborg over the Sound, as absolute as when the pirate king Hel-
sing, from his strongholds on both sides of the Sound, did plunder the
merchantmen as they passed : —
For why t because the good old rule
Sufficeth them, the aimple plan,
Thai they t>hould take that have the power,
And they should keep who can !
For the last two centuries Denmark has been able to keep but one shore
in her possession ; this fact, however, has gone for nothing. The peace-
able merchantmen, whatever their flag, are forced to pass hard under the
guns of the fortress. In the broad channel, varying from a half to three
German miles, the vessel might keep out of the range of shot and pass
close to the Swedish coast, but free passage is prohibited. Kronenborg is
only to be silenced by the language of ordnance. In 1658, the Dutch
Admiral Opdam forced the passage with a fleet of thirty-five men of war,
and on the 30th March, 1801, Parker and Nelson, with fifty-three sails
under their orders, assisted by a fresh north-west wind, passed the straits
unscathed close to the Swedish coast
The Great Belt, an equally natural passage, and accessible to vessels of
all sizes — the English and French fleets passed through it but recently —
is on its south side guarded by the guns of Nyborg, and those of Frider-
icia look over the Little Belt.
Unnatural as this state of things really is, Russia, that colossus stretch-
ing from the Black Sea to the Baltic^ that eternal menace weighing like
an incubus upon all hope of progress, protects the Danebrog ; Prussia feels
too weak to throw ofl* the fetters keeping her Baltic trade in thrall ; Aus-
tria is silent ; the other German States never tire of allowing their Baltic
imports and exports to be charged with Danish duties, and even pay a
bonification yearly by way of indemnity ; Sweden expostulates without
avail ; England and France have hitherto made light of the yoke ; only
the United States will worship the idol of bygone times no longer. As
early as 1843, Mr. Secretary Upshur declared — the other maritime powers
having allowed themselves to be mesmerized by Danish diplomacy — that
" Denmark continues to this day without any legal title to levy an exceed-
ingly strange duty on all goods passing the Sound. Denmark cannot lay
claim to these duties upon any principle either of nature or of the law of
nations, nor from any other reason than that of antiouated custom. It
renders no service in consideration of that tax, and nas not even such
rights as the power to enforce it would give. Great and general is the
discontent felt by all nations interested in the Baltic trade on account of
that needless and humiliating contribution. For the United States the
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And their RelatMm vfith the Commerce of the World, 405
time has oome when they can appropriately take a decisive step to free
their Baltic trade of this pressure."
This strong language created great consternation at Copenhagen ; how-
ever, the intermediation of Russia succeeded in warding oif the dangerous
blow ; but the United States have now once more opened their trenches
against Denmark.
It is time to break in upon the dead silence that has for years overhung
the question, and draw the attention of the mercantile and political world
towards so generally felt a calamity to trade.
The conventions last entered into in 1841, for the term of ten years,
have expired without being renewed ; England, Sweden, as Prussia, and
all other powers that considered themselves to be bound by the same, are
therefore entirely at liberty now, and it is an urgent duty they owe their
mercantile communities, to move for and insist upon a thorough reform of
the Sound Dues. At the present moment no one can tell which side will
carry it in the struggle for political preponderancy ; yet assuredly there is
no lack of warlike force in the Baltic more than sufficient to dictate laws
to Denmark.
What renders the Sound Dues all the more severely felt is the fact that
all other highroads between the North Sea and the Baltic, both by land
and water, have in like manner been encumbered by Denmark with heavy
duties. The Sound Dues are now only part of a system^ which acts no
less oppressively in the south of the Danish territory than the northern
Dardanelles do by arresting the progress of the Baltic trade. Denmark,
since the Congress of Vienna in possession of Lauenburg, resists any sat^
isfactory reduction of the dues on the Elbe ; the Hamburg-Berlin and Lu-^
beck Railways pay taxes to Denmark, and the transit by land through
Holstein is impeded by Danish imposts. The passage of the Sleswig^
Holstein Canal is subject to the same tribute that goods and vessels have
to pay into the Danish treasury in the Sound and Belts. Denmark, with
her tax gatherers, is master of all the gateways between Northern Europe
and the ocean.
In times of yore, protection from freebooters and pirates was welcome
to the defenseless sailor, and he readily paid convoy-money to the Dane.
Afterwards, when light-houses, buoys, and beacons were established to
guide the pilot amidst dangerous rocks and shoals, a compensation for the
expense and maintenance of such safeguards was willinglv granted. But
over and above that, to lay the open sea under high contributions of every
description, to levy dues and perquisites from ships and goods, exclusively
for the benefit of the treasury, and without rendering any counter-benefit
— protection is not needed any longer, nor could Denmark afford it, if it
were — belongs to times of brute force. Without the leniency and for-
bearance of the leading powers this impotent nation could not continue a
practice nor persevere in a system whidi have developed themselves from
the smallest beginnings to huge dimensions. *
It has long ago been ascertained by careful research that the Sound
Dues originated in levying a tax on salt and wine, along with a trifling
ship-money. Even in this restricted form, the impost led to most vehement
eonfiiats with the mighty Hansa. In 13d3 and 1365, her victorious arms
subjugated king Waldemar IIL, and wrung from him exemption from toll
" in ail time coming." The vow was soon broken, Hanseatic vessels being
stopped in the Sound and compelled to pay duty. New victories secured
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406 The Sound Dues of Denmark :
a confirmation of the grant, which was repeated in 1443, 14*7 7, 1624, and
lastly, in the most explicit form, by the recess of Odense, 1580. Between
these confirmations, mention is made of manifold vexations, acts of injust-
ice and complaints, which latter Denmark ultimately endeavored to set aside
by pretending that " the old title had long since been erased by the mold
of time." In order the easier to resist the importunity of the Hanseatic
Union, its rivals, the Netherlands, were bribed by special privileges granted
to them in the Sound. The Dutch were the first to introduce the Sound
toll by conventional obligations into the politics and the law of nations.
They did so in 1544, by the treaty of Spire, in which they agreed to pay
" the ancient duty." Dubious though it was, that obligation was used by
the Danes as a pretext for annoyances and molestations of every kind.
Higher duties having been imposed in 1548, a remonstrance on this ground
met with the unblushing reply " that the king, as an independent sover-
eign, could raise them at his good pleasure," and Denmark made use of
the power it then had to confer privileges and deny them ; it distin-
guished in the Sound between privileged and unprivileged nations. The
English, Scotch, French, and Portuguese were of the latter class; they
paid, according to a tariff of 1558, a rosenoble (about 19 shillings) on
each vessel, and upon all goods 1 per cent of the value, excepting wine,
which had to pay 3^ per cent.
The per centage paid by privileged nations in the present day is consid-
erably above that exacted from the unprivileged three hundred years ago.
The privileged, t. c, the Netherlands and the Hanseatic towns, tendered
six casks out of each cargo of salt, in compensation for which they re-
ceived one gold florin, and they moreover paid duty on Rhenish and strong
wines. With these limitations, ships and goods of the six Vandal Hanse
Towns — Lubeck, Hamburg, Rostock, Stralsund, Wismar, Luneburg — were
perfectly free from taxation ; foreign good^in their bottoms paid one to
three rosenobles. The eastern Hanse Towns — Dantzic, Konigsberg, Riga,
Revel, Pernau, Stettin, Greifswald, Wolgast, Elbing, Colberg— -paid on
their own goods two rosenobles. .The Netherlands and the western Han-
seatics paid one to two rosenobles, according as the vessel was loaded or
in ballast Amsterdam enjoyed exemption fr^m duty even for wine.
Not long after this time, the maritime pre^onderancy still maintained in
the north by the Hanse began to decline, and by the treaty concluded in
1560 at Odense, with the ** worshipful Hanse Towns," fresh advantages
were insured to Denmark. True enough those towns retained their free-
dom of duty in the abstract, but copper was added to the list of excep-
tions; they had to submit to primage and tonnage dues, and to carry
passports and certificates on the cargo, or to pay a fine of one rosenoble.
In 1563, the war with Sweden afforded a welcome pretext for an import-
ant increase of the dues, which, in spite of treaties, was extended to the
Hanseatics and the Dutch. The peace of Stettin, in 1670, had recognized
the exemption from duty retained by Sweden ever since the dissolution of
the Calmar Union. But treaties on this ground have ever proved illusory.
The duties varied at the pleasure of Denmark ; tax upon tax was added ;
vessels were searched and placed under embargo. Christian IV. went so
far as to prohibit the passage of all goods through the Sound, or only to
allow it by special permission and in consideration of perfectly extravagant
taxes fixed beforehand. These foolish measures brought about an alliance
of the Netherlands and Sweden ; in the war which ensued the former sup-
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And their Belations vfith the Commerce of the World, 407
ported Sweden by sending a fleet before Copenhagen in 1643. Tbis to#k
effect ; negotiations were opened, and both powers insisted upon free and
unimpeded navigation of the open sea for all nations, and repudiated the
pretensions which would make a Danish canal of the Sound. The suc-
cessful Swedish generals — Torstenson, Horn, Wrangel, Konigsmark — had
humbled Denmark ; that able diplomatist, Chancellor Oxensderna, obtained
for Sweden by the peace of Bromsebroe, 1 3th August, 1646, new provinces
and total exemption from both Sound Dues and subsidiary taxes for all
her goods and the whole of her domipions, of which the Duchy of Pome-
rania then formed part. Stettin was represented in these negotiations by
a special delegate. The treaties of peace at Roeskilde, in 1657, and at
Copenhagen, in 1660, confirmed this immunity, and gave one shore of the
straits of the Sound to Sweden. This territorial change necessarily in-
volved for Denmark the loss of her most Essential title to a right of sov-
ereignty over the Sound.
Against the States General, France had, in 1645, lent her aid to Den-
mark ; after the Danish government had fraudulently obtained information
of private instructions empowering the Dutch ambassadors to ^ve way in
the end, the States were obliged to comply with a specified tariff fixed by
the treaty of Christianople, likewise concluded on the 1 3th August, 1646,
but they have never acknowledged the right to levy duties as claimed by
Denmark, nor indeed has such right met with recognition from any power
to the present day.
Danish cunning and bad faith soon rose to the surface again. The con-
cluding clause of the tariff of Christianople says : — " And all cargoes not
specified in the preceding list are to be calculated according to mercantile
usage and the custom that has been observed in olden times and ever
since."
This clause, construed after the Danish fashion, afforded a plausible pre-
text for unrestrainedly charging much more than 1 per cent upon goods
not named in the tariff, and gave rise to the fiction, directly opposed to
the treaty of Christianople, of an unlimited liability to duty of all unspe-
cified goods. According to the rules of rational interpretation the word
" calculated " cannot mean " taxed," but must be rendered by " reduced,"
referring, as it undoubtedly does, to the system adopted by the treaty of
Christianople, of reducing to one uniform rate of weight and measure all
the diflerent modes of determining quantity current in the commercial
world. That, with the exception of wine and salt, which were chargeable
at the rate of horn 4^ to 6^ per cent, on no one article should the duty
be allowed to exceed 1 per cent, was a rule as positively laid down by the
old tariffs as by that of Christianople itself; the majority of enumerated
articles were even charged less than 1 per cent. Next, it had been omitted
in framing the treaty of Christianople to bind Denmark to maintain light-
houses and the like. This manifest oversight was visited home by Chris-
tian IV^., who had the light-houses, beacons, and buoys removed, and did
not allow the dark coast to be lighted up again until fresh imposts had
been agreed to.
On the basis of the Christianople treaty, France, in acknowledgement
of her assistance, was, in 1646, placed on the same footing with the Neth-
erlands. So was Great Britain in 1654. They were raised to the rank of
privileged nations. To the same effect, most nations have subsequently
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408 The Sound Dues of Denmark :
concluded treaties of Commerce with Demnark, all of which are fomided
on the treaty of Christiaiiople.
An experiment was made on the part of Holland, in 1649, to pay
3 50,000 florins annually in compensation for Sound Dues, but this plan
was abandoned in 1653. A subsequent treaty of 16th June, 1701, pro-
viding, among other things, that unspecified goods are not to be charged
with more than 1 per cent of the value at the shipping-port, has never
become obsolete, and is referred to as still in force in the convention of
1841.
Sweden entirely lost her exemption from duty on the 8d June, 1720.
The great northern war, whilst it made Charles XII. immortal, ruined his
kingdom to such a degree that after twenty years of almost uninterrupted
warfare the exhausted country, for being allowed to retain her Swedish
territorial possessions, had to give up the emancipation from Sound Dues
she had won for herself in 1645. Stralsund, Greifewald, and Wolgast,
which places had been occupied by the Danes, but were again surrendered
to Sweden, had to adopt that country's renunciation of 1720 as their own.
All the rest of the Baltic ports, now in the possession of Prussia, could,
not possibly be affected by that renunciation. As members of the Hansa
they were supported by the convention of Odense, 1560, which had since
been specially confirmed, to Danzig, Konigsberg, Elbing, and Memel, in
1569, to others at different times. Stettin, which deserves our attention
of all others, is named as contracting party by the treaty itself. Some of
those ports had been transferred by the Westphalian peace to Prussia, and
retained all the immunities conferred by the peace of Bromsebroe, 1645,
fifteen years after the dissolution of the Hanseatic Union ; such were Col-
berg, Riigenwalde, Stolpe, Cammin, Treptow ; others, as Stettin, Anclam,
Demmin, Wollin, Golnow, continued possessed of all their old liberties
and privil^es, secured to them in 1560 and 1645, when they joined Prus-
sia at the separate peace concluded by that power with Sweden on the
2l8t January, 1720, anterior to the peace between Sweden and Denmark,
and consequently before the renunciation of Sweden.
We now come to a characteristic episode. Pending the war, Prussia
and Denmark agreed at Stettin on a partition of the German provinces of
Sweden then occupied by their troops, (30th May, 1716.) Denmark in-
suves to the ports of Lower Pomerania (Stettin, etc.,) the freedom from,
duty in the Sound and Belts " now and in future ;" a few months after
(18th December, 1715,) a treaty at Stralsund suddenly cancels that con-
cession. ** The subjects in Lower Pomerania," it says, " are liable to duty."
The history of that treaty is curious enough. To prevent differences that
might arise in reference to the recently acquired possessions, it was pro-
posed to settle fiscal and commercial regulations in the camp. The P^s-
sians, above all the Minister v. Jlgen, vigorously insisted on the old rights
which Denmark tried to abrogate by sophistical clauses. The Danish dip-
lomatists found means of removing the minister out of the way ; king
Frederic William I. was, without his advisers, invited to a banquet, and
•after dinner his courtiers, in the pay of Denmark, produced the Stralsund
^treaty for signature. It was signed —
IsoLANi : Sign ? anything you like I
Only don't trouble me to read.
In vain the king, on the dd December, 1716, claimed what was due to
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him bjr the treaty of Odense, " all of which," he says, " I have the best
right in the world to pretend to." Danish politicians, full of mental res-
ervations and claptraps, were not to be diverted from their aim by words.
Even when shortly after, in the above-mentioned separate peace, Prussia
bad obtained firom Sweden Lower Pomerania, on payment of two millions
of dollars, and both powers had mutually guarantied their privileges in
the Sound, and when by that peace the Stralsund treaty, having for its ob-
ject a partition of Pomerania between Denmark and Prussia, had become
absolutely nugatory, Denmark persisted in the refusal to recognize the old
Sound toll immunities. In the same arbitrary manner as Danzig, Konigs-
berg, etc., had been subjected to duty as early as the end of the 17 th cen-
tury, the Stralsund treaty was extended to and enforced against all Prus-
sian ports, without distinction as to whether they had been annexed before
or after the northern war. This was done after the Danish fashion, by
degrees, according as circumstances served, receding before superior force,
at the first favorable opportunity returning to the aggression, aided by the
inattention, ignorance, or inanity of the adversary. Only once a reaction
took place. Frederick the Great ordered his ambassador at Copenhagen,
von Bismark, to show more energy in supporting the reclamations untir-
ingly renewed by Stettin. Denmark replied that the Sound Dues were
the costliest jewel in her crown — the apple of her eye ; that tbe notions
for abrogation gave only trouble and vexation. She threatened to call
upon England and France for assistance ; whereupon Frederick wrote to
his ambassador : — " Vous ferez entendre, que si Von ne voulait pas Caire
attention k mes representations, je me verrai oblige a des reprdsailles."
For a short time this language may have intimidated. As late as 1729
the Prussian ports did not pay duty according (o the tariff of Christiano-
ple ; now and then the old rights were respected, and two small ports,
Cammin and Colberg, have been to this day essentially treated in conform-
ity with the convention of Odense, which indeed cannot be proved to have
been abrogated in respect to any of the places concerned in it. Never-
theless the Christianople tariff has ever since 1803 been enforced against
all the rest, because it suited Denmark^s convenience to do so. Futile in-
terpretations, specious statements, and spurious facts were employed to
make the tanff as productive as possible, to introduce abuses, and to dom-
ineer at pleasure over Baltic trade and navigation. The treaties of 1814
had given to Prussia possession of the remaining Swedish dominions in
Germany. The Vienna Congress ought to have been eagerly taken ad-
vuita^ of by Prussia to rid her Baltic coast of the contribution ; instead
of doing so, she there took preparatory steps towards a treaty of Com-
merce with Denmark, which was signed on the 17 th June, 1818, and, for
diplomatic incapacity and weakness, leaves everything else far behind that
has hitherto attracted our notice in reference to our subject. Instead of
advisedly and energetically defending and reclaiming the clear primeval
rights, Uie Prussian plenipotentiary, Count Dohna, abandoned them each
and all, subjected, without so much as asking for advice from mercantile
Juarters, the Prussian ports to the tariff of 1645, which was not even pro-
uced for inspection, and was perfectly satisfied with himself for having
obtained insertion of a clause to the effect that goods not enumerated in
the tariff were not to be taxed with more than 1 per cent Such a model
of courtesy was this diplomatist, as to give his consent to a secret article
which, while it continued the privileges of Cammin and Colberg, poor
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410 The Sound Dues of Denmark:
relics of the rights of all, exclusively deduced the title of those ports from
custom and Danish complaisance.
Denmark retained undisturbed possession of the Sound Dues — "her
gold mine " — and lost no opportunity to improve its productiveness. She
exceeded and violated the tariff as unscrupulously and arbitrarily as if
there had been no such thing as a binding word or promise. One should
think the extraordinary metamorphosis all commercial relations have un-
dergone in the course of two hundred years, the increase of shipping and
trade to thirty or forty times the extent both had in the middle of the
seventeenth century, the important changes in prices of all commodities,
would have naturally led to a corresponding reduction of the tariff; in-
stead of that the dues were levied arbitrarily and without reference to any
leading or published principle. Complaints and reclamations remained
unheard. It was proved that the tariff had been most shamefully exceed-
ed, and the subsidiary dues most immoderately raised, the former by 4 to
5 per cent and upwards, the latter to from 30 to 48 dollars for the ship
instead of 6. Stettin alone had to pay too much — from 1827 to 1834,
40,000 dollars annually; 1836, 67,000 dollars; 1836 to 1838, 70,000
dollars annually — dues far exceeding 1 per cent having been charged upon
more than 160 articles. Taking only six of these — coffee, rum and arrack,
raw sugars, spelter, and spirits — 493,301 dollars too much had, in the
twenty years from 1819 to 1839, been abstracted from the pockets of
Stettin merchants.
The Convention of 1841. The Prussian treaty of 1818 had been con-
cluded for a term of twenty years. When they had expired in 1 838 the
commercial communities of all the Prussian ports urged with renewed en-
ergy the removal " of the old sloth of obsolete Sound Dues," and entered
their protest against the lamentable violations of the law even as it had
been laid down by the treaty of 1818. The most careful examination was
petitioned for, and an order from the royal closet, 6th June, 1838, was
graciously pleased to promise redress. Touching letters, however, which
king Frederick VI. wrote with his own hand to king Frederick William
III., convinced his Prussian majesty that the question of the Sound Dues
was a mere personal affair between him and his royal brother, and had
nothing whatever to do, as everybody else thought, with the interests of
trade. It is true that the Prussian ministry, in their reports to the king,
made it perfectly clear that the Sound Dues did interfere with the export
trade of Prussia and the countries in her rear, and that they likewise
raised the prices of colonial and other foreign produce to the Prussian
consumer, manufacturer, and merchant. Steps were even taken to enter
upon negotiations ; the co-operation of Sweden was secured. Denmark,
however, easily succeeded in protracting and defeating those negotiations,
and refused to allow well-informed members of the Stettin Chamber of
Commerce to take part in them, for fear of compromising her dignity.
At last, in 1841, the Commercial Corporation of Hull, stimulated by Swe-
den, brought a motion before Parliament to desire such a revision of the
dues as was necessary to disburden the Baltic trade of England. " Had
the administration of 1814," said Mr. Hutt, "paid but the slightest regard
to the great importance of our trade with the North of Europe, it could
never have countenanced pretensions so antiquated and prejudicial as those
raised by the king of Denmark to the effect of throwing obstacles into
the way of free ingress to and egress from the Baltic flie Sound Dues
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And their Belatum» with the Commerce of the World. 411
are an institution diametrically opposed to ^very acknowledged principle
of international law, and to all the usages of the civilized world ; a direct
violation of those wise maxims that ought to regulate the intercourse of
nations, and prejudicial to the best interests of our Commerce."
Sir Robert Peel warmly supported the motion, and regarded the Parlia-
igentary debate in the light of an effective demonstration with a view to
the conversion of Denmark. The foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston,
also gave his full consent to the motion, and referred to the negotiations
already in progress. Upon the latter, Denmark had readily entered, true
to her principle — divide and rule. They had been opened by Sweden, and
taken up by £ngland. Prussia was entreated by Denmark to keep aloof
from them, a separate agreement being held out to her, which should pay
due regard to all Prussian grievances. The hoax succeeded as completely
as could be desired. England was silenced by certain reductions, princi-
pally on manufactured goods ; the complaints of Sweden were got rid of
by increasing the amount Denmark yearly paid to Sweden towards the
support of certain light-houses. On the 23d x\ugust, 1841, Denmark con-
cluded a convention at London and Elsinore with England and Sweden,
by which, as by nearly all her former treaties, she has lost nothing and
gained much. After the convention had been ratified, Russia, who osten-
sibly at least had had no hand in the negotiations, hastened to accept it
formally and expressly — which, from her already existing privileged posi-
tion, was not at all necessary — and the Director of the Sound Dues was
decorated with a Russian order set in diamonds. Prussia, however, was
dismissed with being given to understand that the question had been set-
tled by the said treaty. In the ^altic ports apprehensions were felt lest
Prussia should simply adhere to the Anglo-Swedish, conventions, without
carrying the necessary thorough reform, but the Minister of Finance, v.
Alvensleben, assured them that their commercial interests would be care-
fully attended to. Competent persons from Stettin were called to Berlin.
They moved for a total abolition of the Sound Dues, either by capitalizing
them or paying them off by aversional sums. In case neither were feas-
ible, they proposed to have the tariff entirely repealed, an uniform duty of
one-half per cent established in its stead, and such duty to be levied for
Danish account in the Baltic ports, and according to the value shown by
bills of lading and invoices. Any tariff, they said, was dangerous in Dan-
ish hands ; the new convention was already misconstrued, and did charge
most articles of import at the rate of 2 per cent ; a number of specified
and unspecified articles had been estimated at more than their value. It
was downright nonsense to retain a tariff framed two hundred years ago.
Denmark, however, was supported by Russia, and, when Prussia became
more pressing again, began to play a diflerent game, placing it at the op-
tion of Prussia to adopt the convention of 1841 provisionally, and declar-
ing her readiness to negotiate on the capitalization of the duty, which ob-
ject, however, she took good care to defeat by underhand operations. This
cannot be called a misfortune ; it is clear that rather than indemnify Den-
mark by payment of an amount of nearly forty millions of dollars, quite
different means ought to be resorted to. But so far Prussia had again
been discomfited in carrying out her good intentions. Demonstrations
through the officious press met with a haughty answer from Denmark on
the same ground ; besides, the Danish government, through the medium
of the French ambassador at Copenhagen, published an attack on Prussia
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412 The Sound Due^ of Denmark :
in the Journal dea Debats, where the remonstrances of the fifth power
were called unseasonable and impolitic " in the name of all the Europeaa
cabinets."
The negotiations had, on the part of Prussia, been conducted with thor-
ough knowledge of the subject and steady perseverance ; they were de-
feated by the tough, unconquerable resistance of Denmark, and were sus-
pended in 1846, the treaty of 1818 being tacitly acknowledged. "Prus-
sia," as her government stated at the time, " aimed at buying off the duty
in order to get rid of the pressure upon trade exercised at the very gates
of the Baltic by a form of taxation so entirely exceptional and at variance
with the spirit of the affe. Having failed in that object, the government
will have to regard as their next duty to the country, to promote an alle-
viation of the burden by every means within their reach. Denmark has,
as far as the question at issue is concerned, been always swayed by a short-
sighted policy, and paid attention only to her nearest and most palpable
interests. Anxious but about one thing, viz. : to keep up the favorable
state of her finances, however arbitrary and illegal her system of taxation,
she has always obstinately defended it up to the very moment when she
could not but perceive opposition had grown to an intensity which would
render further resistance impossible and even dangerous to the conserva-
tion of the right itself. It has only been in such moments of jeopardy,
and face to face with superior force, that Denmark has consented to sacri-
fice just as much of her system of taxation as appeared absolutely neces-
sary, according to time and circumstances, in order to preserve the whole
from immediate destruction. Such is the history of all negotiations in
reference to Sound Dues, from the treaties of Odense and Christianople
down to the present day. To the higher point of view, that the Sound
Dues are a diseased spot on her body, and will, in our times, continue the
object of unceasing attacks, Denmark has never been accessible. Public
opinion is unanimous in condemning the convention of 1841 as a half
measure, unsatisfactory in every respect. Not content with making Den-
mark that important concession of allowing the antiquated tariff of Chris-
tianople to continue in force, it has, moreover, entirely frustrated the an-
ticipation of a better state of things, and neither in theory nor practice
has it been founded upon any principle. Not even the reduction to 1 per
cent of all the duties on non-enumerated articles has been carried ; several
of the foremost articles of importation, raw sugars, salt from some coun-
tries, pig-iron, etc, continue to be charged at higher and partially exorbi-
tant rates ; the reform, so often and urgently asked for, of the oppressive
and arbitrary system of perquisites, has not only been completely waived,
but there has even been given a formal recognition of the legality of the
present mode to levy perquisites, although decidedly contrary to all trea-
ties ; in like manner, shipmasters have been formally saddled with the ob-
ligation of personally appearing before the Chamber of Sound Dues to
clear their vessels, an obligation founded upon no treaty ; besides, Den-
mark has been allowed to increase light and beacon money by 12^ p^
cent, and nothing has been done towards a fair settlement of boat-hire and
pilotage. Denmark has tried, with her notorious sophistry, to make the
result appear less unsatisfactory than it is, and she indulges in the illusion
to fancy the revenue from the Sound Dues a possession she will be allowed
4)uietly to enjoy. At the same time when she repeatedly protested her
readiness to negotiate on the capitalization, she has found meana, by rai^*
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And their BektHom toiik the Commerce of the World. 418
ing every kind of obstacle, to elude even the proposal of annnal aversional
payments, and she seems to expect offers so generous to spring into reality
by the fiivor of casual circumstances, and as it were of their own accord.
When such is the state of matters, any time will serve for representing to
Denmark the absolute necessity of going to work in reforming her present
faulty system, and there can be not the slightest doubt that Denmark will
never yield to the persuasion of an enlightened and far-seeing policy, but
only to the compulsory force of external circumstances and hard facts."
If this language had induced the commercial public of Prussia to in-
dulge in any sanguine expectations, the government soon entirely disap-
pointed them by renewing the treaty of Commerce instead of dissolving
it Russia had demanded and obtained some paltry reductions in the tariff
for cotton, raw sugar, and spirits. They were graciously extended to the
Prussian flag — a matter of course by the treaty of 1818 — and Denmark
not only escaped from having this treaty thrown up, but by the fourth ar-
ticle of the convention of 26th May, 1846, acquired also the adhesion of
Prussia to that of 1841, in consideration of the promise, unnecessary to
be mentioned, that all reductions of the tariff of 1841, and all and eveiy
privileges or advantages of whatsoever kind, heretofore or henceforth
granted or to be granted to any other nation, were ipso facto and by right
equally to refer to Prussian subjects. By an order of the Prussian Minis-
ter of Finance, dated 17th June, 1846, the pregnant concession was more-
over made to Denmark, that Prussian cargoes were to be furnished with
officially attested declarations.
To lessen the burden as far as it weighs upon the Commerce of Prussia,
that country has long made, and is still making, considerable sacrifices out
of her own treasury. The fees of her consul at Elsinore were reduced in
1845, that the foreign exaction might be less severely felt Already, since
1825, a discount of 2^ per cent had been allowed to Stettin on the import,
export, or transit duties for all goods passing the Sound to or from that
port This bonification from the pockets of the generality of taxpayers
was extended in 1845 to all Baltic ports. Within the five years from
1840 to 1853 the discount amounted to 407,799 dollars, which, computed
for the thirty years since 1 836, would make up a sum of several millions,
• paid in order ih&t Denmark might not be disturbed in filling " her gold
mine." The discount, however, falls far short of being an indemnification,
for the Sound Dues amount to from 6 to 8 per cent of the import duty of
the Zollverein, consequently at least Sj per cent are not covered by the
former ; on transit goods the discount is hardly worth naming, transit and
export duties being insignificant in proportion to Sound Dues. Owing to
this circumstance many British goods are now forwarded to Poland via
Hamburg by rail, which would otherwise have gone via Danzig, as the
higher charges of railway transport are all but balanced by the saving of
Sound Dues and of interest In general, any reduction of the duties of
the Zollverein must of course have the effect of placing the Baltic ports
at a ftirther disadvantage, the discount being then reduced in proportion,
while the Sound Dues remain the same.
The Expiration op the Conventioks of 1841 and 1846. Both agree-
ments have expired on the Ist July, 1861. Every government has it in
its power to give notice that it does not intend to be bound by the treaty
any longer ; from the date of such notice being given the convention of
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414 7^ Sound Dues of Denmark :
1841 remains in force for a twelvemonth, that with Prussia of 1846 for
half that period only.
From the Prussian Baltic ports, as well as in Sweden, reclamations were
vigorously renewed both before and after the conventions in question had
expired. The prosternation of trade, the difficulty of competition with
the Elbe and the railways, was dwelt upon at great length by the Stettin
merchants, who flattered themselves with the hope that the conferences
held at Dresden in 1851 would do away with the oppressive and vexatious
burden. The deputies of the Society of Wholesale Dealers and Shipown-
ers at Stockholm complained of fresh violations of treaty in levying the
nonsensical and otfensive tribute, called to mind the old franchise, the sig-
nificant circumstance that Denmark was only possessed of one shore of
the Sound, and the readiness of Sweden to keep at hand an auxiliary corps
in order to save the Danish monarchy, when its existence seemed to be at
an emergency during the last crisis. The equipment of that corps has
put Sweden to an expense of two millions of dollars banco, as all Swedish
ratepayers will have cause to remember for six years to come. Such aid
having been given, the continuance of a Danish tax on Swedish trade for
the passage of the Sound close to the Swedish shore appears doubly oner-
ous and humiliating. By a fiction of the convention of 1841, a line is
drawn from the flag-battery at Kronenborg to the north end of Helsing-
borg on the Swedish side ; in consequence thereof it happens every day
that in contradiction with common sense the cabotage between two Swed-
ish ports on different sides of the imaginary line is made to pay Sound
Dues at Elsinore.
In the yearly reports of the commercial corporations of Stettin and
Danzig to the Prussian ministry, the Sound Dues, as an obstacle occupying
the first rank, as a never-healing wound of Baltic trade, as an unsupport-
able burden on the open sea, as a *^ canker in the flesh,^' form the never-
ending theme of complaint The replies of the Ministers of Commerce
endeavor to hold out future comfort On the 19th August, 1841, the cor-
porations were sold, the petition for throwing up the convention of 1 846,
or securing a reduction of such articles as were paying more than 1 per
cent, had been carefully examined, but that the conviction had resulted
that, under existing circumstances, negotiations would have no chance of
8ucx:ess, and that consequently the idea had been abandoned for the time
being. On the 21st June, 1852, they were informed that it was unfeasible
to t«le the whole of the Sound Dues upon the general budget ; again, on
the 24th September, 1853, that the government would not be remiss in
trying to bring about a reduction of the Sound Dues, the moment a favor-
able opportunity should turn up. We wonder if this opportunity has
drawn nearer in consequence of the oflensive and defensive alliance formed
between Austria and Prussia on the 20th April, for the exclusive protec-
tion of German interests. The mercantile world looks forward with greater
confidence to the transatlantic " pressure from without," which promises
to be efi*ective.
It would be a strange delusion to fancy that the state of thingR in the
Sound and Belts had become more regular and rational in the course of
the last twelve years. While the nucleus of the matter remains intact,
while the tariff of Christianople, for hundreds of years the source of un-
ceasing complaints, continues, in spite of its tottering old age, to be forced
upon uie youthful life of trade, the matter can never be allowed to rest.
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And their BelaUans with the Coinm$rce of the World. 415
The ridicule of the whole affair is best shown by comparison. Fancy, for
instance, import duties to be levied to-day according to valuations from
custom-rolls of the 17 th century! What was originally 1 per cent has,
in the course of time, become 4 to 12, even 16 per cent; salt, among oth-
ers, pays according to the place of origin 8 to 16 per cent; cotton and
twist, 3 to 4 per cent; wine, 5 to 10 ; tobacco, 6 ; rice, 4 ; molasses, 3 ;
raisins, 7 ; currants, 2i ; pepper and ginger, 4i ; cloves, alum, saltpeter, 3
to 5; dyewood, li; spelter, H; herrings, 2; Swedish rod-iron, U per
cent. Steel, planks, and lathwood are free of export duty in Sweden, but
pay 3^ per cent on passing the Sound. As regards non-enumerated arti-
cles, the convention of 1841 expressly fixes the maximum duty at 1 per
cenL Important articles, as raw sugar and coffee, pay in fact 2 per cent ;
plums, 2 per cent ; spices, 5 to 7 ; cacao, 2i ; potato-starch, 2 ; whisky
from potatoes, 6 to 6 ; sulphur, 3i ; pimento, Si ; brown rosin, 5 ; pig-
iron, 5 per cent. " Custom, established in time immemorial," takes prece-
dence of treaties at Elsinore. Seeds, ship-biscuit, salt-meat, wool, rags,
grain, and timber pay likewise heavy dues.
The ship-money towards supporting lightfires and beacons has been
raised for laden vessels from 4 to 4i thalers specie, and for vessels in bal-
last from 2 to 2^, contrary to the treaty of 1701. By the ship-money
from vessels passing the Sound and Belts, Denmark not only covers the
expenses for fires and beacons there, and the yearly indemnity to Sweden
for some fires maintained by the latter, but also the costs of all similar in-
stitutions at all other coasts and ports of the country, and she moreover
realizes an annual net profit of 50,000 dollars, which rises to 14,000 dol-
lars if the dues from ships entering her ports are added. Besides, the
levying of similar dues in the open sea is without example in the civilized
world. At the coasts of England, France, Spain, and other countries, in
the Channel, the Straits of Gibraltar, Messina, the Dardanelles, everywhere
are to be found lights, generally better maintained than the Danish, for
protecting the sailor; nowhere the vessel sailing past them has to pay any
duty. It is a commandment of political ethics that countries whose terri-
tories are bounded by the sea should take the first and simplest measures
for preventing loss of life. The dues are justified only in reference to ves-
sels entering the ports.
Still more unnatural and unjust, if possible, are the perquisites. After
the goods have paid Sound Dues, the vessel ship-money, the Danish oflB-
cers must be paid by the owners of both for gathering those taxes of
them. The perquisites have since 1841 been increased by 1 species, or
1^ dollar, besides 1 species 6 stivers to the inspector, and to the persons
doing the translations 32 stivers for 1 to 4 bills of lading or 1 to 8 cock-
ets, and 4 stivers for each bill of lading or cocket in addition. Ships in
ballast or with coals pay 12 stivers (about 13 pence.) As arbitrary as the
raising of the perquisites against the treaty of 1701, is a proviso accord-
ing, to which fees of 2 J and 1 species are levied from vessels bound for
Copenhagen, and which sail thither without stopping to clear at Elsinore,
but send their papers to the latter place from Copenhagen ; as also from
vessels whose papers are handed in by others than the master, the mate,
or the supercargo.
The same observation refers to the money for the poor's box — 1 species
for clearing a vessel on Sundays and holidays, or out of business hours.
From this conglomeration of fees the custom-house ofiScers at Elsinore are
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416 Th£ Sound Dues of Denmark :
paid incredibly liberal wages ; still it leaves a surplus that goes into the
Eublic treasury. The director of the chamber of Sound Dues, a sinecure,
ad in 1850 a salary of 15,960 dollars ; the clerks of the chamber, like-
wise sinecures, had from 4,000 to 8,000 each ; the cashier, 6,570 ; the in-
spector, the translator, the passport-clerk, the clerk of the stamp-office, the
runners and messengers, the crew of the guard-ship, were all salaried pro-
portionately.
The sum total of the perquisites amounts to about 160,000 dollars an-
nually. From the savings out of them a capital had accumulated up to
1852, of 247,151 dollars. Perfectly exorbitant and a real extortion are
the taxes of boatmen and pilots at Elsinore. The shipmaster is obliged
to lay to there, throw anchor in the open sea, and repair immediately to
the chamber of Sound Dues. His vessel being generally feebly manned,
he has to take a ferryboat The difficulty and the dangers of the naviga-
ble channel force him to hire a pilot For the ferryboat, which generally
takes him only a few hundred yards, he has to pay 7 to 19 dollars, accord-
ing to the weather and the season ; by night, 9 to 22 dollars. In stormy
weather and drifting ice, the boatman may make any charge he likes —
sometimes 30 to 35 dollars ; in quiet weather, he will gain with ease in
one day 40 to 60 dollars. The pilot, though he should have been on
board only 24 hours, gets, for a vessel of medium size — drawing 15 feet —
in summer S6^, in winter 47 dollars; for every foot beyond 16, 2 dollars
68 shillings more. A pilot at the Sound is a money-making man.
The light dues, perquisites, boat, and pilot hires fall to the charge of
shipowners ; besides the delay at and near Elsinore, the clearing out and
the paying of the dues cost them enormous sums. The necessity for stop-
ping tempts the shipmaster into numerous expenses, into purchasing ship
stores and other articles, which it is not in the power of the shipowner to
control. Even without these evil consequences, the delay occasioned by
the compulsory clearing at Elsinore would be bad enough ; every one ac-
quainted with trade knows how much the chances of a speculation depend
upon the speedy arrival of a cargo at the port of destination. The wind
may change while a vessel is at anchor, or she may arrive in the roads
after 10 o*clock P. M., in which case she loses the wnole night, no custom-
house officer being on the spot before 4 o'clock in the morning. By a
present of 4 per cent of the duty, which is tendered by the name of
" Forung," for correct declaration, the shipmasters are slily bribed over to
the Danish interest
The remark in the convention of 1841, that the "Forung" is to cover
the expenses, is illusory, the expenses being much higher. Fresh expenses
are entailed by the clearing-houses at Elsinore, indispensable to captains,
as they are not allowed to pay the dues themselves. The agents charge
2 to 3^ per cent commission for paying the duty, and 8 species, or 12 dol-
lars— sometimes even more — ^for clearing the vessel ; if money has to be
taken on bottomry, the charge is 10 per cent They yearly make upif^ards
of 200,000 dollars Prussian currency, leaving out the profits they realize
on the exchange. That sum enriches about 20 commercial firms. In
1850 the deputies of the Stockholm society of wholesale dealers and ship-
owners computed the charges to Swedish shipowners at Elsinore at
160,000 Prussian dollars yearly ; the dues upon goods at about as much.
Danzig alone pays on the average, annually, 120,000 ; Stettin, upwards of
180,000 dollars for Sound Dues, of which 4,000 to 11,000 dollars are
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And their Belations with the Commerce <^ the World. 41Y
sometimes paid by one single firm. The Stettin shipowners pay 27,000
dollars annually, under the heads of light dues, pilotage, fees, commission,
clearing charges, and postages.
These details will be sufficient to show why Denmark has a right to
call the income from the Sound Dues a jewel m her crown. Owing to the
extraordinary increase of trade in general and the steady development of
commercial enterprise in Prussia and Russia, and of the share both coun-
tries have in the Commerce of the world, the Danish gold mine improves
in fertility from year to year. Even such reductions as are wrung from
Denmark from time to time and by hard pressure, regularly result in the
further advantage and profit of her treasury. The interests of trade in
the Baltic ports, and in England, Holland, Belgium, France, and the Uni-
ted States are conflicting in a most singular manner. With a high tariff,
trade suffers ; any reduction makes the Danish taxation ^ow up, polyp-
like, to prodigious dimensions, and renders competition with other routes
still more difficult
At the beginning of the 18 th century the number of vessels passing the
Sound and Belts in one year was : —
1770 7»786 I 1840 15,668
1800 10,221 1860 19,91» .
1830 18,212 I 1868 21,6^6
Looking at the flags as specified in the official lists for 1849 to 1853, it
appears that the increase is owing to a progression in the shipping of
Norway, Prussia, Russia, Denmark, Mecklenburg, and Lubeck. The great
demand for the produce of the Baltic countries, and the tide of increasing
traffic setting in from other quarters of the world, especially California and
Australia, have caused that increase in spite of the Sound Dues. Holland
and France have made no progress in the numbers of their shipping pass-
ing the Sound ; the United States have made backward steps ; but, of all
others, England has lost most. In 1849 the number of British vessels
passing the Sound exceeded that in 1853 by 2,220, and that in 1852 even
by 2,953.
THE FOLLOWIVQ VESSELS PISSED THE SOUND: —
English
Norwegian...
Swedish . . . . ,
Dutch
Pnimiao . . . . ,
RciniaD
Danish
French
MeckleDburg.
Hanoverian . .
AmericaD. ...
Oldenburg . . ,
Italian
Lubeck
Belgian
Hamburgh.. .
Bremen ,
Spaniiih
Portuguese . .
Anatnan ....
1849.
18S0.
1851.
18$2.
18St.
6,886
6,448
4,811
8,902
4,666
2.877
2,663
2,894
8,020
8,898
2,191
1,982
2.266
2,100
2,007
1,960
1,906
2,060
1.691
1,876
1,861
2,391
2,664
2,319
8,487
1,200
1,188
1,047
946
1,202
1,164
1,266
1,618
1,464
2,096
864
814
288
283
846
887
1,081
1,077
771
1,108
808
429
661
666
748
121
106
186
76
96
74
208
222
188
280
66
62
43
48
60
40
102
126
186
189
18
4
7
2
22
7
89
77
46
78
7
84
88
22
86
2
2
• .
6
4
2
8
..
2
18
••
. .
2
••
• •
VOL. xzzin. — ^iro. iv.
18,959 19,070 19,919 17,668 21,686
27
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^ae
The Sound Dues <tf Denmai^h :
Of the 21,586 vessels in 1853, 10,526 came with cargoes from thd
North Sea; 7,716 from the Baltic; 2,344 were in ballast
2,000 to 3,000 vessels passed the Belts annually.
Russian commercial policy, Danish taxation and unavoidable molesta-
tions of shipowners, have scared away the British flag from a territory on
which in 1849 it still took precedence. The declared value of British pro-
duce shipped direct to Russia is estimated —
1849 £1,879.179
1860 1,279,650
1851 £1,157,648
1852 994,380
We wonder if the British negotiators of 1841 have met with thanks for
raising the subsidiary taxes and for superficially revising the tariff ; we
even doubt it The United States are laying greater stress upon the de-
crease of their Baltic shipping trade.
The income from the Sound Dues, on the average, runs upon the same
scale with the number of' ships. In 1756 the Danish treasury received
200,000 dollars; 1770, 450,890; 1820, 1,500,000 dollars. The year
1853, compared to 1756, shows a more than thirteenfold increase ; the
receipts amounted to 2,530,000 dollars. The insufficient reduction of
1841 had left no trace in 1844. The revenue from 2,258,000, rapidly
rose to 2,432,000 dollars. In the budget of 1847 the receipts, owing to
the reductions of May, 1846, had been estimated at 1,832,000 dollars only
— they actually amounted to 69^,000 dollars more, having risen to
2,531,000 dollars.
A return for the 24 years ending 1853, shows the revenue from Sound
Dues, rosenobles, light dues, and fees at the Oeresound and the Belts to
have amounted to 54,000,000 dollars ; upon the average, 2,250,000 dol-
lars yearly ; beside, the extra charges to agents, boatmen, pilots, and for
postages amount to at least 800,000 dollars annually; 12 millions more
must therefore be added to the above 54 millions. The discount paid hw
the Prussian exchequer indirectly forms a further item of about 2 mil-
lions. At tbe end of another period of 24 years, the colossal sum will
have been doubled. The monster grows the more food it has thrown
into its fangs, to more and more gigantic proportions.
THE SOUND DOES, THE FIRE MONET, AND THE FEES HAVE BROUGHT —
•Rixdalers.
1881 1,966,000
1 882 2,210,000
1883 2,090,000
1884 1,890,000
1885 1,910,000
1886 2,087,000
1887 2,208.000
1888 2,826.000
1889 2,417,000
1 840 2,401 ,000
1841 2,268,000
1842 2,076,000
BtxdAtan.
1 848 2,294 ,000
1844 2,482,000
1846 2,861,000
1846 2.160,900
1847 2,681,000
1848 2,260,000
1 849 2,160.000
1850 2,400,000
1 861 2,460,000
1862 2,500.000
1 868 2 ,580,000
64,009.000
These figures are based upon the Danish returns, as far as they are pub-
lished, and from 1850 upon the finance laws, adding the light money and
perquisites, and raising the estimate to the actual amount taken.
* One rUdaler about So. 3d., or 56 cento Federml money.
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And their Relations with the Commerce of the World. 419
THI FUIANOB LAWS UTIICATI
18$0. 18S1. 18SI. 18St.
Oretund does and roeenoble |2,017,600 $2,036,000 $2,065,810 $2,050,000
Nyborg 17,400 17,660 17,800 18,800
Friedericia 2,700 2,760 8,800 8,700
2,087,770 2,066,400 2,076,400 1,081,000
Light and beaooQ mooej 149,770 168,480 158,895 161,885
Perqaisites 184,245 186,080 189,970 140,980
PoormoDcy 5,970 6.156 6,265 6,175
Fines 5,960 5,988 6.840 5,500
Interest on the capital from surplus
perquisites 6,740 7,650 9,672 6,415
2,840,858 2,865,000 2,899,040 2,899,860
Take, instead of this 2,400,000 2,450,000 2^00,000 2,580,000
Which are stated in proportion to
the increasing traflSc, and an addition
has to be made of 60,000 85,000 100,000 180,000
Beyond doubt, within the reality ; and it remaiiis to be seen if Denmark
is inclined and able to disprove it The objection, that the light moneys
and perquisites are not to be stated in the receipts, requires — alter what
has already been said — no refutations, long as they are levied. Nobody
will enter protest against their non-levy.
Who pays these sums ? The usual answer is — the trade of Russia half,
Prussia a fourth, the remaining Baltic countries the rest But the ship-
ping of all flags, not excepting the British, bears its heavy share of the
burden ; and we duty on goods is, according to the state of markets, as
often paid by the shipper as by the receiver. Whenever England is in
want of great (quantities of ^ain, timber, flax, or other staple articles of
Baltic exportation, the British consumer bears the brunt of the Sound
Dues.
On the other hand, when goods are imported to the Baltic through the
Sound, it is always the receiver who pays the Sound Dues, on account of
the competition of other and cheaper routes of trafiSc. The Baltic mer-
chant dares not charge the Sound Dues to the consumer, because he in
that case would lose him as a customer. His mercantile enterprises, al-
ready burdened with heavy insurance for the passage through the danger-
ous Oattegat — where every year 20 to 40 vessels are lost — are further
maimed by the Danish imposts, even where these keep within the limits
of conventions.
All vessels must hoist their flags in the Sound before passing Eronen-
borg, if coming from the north ; before sailing past the guard-ship in the
roads of Elsinore, if outward bound. They belong to three classes —
privileged, unprivileged, and Danish. The following are at present priv-
il^ed nations : —
Belgium, by the convention of 13 June, 1841 ; the Brazils, by the con-
vention of 26 April, 1828; Bremen, by the convention of 5 November,
1835; Great Britain, by the convention of 11 July, 1670, and 13 Au-
gust, 1841 ; France, by the convention of 23 August, 1742 ; Greece, by
the convention of 31 October, 1846; Hamburgh, by the convention of
27 May, 1768 ; Hanover, by the convention of 13 April, 1844; Holland,
by the convention of 13 August, 1843, 15 July, 1701, and 10 July, 1817 ;
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420 The Sound Dues of Denmark :
Lubeck, by the convention of 14 October, 1840; Mexico, by the conyen-
tion of 19 July, 1827 ; Mecklenburg, by the convention of 25 November,
1845; United States, by the convention of 26 April, 1826; Norway, by
the convention of 23 August, 1841 ; Austria, by the convention of 12 Feb-
ruary, 1834 ; Oldenburg, by the convention of 31 March, 1841 ; Prussia,
by the convention of 17 June, 1841, and 26 May, 1846; Russia, by the
convention of 8 October, 1782, and of 14 October, 1831 ; Sardinia, by the
convention of 14 August, 1843 ; Naples, by the convention of 13 January,
1846 ; Sweden, by the convention of 3 July, 1720, and 23 August, 1841 ;
Spain, by the convention of 25 May, 1798 ; Venezuela, by the convention
of 26 March, 1838.
With regard to all of them, it has been provided that ships and cargoes
in the Sound and Belts have to pay no higher dues and taxes than are, or
will be paid now and in future by the most favored nations. From this,
it naturally follows that both old and new conventions apply to them ail ;
each subsequent reduction equally benefits every one of them, and any na-
tion obtaining, either by means of negotiations or by the force of arms,
the total abolition of the Sound Does, will thereby at once secure the
same right to all others.
The only unprivileged nations in Europe at present are Portugal, the
States of the Holy See, and Turkey. The disadvantages connected with
the unprivileged position are in reality of little consequence. Thev prin-
cipally consist in the dues on the imenumerated articles being 1}, instead
of 1 per cent ; in an addition of a fourth part on certain Spanish and Por-
tuguese wines, and on bottled wine ; of ^ to ^ on grain, according as it is
shipped at different Baltic ports ; of a rosenoble besides the dues on goods
bound for Rostock ; lastly, in unprivileged vessels and cargoes being sub-
ject to the right of search. This right of search, however, rests on a mere
assumption on the part of Denmark ; it has never been either recognized
or practiced.
Danish vessels form a separate class, enjoying greater privileges than
the vessels of privileged nations. It is true, that by a royal resolution of
18 February, 1771. both classes are placed on the same footing, and there
can be no doubt whatever that any privileges conceded to Danish vesseb
may be claimed with equal right by the vessels of all other privileged
nations.
The forbearance towards Denmark, however, has allowed the flag of that
country to acquire a series of exclusive immunities, to which the crowning one
has been added in the course of the present year. Besides numerous facil-
ities accorded them in reference to light dues and perquisites, Danish com-
modities— both raw produce and manufactures — if imported from, or ex-
B>rted to tlie Faroer, Seeland, and Greenland, goods the produce of the
anish colonies and shipped in Danish bottoms, and all goods shipped
thither in such vessels, enjoy full exemption from Sound Dues in the Sound
and Belts. Since the 1st April, 18S4, a discount equal to the full amount
of the Sound Dues is being allowed on the Danish import duties for all
goods the produce of transatlantic countries, if brought direct to Denmark
from the producing country. By thus allowing to the full a discount
which has only partially been accorded by Prussia to her ports, Denmark
exonerates her inland consumption from Sound Dues on coffee, dyewood^
rice, tobacco, tea, mahogany, d^c Rum and arrack form an exception to
the franchise, partly to protect the home production of spirits horn com-
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And their Belatwna with the Commeree of the World. 421
petition, partly on account of the Danish colonies, whose produce is
charged with only 48 shillings Rbco. less duty than foreign rum, but,
owing to the exemption, is actually protected at the rate of 1 dollar for
30 quarts.
By the letter of the resolution, the discount in question has not been
restricted to the Danish flag ; but experience shows that far more extensive,
while more justified concessions, in reference to Danish importation, though
open to being taken advantage of by all privileged flags, have in the nat-
ural course of circumstances been but rarely made use of by the latter,
and turned almost exclusively to the benefit of Danish shipping. Since
1842 there existed in Denmark, with reference to the direct transatlantic
importation of the said goods, a drawback of 25 per cent on import duty
and all charges upon vessels ; still, in the ten years ending 1 852, only
2,062 commerce-lasts of foreign shipping have been tempted by the draw-
back to import goods of that favored description into Denmark ; whereas
during the same period the owners of 659 Danish vessels, with 72,770
commerce-lasts, have reaped the fruits of the facilitated direct importation,
amounting to 888,000 dollars. At that time Denmark did not yet dare
to show any preference with respect to the Sound Dues to her own flag,
and she not only levied Sound Dues on direct importations, but even de-
ducted the amount of the dues from the drawback on such cargoes as had
had to pass neither the Sound nor Belts. At present she has shown more
courage. The remission of 25 per cent on the import duty was too great
a drain on the needy treasury ; something was to be done to promote
Danish shipping trade ; and thus, contrary to the letter and the spirit of
existing conventions, a remission of the Sound Dues on the direct Danish
importation was resorted to, the whole burden of the unnatural tax being
thereby thrown upon the transit The Danish government may have re-
membered a passage from Winter's Tale —
** Truly the gods have taken mercy upon us this year, and we may do all we like."
The right to make a distinction of that kind is doubtful in the extreme
— all privileged nations have been placed upon a perfectly equal footing.
Waiving the question, if foreign flags will take advantage of this discount,
Denmanc is not entitled to favor her own importation by means of a re-
mission of Sound Dues, unless the same favor be at the same time equally
extended to the importation through the Sound of all other privileged
countries — all of which may claim the immunities of the most favored na-
tions. The conditions under which Prussia allows a discount are mani-
festly of a very diflferent nature, and the allowance itself is n^t made in
violation of treaties.
The recent Danish measure may even injure the Baltic ports, and in
their prejudice lead to a staple right of the Danish ports being established
at the expense of the other ports in the Baltic, and wholly at variance
with acknowledged principles of free trade. Not only the Baltic States,
but also England, Belgium, Holland, France, Ac, have therefore all possi-
ble cause for complaint, and in like degree the Hanse-Towns, Hamburgh,
and Lubeck, must consider themselves placed at a disadvantage — their
very important indirect importation into Denmark, subject to the full im-
port duty, being by these distinctions in favor of a direct supply brought
face to face with a new and formidable competition. In some quarters it
is mooted that by the Danish resolution of 1st April, 1854, it is intended
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422 Ths Sound DueM of Denmark :
to buy off the United States. If so, we guess the calculation will prove
incorrect, as soon as the subject shall have been gone into, and the con-
viction arrived at that the measure in question cannot but result in the
advantage of Denmark, and of Denmark only. The United States must
necessarily have an eye to the unimpeded passage of rice, tobacco, and
cotton, and the &cilities accorded to the trifling importation of Denmark,
can in no way make up for the heavy dues weighing on those articles if
bound to other quarters.
No one will volunteer to prove that the present state of matters can be
tolerated any longer ; reform is most urgent, and the necessity for it is
being so strongly felt, that the singular idea of circumventing the Sound,
by means of a canal, has actually been ventilated. That canal was to be
laid through Schonen, from Raa to Wiigen, on a level with the sea ; it
was to extend two German miles in length, and to be 20 feet deep and
100 feet broad. Commodious ports were to be constructed at each en-
trance, and proper arrangements made for tugging every vessel through
in a few hours. The expenses are estimated at from 5 to 6 millions of
dollars, and the dues that would be made necessary for pajring interest
Kad maintaining the establishment are computed at a fourth paji of the
present annual revenue at the Sound.
Instead of a road made by the hands of nature, an artificial one is to
open a gate to trade and navigation. The plan renders sufficient evidence
to the heavy pressure, and is a manifest proof of the hopelessness and faint-
heartedness d the commercial public looking forward for help and redress
to the carrying out of such an undertaking. As little prospect there is to
get rid of the burden by paying off the capital. In times like the preset,
when all countries are forced yearly to add to their debts, where should
the means be found to raise forty to fifty millions of dollars ? Where the
unanimity in contracting loans towards this purpose, and making sacri-
fices of that amount in favor of Denmark ? The interest of the maritime
powers makes it necessary to resort to other means. The dissatisfaction
felt in England at the convention of 1841 is as strong as it is general ;
the British cabinet may at times have looked upon and made use of the
Sound Dues as a sword of their commercial policy — but, at any rate, it is
a sword that cuts both ways, and deeply wounds the trade and navigation
of their own country.
The United States see the extension of their traffic suffering under high
and illegal duties imposed upon the staple articles of their exportation ;
their treaty with Denmark may be thrown up every twelvemonth. The
French wine trade groans under exorbitant dues. With what intensity
the burden is felt in Sweden is shown by the complaints of 1 850. Proa-
sia is absolutely and unavoidably placed in the position of continuing the
persevering and determined opponent of the Sound Dues ; she has, down
to ] 845, honestly, seriously, and zealously maintained that position, doing
and offering anything to get rid of the fetter. She has failed. Her geo-
graphical and political situation pressingly call upon her to go the way
open to her — throwing up the treaties of 1818 and 1846. Let but a
single leading power do so, and at the same time give notice of its inten-
tion not to submit any longer to the burdening of its trade and navigation,
and, if need be, resort to reprisals, and the Sound Dues have seen their
last If Russia, where neither shipowners nor merchants are in a position
to raise a complaint, should like to remain faithful to her character as pro-
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tector of Denmark, bj making her ships and cargoes continue to pay the
duty, nobody will prevent her. The question of the Sound Dues is not a
Russian one — it is one of general and transatlantic commercial policy.
Spain and Portugal, at 3ie period of their preponderancy, claimed whole
oceans as their property. Hugo Grotius, the author of " Mare Liberum,"
overthrew that maxim as early as 1609. The Sound is not a dependency
of Denmark, and even did her supposed right of sovereignty really exist,
it would give her no title to lay enormous taxes upon vessels sailing past
her shore, and neither asking her for, nor owing her anything. The right of
levying dues has never been recognized; a tortuous policy has made cer-
tain tariff concessions by separate treaties to the once powerful Denmark.
They fall as soon as warning is given of the cessation of those treaties,
and Denmark must grant to all parties what she is forced to concede to
one.
To consider the immutability of the Sound Dues to have been guarauk
tied by way of indemnity for the loss of Norway, is an erroneous supposi-
tion. Denmark will not be able to produce any documents in point The
right, thought sacred and incontrovertible, will disappear when the Ques-
tion, freed from conventional ties by throwing up the treaties, shall nave
been carried over upon the territory of main force. A real necessity, such
as is given here, must overthrow an unnatural usurpation merely resting
on historical grounds. Never have so formidable forces unfurled their
fl^gs in the Baltic as at present England stands m(»re than ever in need
of Prussian alliance and German assistance ; let her enter the lists as the
champion of free trade for all the world, and the asthmatic policy of Den-
mark will be taught by experience that its impotency is not any ftirthw
capable of stemming the current of history.
Jrt. II.— MERCANTILE BIOBEiPHT:
WALTER RESTORED JONES.
Thb business of Marine Insurance in this country, and especially in the
eity of New York, as to its utility and value, and the great profits conse-
quent upon its able administration, has been pretty thoroughly tested for the
mst quarter of a century, in the history and great success of the Atlantic
Mutual Insurance Company. Confessedly at the head of all associations
of the kind, in this country, and owing very much of its past good fortune
to the able direction and management of its late President, it seems but
ihting, that as its former head — almost its creator — and as identified with
it, from the start — its history being comprised in that of Mr. Jones — some
permanent record should be preserved of the life, labors, and character of
so valuable and public-spirited an officer.
Immediately consequent upon his decease, it is true, warm and appreci-
ative notices appeared in the various journals, and eulogistic while at the
same time discriminating resolutions were adopted by all the important pub-
lic bodies of trade and finance, in Wall-street — as, for example, by the Board
of Underwriters, at a meeting of the Merchants in the Exchange, and the
Chamber of Commerce. Two meetings connected with the company, the
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424 JfercanHle Biography:
one of the clerks, and the other, especially, of the trustees, ought not to
be omitted ; for, at the latter, among the resolutions, occurs one drawn up
by one who knew Mr. Jones well, and judged him accurately, which we
are happy to quote as the justest character of the deceased which we have
read: —
Resolvedj That, by his careful ndherenee to the modes of transacting busioess
tested by experience ; by his discreet sanction of such improvements as were
found to obviate diflSculties aud to supply defects ; by his remarkable memory,
vigorous energy, untiring industry, iDOomitable ** carefulness in making cou-
tracts," and by his gooa faith and liberality in fulfilling them, he has in our
judgment earned the title of thejirst Marine UndertDriter of his age and country.
Of such a man we propose to exhibit a picture in the following brief
sketch.
Walter Restored* Jones, the son of John Jones, a highly respectable
«iember of the well-known Jones family of Queen's county. Long Island,
was bom at Cold Spring, near Oyster Bay, on the north side of Long
Island, at the family mansion, which is still standing and in the possession
of his family, April 15, 1793. His mother was a daughter of John Hew-
lett, a family of good local repute, belonging in relirious creed to the
Church of England. The Cold Spring branch of the Jones family of
Queen's county, whose original seat was on the south side of the island,
whence all of the sons of William Jones emigrated, except the father ci
the late Chief Justice Samuel Jones, were originally independent gentle-
men farmers and manufacturers ; some of whose descendants came up to
the city and entered on business, in one department of which. Insurance,
several of them — as John D. Jones, the President of the Atlantic Mutual
Insurance Company ; Oliver H. Jones, President of the New York Fire and
Marine Insurance Company ; Walter R. T. Jones, average adjuster, and W.
Townsend Jones, Secretary of the Atlantic — with others of the family,
have won an enviable reputation.
The reputation of that branch of the family which came directly from
South Oyster Bay was eminently legal, and in a degree political. Cooper,
the novelist, remarks of the family : " The Jones family has now furnished
legislators and jurists to the colony and State more than a century."
It included — to mention only the very prominent names — Judges David
and Thomas Jones, of the Supreme Court of the colony of New York ; the
elder Samuel Jones, the compeer of Hamilton and Burr and Harrison and
Livingston; Samuel Jones, his son, chancelor and chief-justice — ^fully
equal to the reputation of his father, and by some thought to have trans-
cended it ; and David S. Jones, his youngest brother, a worthy son of so
illustrious a parent, and as a lawyer most able, if not as eminent as his
brother ; Major William Jones ; Elbert Herring Jones, most upright and
acceptable to their constituents in the State senate and legislature ; and
of the ancient Floyd Jones family. General Henry Floyd Jones and his
nephew David, Richard Floyd Jones, in both houses of the State ie^sla-
ture, and Elbert Floyd Jones in the lower. — The father of Mr. Jones, John
Jones, was one of the seventeen children of William Jones, the son of
Major Thomas Jones, the first American ancestor of this very large and
* The middle iMiiie of Mr. Jones hat a history worth preserving. An elder brother of the ■«&«
name, having met hts death by an accident. It was the wish of his mother, when the subj<'ct of the
present sketch was bom, to retain the name, for which she had a peotillar fondneiB; hence tb»
epithet ^^ Restored " was added to the original Christian name.
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Walter Me$tored Janes. 425
req>ectable family. Major Jones was an officer of the English army, and
was present at the battle of the Boyne Water. At the termination of the
conflict which ended so disastrously for James IL, the supposed* Welsh
officer came over to this country, and finally settled near South Oyster
Bay, on the South shore of Long Island, some thirty miles from Brooklyn.
He here procured a large tract of land, some five to ten thousand acres, a
manorial estate, by purchase from the Indians, and also entered into
whaling enterprises on the coast, then a profitable business, and under an
English commission to cruise a^inst Spanish property, amassed consider-
able property. He built himself a brick house, which stood for nearly a
century and a half, and which was pulled down to make way for tlie im-
provements of the late David S. Jones, the then munificent possessor of
the Massapequa farm.
John Jones, the grandson of the Major, and father of Walter R., with
his brother-in-law, Devine Hewlett, held in common important water priv-
ileges, and a flour mill, at a period when property of that character was
especially valuable — previous to the opening of the Erie Canal and the
importation of Western flour, and also during the epoch of the second
war with Great Britain, and under the restrictive influence of the embargo.
The mill was consequently kept in active operation, and constituted a
valuable property.
The subject of the present memoir was early introduced to the world of
business and the life of a great commercial metropolis. At the tender age
of eleven years he came up to town and was placed in the store of his
eldest brother, William H. Jones, then engaged in the flour business, but
now and for several years living the life of a country gentleman, having
brought up a large and socially useful family, and exercising the virtues
of a genial hospitality, at Eastwoods, near Huntingdon. In his brother's
office the ftiture underwriter acquired his first insight into the principles
and modes of business, his true school. A few years later he was intro-
duced by his cousin, J. Jackson Jones, a son of his uncle Walter, and
brother of William Townsend Jones — an accomplished and most worthy
gentleman, as we learn from all who knew him — into the office of the
United States Insurance Company, as clerk, where he became remarkable
for his habits of method, industry, and attention to business, laying a firm
basis for his future eminence in a province of Insurance requiring caution,
accuracy, precision, and promptness. The United Insurance Company
was one of the first, if not absolutely the earliest in point of time, in New
York, and perhaps in the Union, for undertaking marine risks. But
owing to novelty, or ignorance of the proper mode of conducting the
business, or from some other untoward causes, the association failed to
realize its objects, and it became embarrassed and was discontinued. At
an early period of his career Mr. Jones conceived an aversion to litigation,
of which there had been much, both unnecessary and of a vexatious char-
acter, in the early Insurance C'Ompanies, and which proved in the end
detrimental to their interests, and served to exclude customers. Mr.
Daniel Lord, counselor to the present company, stated in his speech at the
dinner given to Mr. Jones, on occasion of the complimentary presentation
to him of a rich service of plate, that " for the twenty-four years of the
* We My Mppoted, because Ihe M^Jor li odd on bit tombeUme to bave eone froai Strebane, la
Ireland, wbenee be sailed on leaving for America, after tbe battle. Bat bis name, cbaracier, and
tbe family traita, are all decidedly Welib.
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426 Mereantile Bioffra^hy:
administration of this company, not more than six lawsuits have oceorred
to it, and T can recollect but/ottr."
In 1824 Mr. Jones was elected assistant or vice to Archibald Gracie,
President of the first Atlantic Insurance Company, discontinued two years
after.
In conjunction with Josiah L. Hale, Mr. Jones started, in 1829, the
second Atlantic, with a capital of $860,000. Of this new association Mr.
Hale was president and Mr. Jones vice-president. This company pursued
a successful career, and continued its operations until July, 1842, when
the old stock company was discontinued, and a new company organized
on the mutual plan — that having grown into great favor, and become the
popular mode of conducting insurance, as most profitable and most secure.
The present Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company first went into opera-
tion July 1, 1842 — Mr. Jones president, Mr. Hale vice-president, and Mr.
J. D. Jones secretary — and may be considered, without invidious contrast,
as the leading marine insurance company of the country. Its history and
that of Mr. Jones are identical ; he was bound up in it, and cherished its
interests as personal with his individual interests. Its prosperity was his,
and he felt its occasional losses, doubtless, as much as any of its stock-
holders or directors ; and the company organized by him, watched and
guided until firmly established, and its business systematically arranged,
bids fair to continue one of the most flourishing in the Union. The large
insurance building No. 61 Wall-street, at the comer of William -street,
was planned and erected under the eye of Mr. Jones, and with the sanc-
tion of the Board of Trustees, his worthy associates.
We may remark, in passing, that the present incumbent of the presi-
dential chair, John D. Jones, has received a most thorough education for
the office he holds, having been brought up under his uncle's eye, and
with his character and career before him, as a model, for a period of
nearly a quarter of a century — having the assistance and countenance of
the able Board of Trustees, composed of the most influential merchants of
the city.
For twelve-and-a-half years the actual dividends amounted to forty-
three-and-a-half per cent, an average of thirty-five per cent per annum.
The intense labor of the oflicers of the institution was remarkable, and
fourteen hours per day are said to have formed the regular daily labor of
the three principal officers.
In January, 1864, Mr. Hale was obliged to resign, through increasing
feeble health, and physical inability to continue his arduous labors.
As a proof of the remarkable prosperity of the companv, a large share
of the good fortune of which is to be attributed to Mr. «fones, it may be
mentioned that for the ten years from January, 1844, its annual average
was over thirty-tliree per cent, and for the first eleven-and-a-half years of
its business, the total amount of profits was $6,002,571, showing an aver^
^e of §529,788 per annum.
Previously to this latter date, on November 22, 1853, came off a public
dinner at the Astor House, which had been got up by some of the friends
and business associates of Mr. Jones, in his honor, and for the purpose of
acknowledging their sense of his important services, his high character,
surpassing financial talents, and social virtues. The presentation of a
magnificent service of plate, tastefully rich and elaborate, was the distm-
guishing feature of the occasion, which was set off by some extremely
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Walter Hestored Janes. 42*1
good speaking. The best speeches were made by Mr. Tileston, who pre-
sided, Rev. Mr. Osgood, who acted as chaplain, and by the guest of the
evening, Mr. Jones himself. The foremost merchants, bankers, and under-
writers of New York city, made up this select assemblage of the commer-
cial aristocracy of the Union.
In conjunction with his brother, John H. Jones, Esq., of Cold Spring —
a most able and intelligent man of business — Mr. Jones held an interest in
the flourishing manufacture there carried on, originally started by the
three elder sons of John Jones, but of which partnership Mr. J. H. Jones
was the active and enterprising head. In the extensive whaling operations,
the two brothers were the mam capitalists, and the last-mentioned gentle-
man the leading manager — the other the chief adviser. A brief statement
of this latter department of Mr. Joneses labors, may serve to give an idea
of its magnitude and importance. The business itself, it may be remarked
as an historical coincidence, is a revival of that originally carried on by the
founder of the family. We believe there now are (there were in 1848)
eight whaling ships fitted out from Cold Spring, measuring more than
three thousand tons, carrying about two hundred and fifty men, and cost-
ing, with their outfit, about ♦227,000. These instead of "confining them-
selves near our coast, from which the whales have been mostly frightened
away, make longer voyages than Captain Cook did in circumnavigating
the globe. In connection also with Charles H. Jones — another and a
favorite brother — and with his deceased brother Joshua T., he has been en-
gaged in a large number of mercantile and manufacturing enterprises.
We derive these facts from a near connection by marriage of Mr. J. H.
Jones — the father of the present incumbent of the presidential chair of
the Atlantie Mutual Insurance Company.
The idea of a life-saving benevolent association originated with and was
perfected by Mr. Jones, who, by dint of arduous exertions, effected an in-
corporation, chartered by the Legislature, March, 1849. This was the
result of benevolence and prudence united, and its object and result was
the salvation of life and property to a great extent. The value of such an
association, with its objects properly carried out, was and is very great ;
and were its good results even much less beneficial than they have been,
they would be still worthy of the applause of the philanthropist Altoge-
ther there were, two years ago, some twenty-seven station-houses, with
the comforta of heat and protection, in winter ; with life-boats, (galvanized
iron boats and cars,) guns, ropes, &c. On the New Jersey shore there
were fourteen stations, and thirteen on the shore of Long Island. At the
present date we learn that the number of these most valuable stations has
nearly doubled. A nobler project for public good, a more humane and
benevolent association was never incorporated.
Mr. Jones, in his private and personal character, was a kind and unpre-
tending man, affable and sincere. He was a devoted son and affectionate
brother and a favorite uncle, the only domestic relations we are aware he
held. By his brothers and sisters, nephews, and neices, and all their con-
nections, he was truly beloved. Towards his townsmen, and relatives far
removed, and whom he seldom met and knew but slightly, he was always
friendly. And from many sources we have heard the same invariable
report of his liberality, in affording aid to deserving objects of his bounty,
and especially a Roman-like love of contributing to the support all places
of ** public good."
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428 Mercantile Btography:
OngiDally of a Quaker family, he became in after years a regular at-
tendant on the service s of the Episcopal Church, and was one of the pro-
moters of the building of the new church at Cold Spring. At that delight-
ful place, one of the most picturesque regions not only on Long Island,
but even anywhere in the State, he had erected a noble mansion, of
princely extent and accommodations, of which he had not yet become the
tenant for life, when he was summoned to his last home by the angel of
death.
His health had been precarious for some months before, indeed ever
since a stroke of apoplexy he had suffered ; but he would doubtless have
lived longer, perhaps for some years, had not his mind, anxious with the
cares of business and heedless of his own comforts, impelled him to work,
when he was physically unfit to be out of his room or out of his bed.
Despite the counsel of his skillful physician, Dr. Francis, he went out im-
prudently, over-exerted himself, and came home to die.
He died April 7, 1 855, of apoplexy ; he was dictating to one of his
nephews from his bed in the morning, when suddenly there came a pause,
which was never filled up. He was not quite sixty-two years of age.
With an originally powerful constitution and an active habit, living a sim-
ple life, and always occupied, he would, it is almost certain, have lived at
least his three-score years and ten, had he allowed himself, as we have re-
marked, to have been governed by the prudent advice of his medical
friend.
Sanguine and ardent in business, he was a moderate and reasonable
man in his views of life and conduct — altogether a man to be relied upon
and looked up to. But a regard to the concerns of others, for which he
was responsible, and a strict sense of the duties of a man of business, over-
powered his sense of danger or consideration of personal safety. Thus he
fell a martyr to duty, and gave up his life literally to the cause of in-
surance.
We are happy to be able to quote the following letter of Dr. Francis,
the medical adviser of Mr. Jones in his last illness, which we have received
sinc^ writing the above ; in its lucid and comprehensive style stating, in a
most satisfactory manner, the causes and progress of the attack, and its
final result: —
New York, May 28, 1855.
Dear Sir : — The professional reputation of the late W. R. Jones, Esq., was
long known to me ; my personal acquaintance with him was but of recent date.
It was not until the morning of the 7ih of January last that I was requested to
make a medical visit to him at his city residence in Murray-street, on account
of threatened symptoms of apoplexy and palsy. Aware of the close and de-
voted attentions which he so systematically gave to his responsible duties, that
his habit of body was of inordinate fullness; that his physical development was
favorable to the invasion of acute disease, I lost no time in obeying the sum-
mons ; and upon my introduction to the sick-room, I found Mr. J. in a state of
cerebral congestion, with lower loss of motion, and inability of free articulation
or speech.
The indications of relief were too manifest to be deferred. His inordinate
fullness of habit, and approaching shortness of breathing, left no time for delay;
he was bled largely, counter-irritants applied, and the ordinary active anti-
pblogic means pursued. Some mitigation of symptoms soon took place; but a
vigorous reaction, with increased tendency to a recurrence of the same alarminff
symptoms which marked the invasion of his illness, justified a repetition of
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similar measures of relief, and the gratifying spectacle was soon presented in
the returning consciousness of the patient, with improved powers of articula-
tion, and especially of motion in the lower limbs. Forebodings, however, of
the gravest nature as to the ultimate issue of the case, awaked desire for addi-
tional professional advice, when Professor Parker, of the University of New
York, united with ine in consultation. The result of our deliberations was that
depletory measures were still further advisable, and we had the satisfaction to
find, after two or three subsequent vii^iis, that Mr. Jones now only demanded
time for recovery; nevertheless, imposing on him abstraction from all business
lor at least a month, and exercising on his part a wholesome discretion as to
the use of animal food and drinks.
The better to secure the safety of his improved health, I occasionally visited
Mr. Jones, and urged such cautions in his modes of living, his exercise, and in
his limited appropriation of time to the discharge of liis professional trusts, as
I deemed best calculated to give permanence to his now renovated powers, both
mental and bodily, and in this view my associate, Dr. Parker, fully coincided.
Mr. Jones was not entirely a disobedient patient ; and during one portion of the
month of March his official obligations seem to have been discharged with his
wonted regularity and capacity. But it was evident at the latter part of that
month, both to his friends as well as to his medical advisers, that our patient
bad too confidently harbored the idea that his constitution had become superior
to the renewed assaults of the enemy that had once brought him to so critical a
condition.
He persevered with marvelous earnestness in all his severe and multiform du-
ties; his many and accustomed hours of business were filled up daily, and. for-
getful of the necessity of that repose which his recent sickness and prostrated
nervous powers demanded, night itself was oflen invaded by his cares and toils;
and on the 7th of the ensuing month, April, after uncommon efforts on weighty
duties, he was, towards the hour of four in the morning, again seized with that
attack, which almost immediately terminated his valuable life. At the earliest
intimation of his illness, I hastened to his bedside, but consciousness had ceased,
the pulse no longer beat, and he was to be numbered with the dead.
Thus surrendered to inexorable physical and mental causes, exercising their
preponderating influence on a frame of body peculiarly susceptible to that
ftffency, Walter R. Jones, so long the prominent man in his great and responsi-
ble Tocation.
With erery oonsideration of respect, I remain yours truly,
W. A. JoRM. JOHN W. FRANCIS.
His funeral, which took place at Trinity, was of the most imposing char-
acter— ^from the array of distinguished persons, in trade and finance, many
old New Yorkers and Long Island gentry, that were gathered together.
His remains were carried afterward to Cold Spring, to he laid in the fam-
ily bnrying-ground. For Cold Spring Mr. Jones had a peculiar predelic-
tion, and he was rarely absent from it over a week (when he could get
there) for many years of his life. As the home of his boyhood and the
seat of his branch of the Jones family, where, too, so many of his imme-
diate relations still reside, independent of its picturesque, rural beauties,
this charming locality had fascinated him, as it must any one at all simi-
larly sittiated, who pretends to any love of nature or feeling for the beauty
of fine scenery. Hilly and beautifully wooded, rich in streams and water
prospects, it is full of varied attractiveness, and delights the eye of the
traveled stranger or the resident for life.
Mr. Jones is one of the worthies of Long Island, though so long (from
early hoyhood) connected with New York city as to be regarded as one of
her denizens ; yet, as he tiever for a moment lost sight of the place of his
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430 Mercantile Biography,
nativity and his rural home, as he visited it weekly, built his noble man-
sion there, and there looked to end his days in peace and domestio happi-
ness, he must not be forgotten in the list of eminent Long Islanders. With
the distinguished sons of Long Island, in the different walks of life — ^in
the profession, in art, in the army and navy — he must ever be associated,
and his name must be added to the list including Conckling, Sandford,
Miller, Wickham, Golden, Post, Seaman, Mott, Elias Hicks, Mount, Rhodes^
Hackett, Sands, Woodhull, and Truxton, whenever the roll of prominent
Long Islanders is called.
In person Mr. Jones was below the ordinary standard of height, but
strongly built, and of a full habit of body. His face, his person, and his
presence, denoted energy and vigor. Forecast and vigilance were stamped
upon his brow, and his eye had a look of penetration that scrutinized with
caution every application presented to his judgment. The moderation and
mildness of his character was also marked in the expression of his face,
especially in the company of his friends and kindred.
We believe there is more than one good portrait of Mr. Jones by Mr.
Shephard Mount, the able artist. There is also a life-like bust of Mr.
Jones, a copy of which has been placed in the Committee Room of the
company. J3ut the excellent engraving of the head on the bills of the
Marine Bank will preserve his features to all classes of the community,
and be in that light more universally accessible than the best bust or por-
trait in a public place.
The example afforded by the career and character of Mr. Jones is a rich
heritage to the young men of our country. Comparatively a poor boy, at
an early age he is placed in a store, and has to make his way by dint of
industry, perseverance, integrity, and all the essential virtues, not only of
the true business man, but of the truly able and great man, in every walk
of life.
And although fortunate in having for his instructors his near relatives
and family friends, yet he was by them simply initiated into his duties, and
taught the elementary routine of business. Most of all remained with
himself— earnest attention to his business, and strict fidelity in all that
concerned his province. He was hence, it may be fairly said, a self-taught
and self-made man. In his peculiar walk, he was admitted to be without
a rival, and for the point of excellence reached by him, he owed almost
all to his self-training, his unflagging zeal, and his determination to master
all that related to the complicated science of insurance.
The same qualities, too, that distinguished him as a man of business,
marked also his personal character, or rather grew out of it, earnestness,
sincerity, kindness of heart, a strong love of family and friends, vigorous
energy of will, and the active exercise of his intellectual powers.
His native county and the city of his adoption have reason to be proud
of the man who placed the business of insurance on a more stable footing
than it had ever enjoyed heretofore, and raised the Atlantic Mutual Insur-
ance Company to the rank of the first marine company in the United
States. While, as a man, the interest felt and the faith reposed in him by
his family, his friends, and his dependents, stamp him emphaticiUly a
model for those who come after him, in all the relations he filled so wormily
throughout the entire course of his life.
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Commmt of the United Statu. 431
Art. III.— COHMERGB OF THE UNITED STATES.
inTMBKR XVUU
TAXKI VPOn TKADB— THE WAt— OIWKOO— PRIVATEBKS— RULE Of 1756 RBOARDINO REUTRALa—
SCARCITY IN XNaLARD— LOUISBURO— PROltTKNAC— IRDIAN TREATT^CANAL IN ENOLAKD— BROLUH
8I7CCBBSRS — CBBR0XEX8— TRADB DURINO TUB WAR TO ENGLISH WEST INDIES— TO rRBNCH
WBSTIMinBB — TO EUROPE— TO BNOLAMD— BXPORTS OP SUNDRY ARTICLRS — SLATB-TRADB—
PAdPRR HOMBT— CANADA — TBB PROSPECT.
Taxation of the Colonies. In the year 1765 England commenced
in earnest that system of taxing the colonies, " by absurd and impolitic
laws and orders in council," upon the Commerce of the colonies in North
America and the West Indies, which eventuated in the loss of the fonner.
The object of these restrictions was to prevent the colonies from furnish-
ing supplies to the French, through their trade in the West Indies and at
other places, and to make their Commerce contribute to the revenues of
England. At this time, beside being about to incur the burden of a most
expensive war, the government was under the load of an existing debt,
incurred in previous contests, of 72,289,673/. Another measure referring
to the same object, disallowed the farther continuance of the export,
hitherto uninterrupted, from Great Britain to the colonies, of certain for-
eign goods, free of duty. This measure produced much discontent, both
in England and America, but the attention of the latter was now busily
engaged in another quarter, and Parliament and the cabinet quietly pur-
sued their own course.
In 1756 and 1767, the Assembly of Pennsylvania aided in that part of
the project referring to the supplies furnished the French, by prohibiting
the export of provisions and military stores from that colony to any
French ports. The act is said to have been the occasion of serious loss
to the merchants of Pennsylvania. But other colonies seem to have been
less scrupulous or less loyal.
While all this fighting had been going on in America, and France and
England were making great efibrts to assist their respective colonies, the
two nations themselves were upon unusually amicable relations until about
the middle of 1766. England declared war May 17th, and France June
9th, and as if he regarded the contest as a trifle, Louis XV. at the same
time took the side of Austria against Prussia.
For the campaign of 1756, the three defeated projects of the previous
year were renewed, and all again disconcerted. Instead of taking Du
Quesne, Niagara, and Crown Point, the colonies lost Fort Oswego — a
point of the greatest importance — at Lake Ontario, before the victorious
arms of Montcalm. The capture of this post left the enemy in complete
command of the lakes Ontario and Erie, and of the whole country of the
Five Nations, and destroyed the base for the English operations against
Niagara and Frontenac. In addition to 1,600 prisoners and 120 pieces of
cannon taken here, the lake fleet, of war vessels and traders, consisting of
two sloops of war and two hundred boats and batteaux, came into posses-
sion of the enemy. There were also stores for five months. The fort
had been an object of considerable jealousy to the Six Nations, and Mont-
calm, partly from necessity, and in part to gain their favor, demolished it
in their presence.*
* The French also took the Jsland of Minorca fh>m the EogUsh in Jane.
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482 Commerce of the United States.
One occasion of the disasters of this campaign was the want of an efr
cient financial system in the colonies. The only taxes upon which they
depended for the funds requisite for the heavy operations of the war were
those upon lands and polls. Their depreciating bills were freely used. A
great help was furnished them in 1756 by the distribution of 115,000/.,
sent over by Parliament as a remuneration for their war expenses of the
previous year. Of this amount 64,000/. was awarded to Massachusetts,
26,000/. to Connecticut, 15,000/. to New York, 8,000/. to New Hampshire,
7,000/. to Rhode Island, and 6,000/. to New Jersey.
The fleet of Admiral Boscawen gave fiill protection to the fishery at
Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence for the present, but did not
protect the coasts of the colonies. The French sent some privateers there
to harass the colonial trade, and a number of vessels were taken, upon
which the colonists stationed armed vessels upon the coast for the protect
tion of the near fisheries, and of their trade generally. They also entered
vigorously into privateering, and by this means inflicted great injury upon
the enemy.
More than four hundred privateers were sent from New England to the
French West Indies and to all parts of the world, where the Commerce of
France extended. As in the former war, many of the colonial merchants
became very wealthy through the success of their privateers, though, as
in all wars, the general interests of Commerce still suffered heavily. This
is seen in the fact that the seamen of New England were crowding aboard
the royal navy, though this was partially owing to bounties on enlistment
Of this useful article England felt such a want, that several acts were
passed in 1766 to encourage the supply of her naval and merchant ser-
vice.
An act was passed in 1766 to encourage the trade of the sugar colo-
nies, which, from their peculiar position and pursuits, were most liable of
all the English dependencies, to suffer by the war.
RcLK Keoarding Neutrals. During the year the English govern-
ment also announced the celebrated rule, the occasion of so much trouble
afterwards, that neutrals in time of war could carry on no trade which
they had not been accuetomed to carry on in time of peace. The colonies,
although violently opposed to this principle after acquiring their nation-
ality, when enforced by its author against themselves, were now undoubt-
edly perfectly ready to uphold it in the utmost extent as an effective means
of crippling their adversary, by depriving his Commerce of the cover of
the neutral flag.
Du Quesne, Crown Point, and Ticonderoga — a fort lately erected on
the northern side of Lake George, still further within New York — were
the objects in contemplation when the campaign season of 1767 opened;
but the whole effort of the year was suddenly directed to a concentrated
attempt upon Louisburg ; but that place being reinforced by seventeen
sail of the line and troops, raising its force to 9,000, the project was aban-
doned, and nothing was done. On the other hand, Montcalm advanced
firom Ticonderoga with 0,000 men, and reduced Fort William Henry, on
the south side of Lake George, defended by 3,000. A line drawn across
firom William Henry to Oswego, would have left between a third and half
of the colony of New York, now at the backs of the French, apart firom
their establishment in the Niagara district.
While the Indians on the frontiers of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New
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York were at deadly Btrife witb the English^ the Oarolinas were at peace
and eDJojing quiet trade with the powerful tribes on their borders. la
1757, at the request of the Cherokees, the Caroliniazis established among
ihem a fortified trading establishment called Fort Loudoun, in honor oi
the commander-in-chief. It was situated in the northeast part of the presr
ent State of Tennessee, and was the first English occupation of the terri^
tory of that State. The French, as before mentioned, oad once erected a
temporary post at the southwestern corner of the State, near Memphis.
The year 1757 was one of great scarcity all over Europe, and so severe
was the distress of the poorer, and the embarrassment of the middle class
in Great Britain, that Parliament suspended the duties on foreign com
and fiour, and prohibited the export from the kingdom of com, meal, fiour,
malt, bread, biscuit, and starch. The export of grain, meal, malt, flouTi
beef, pork, bacon, <&;c., from the colonies to any other places than Great
Britain and Ireland, was also prohibited. These prohibitions were re*
moved in 1750. The importation of these articles in neutral vessels was
also permitted, so that the ministry did not consider their own principle
regarding neutrals applicable to the country proclaiming it These acta
were for a limited period, and were in 1758 extended to the close of that
year. Another act gave the colonies liberty to export piff-iron to all parts
of Great Britain, they having been hitherto limited for wis article to the
port of London.
The English were as unsuccessful in Europe as in America, and it wa«
by some imagined that the vigor of the nation was exhausted, and its fall
at hand. But the course of disaster having overturned the ministry, and
upturned such a man as William Pitt, the course of afiOairs took a aew
iurn.
Beinspired by their confidence in Ae new ministry. New England raised
15,000 in the beginning of 1758, and with 5,000 from the other colonies^
and 30,000 men from England, Gen. Abercrombie found himself in com*
mand of a force of 50,000. Massachusetts was particularly zealous. The
taxes collected in that colony to support the war, amounted in the aver*
age to above half the incomes. The taxes in Boston equaled two-thirdff
t£e income on real estate. One-half the effective men of the province
were on some sort of military or naval service. Five hundred seamen were
fumished by that colony for the attack on Louisburg, beside the fisher-
men impressed. The Massachusetts merchants were obliged to employ
Indians and negroes to navigate their vessels.
But it was not in this year alone, as we have shown, that the royal
navy was supplied with men from New England. It was asserted in the
British House of Commons, that during the war there were employed in
the BriUsh navy 10,000 American seamen, of whom by far the greater por*
tion were, of course, from this section.
In the expedition of Gen. Amherst against Louisburg were twenty-three
ships of the line, eighteen frigates, and 16,000 land troops. The ^Dun^
kirk of America '* surrendered again to the arms of England on the 26th
of July. As before, stores and ammunition of great value were taken*
The population was about 5,000, and there were as many more troopa.
To prevent its recovery by France, at least with its former importance, the
merchants and most of the inhabitants were sent to France in English vear
sels, and its boasted fortifications were demolished. The loss of wis plaoe
was a severe blow to France.
VOL. XXXIII, — NO. rv. 28
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484 Cwnmeree of the United State$.
The island of St. John (now Prince Edward's) and all the other French
settlements of that quarter, of which the chief were Port Dauphin (now
St Ann's,) Spanish Bay (now Sydney,) Port Toulouse (now St Peter's,)
Arichat, Petit de Grat, &c^ all surrendered with the fall of Louisburg. ^
John's had a population of 5,000, with above 10,000 head of black cattle.
Some of the farmers on that island raised yearly 1,200 bushels of com for
the Quebec market. The population of this place suffered the same fate
as that of Nova Scotia and Louisburg — a part being carried to the colo-
nies, a part to France, and some escaping to Canada. So complete was
the removal that not more than 500 or 600 were remaining so late
as 1770.
England was now in complete possession of the coast to the mouth <^
the St Lawrence, and of the entire Gulf and fishing region. In France,
their American fisheries had always been considered of more value than
the mines of Spanish America.
Fort Frontenac was taken the same season by Ck>l. Bradstreet, who, be-
side 60 cannon and a large quantity of military stores, found there nine
armed vessels and a collection of goods designed for the Indian trade.
Although this place is described by some of our historians " an unimport-
ant post," and its capture is usually referred to an inferior achievement,
affording very poor compensation for the disastrous repulse of Gen. Aber-
crombie at Ticonderoga, was really the most important point in the whole
series of inland operations, and should have been from the first the great
object of attack. It was the entrepot of stores and supplies for the whole
range of lake and western forts, and commanded the sole avenue of com-
munication from Canada with every point occupied by the French in
North America, and with the whole horde of their Indian allies. Had
the English at any time before here concentrated their armies upon this
point and gained possession of it, the supplies of the lower forts being cut
off, they would have been no longer tenable, and the necessity would have
been saved of capturing them in detail. The writers who speak so slighting-
ly of this achievement, record immediately after that Du Quesne was Hban-
doned before the force of Gen. Forbes had reached it — Venango and the
forts above being still retained — and that the western Indians made a gen-
eral peace, concluding the war throughout that whole section, and leaving
the English in possession of the main part of the object for which it was
commenced.
Yet no victory had been gained in that quarter, and not the slightest
impression made by the English upon the confidence of the invariably suc-
cessful French and Indians. The obstniction by capture on the ocean,
and blockade in the French ports of the reinforcements and supplies pre-
pared by the French government for Canada, had, of course, its due effect;
but the immediate occasion of these results was the destruction of the
stores provided at Frontenac. Where supplies are to be transmitted over
routes so long, the existence of depots at convenient distances is indis-
pensable, and the destruction of Frontenac, even without its occupation by
the English, disturbed the whole system of inland communication. The
Indians, not receiving their accustomed supplies of merchandise, attributed
the interruption to the success of the English, and abandoned their allies,
even before the desertion of Du Quesne, hastening the necessity of that
event
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Commerce of the United States. 435
The retreatiDg force from Du Quesne sailed down the Ohio toward
Louisiana, considering probably that the new forts must soon be aban-
doned or surrender, and regarding the return to Canada impracticable.
The treaty with the Indians was concluded at Easton, sixty miles from
Philadelphia. The tribes represented on the occasion were the Mohawks,
Oneidas, Senecas, Onondagas, Oayugas, Tuscaroras, Nauticokes, Conays,
Tateloes, Chugnats, Delawares, Unamies, Minisinks, Wappingers, and Mo-
hicans, who inhabited a region embraced between the lakes, the Allegha-
nies, and the Apalachian mountains. As usual in Indian treaties, provision
was made for trade as well as amicable relations.
Beside their advantages in America during this year, the English also
reduced an important trading station held oy the French on the River
Senega], in Amca, transferring to them the monopoly of the important
trade in gum-senega, beside a traffic in other gums and in gold dust An
extension of the slave-trade was also anticipated from this capture. But
the place was restored to the French at the peace.
Scarcity, The continued scarcity of provisions in England improved
the market for such as the colonies had to export An act was passed
during the year admitting the import of salted beef, pork, and butter into
Great Britain from Ireland^ for six months from midsummer, fr^e of
duty, except what would be adequate to the duty upon the salt used in
cunng it
First Canal in England. The Duke of Bridffewater's celebrated
canal, the first constructed in England, was made m 1758, connecting
Worsley and Manchester. It was straight, with a level bottom, and, of
course, without locks, being thus a far more considerable undertaking than
would be a modem canal of -the same length. The cost of carriage from
Liverpool to Manchester, by the river, was before 12s. a ton ; the price by
the canal was 6s. ; and die advantages were so palpable that other canals
soon followed, and there was soon a mania on the subject Tet while the
Duke was engaged upon his project, it was ridiculed by some as wild and
visionary, and by others denounced as ruinous to almost every interest of
the kingdom. It would cause the neglect of the natural avenues of in-
land navigation, the rivers, which would henceforth offer their convenient
tides in vain ; would take away the work from the horses, as was after-
wards predicted of the railroad ; destroyed so much valuable land as
was used for its channel; would seriously impair the coasting trade;
would hurt the foreign trade ; and would finally destroy the navy, and
with it, of coarse, the whole commercial and political supremacy of
England.
Another commercial engine of this year was the Newport Mercury^ a
newspaper started at {Newport by James Franklin, brother of the philoso-
pher. Most of the colonies had their newspapers at this time.
In 1Y59 Massachusetts was greatly embarrassed in providing a smaller
quota of troops than she had frimished the year previous, owmg to the
exhaustion of financial ability, and a very sensible decrease of population
from the numbers already in the various branches of the royal service, the
deaths of the last campaign, and the emigration to provinces where the
taxes were less onerous. It was necessary to hold out the lure of double
bounties.
In Newport, Rhode Island, the merchants protested against the assess-
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486 (hmmerce tf the United 8taie$.
ment of 2,200/. upon that town, as its share of the colony tax, dedaring
their losses during the war to have exceeded 2,000,000/.*
In July, 1759, Gen. Amherst took Ticonderoga and Crown Point, those
places being abandoned at his approach. Niagara surrendered the same
month, the French still occupying the forts at Presque Isle and French
Creek, in Pennsylvania. In September Wolfe carried Quebec. Beside
these victories, the English took Guadaloupe, which was now, of course,
legally open to the colonial trade. This important island was said to pro-
duce 40,000 hogsheads of sugar yearly, having between 300 and 406
sugar plantations, and above 60,000 inhabitants, of whom over 40,000
were slaves. In Europe, in the East Indies, and on the seas, the French
were also beaten.
In September, 1760, Montreal surrendered, and with it Detroit, Miohili-
mackinack, the Dlinois settlements, and all other places dependent upon
the government of Canada.
The Cherokees, on the Carolina frontier, who had been engaged in peace*
ful trade with those provinces, while the Indians above were at war on
the colonies, dug up toe tomahawk when the latter had buried it, on their
part They commenced hostilities the latter part of 1769, but in Decem-
ber made a treaty with Gov. Littleton, of South Carolina, for renewing
peace and the usual free traffic with the Carolinaa, agreeing to have no
trade or communion with the enemies of Great Britain, and to take or
kill every Frenchman coming among them. In February, however, they
resumed hostilities, and committed terrible ravage on the Carolina fron-
tiers. In August, they reduced Fort Loudoun, the only establishment in
Tennessee, murdering the garrison of 180 men. The subjugation of Can-
ada being eflfected, Amherst sent a large force to the aid of the Caroli-
nians, and after several fierce battles, and the destruction of a great num-
ber of Cherokee villages, the Indians were induced, in 1761, to return to
their old relations of amity and Commerce. During the war the Assem-
bly of South Carolina offered bounties of £25, and finally £36, for Cha«-
okee scalps.
Extensions or Sbttlbment. In 1760, Castine, in the district of Maine,
was first settled by English, having been settled by the French as long be-
fore as 1 667. The same year emigrants from Massachusetts settled the
township of Liverpool, in Nova Scotia, for the purpose of prosecuting the
salmon fishery. They were very successful, talang a thousand barreb in a
season, and more were thus induced to follow in 1 763. The efforts of
Parliament to build up this colony had not been very successful. The
population was but about 6,000. About £10,000 was yearly appropriated
for the government of the colony, relieving the inhabitants of all civil
burden, and the Eoglish government was getting weary of so unprofitaUe
an investment Altogether, the annual grants made to this colony, up to
1755, amounted to a^ut ^2,000,000.
The French, in 1760, from the lower Mississippi and Illinois regiona^
effected settlements in Arkansas and Missouri.
Tradb to the English Wkst Indies. Notwithstanding the heavy
losses by the attacks of the French upon their Commerce, Uie provinces
continued to trade with the English West India Islands during Uie whole
war. The Island of Jamaica received from North America, daring tbe
* The expcDSM of the «overnroent of Ciinada had risen from 1,700,000 Urrm ($314,810) in 1749, to
»jDOO/«0 llyret (§4,814^14) In 1730, being piUd by fTMce.
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Oemmerce of ih$ United Slaiee. 437
r, provisions, lumber, and live-stocl:, about JB200,000 currency, equal to
£142,857 sterling, of whieb about one-fourtb was paid in produce of tbe
island, and the other three-fourths in money or bills of exchange. For-
merly, the continentals had received produce entirely in this trade, but
since their intercourse with the foreign islands began, had demanded a
lai^e proportion in specie.*
Trade to the Fbench Colonies. The productions of the French col-
onies, owing to the destruction of the Commerce of France by the British
navy, and still more by the privateers of America, were reduced, during
the war, to a very low rate. Notwithstanding the peremptory inhibitions
of Parliament, and the almost treasonable nature of the act, the colonists
could not refrain from taking advantage of this state of Uiin^s, and re-
trieving something of the mischief they were meanwhile inflictmg on the
French possessions, by keqnng up their trade with them. The French,
glad of such relief readily adraitt^ the American vessels to their colonies,
under Jloffs qf truce, and they freely visited the French part of Hispaniola,
(whither they repaired usually with the money and bills of exchange ob-
tained at Jamaica,) and also the other French islands of the West Indies,
imd their colonies at the Mobile and Mississippi Rivers, the latter being
scarcely disturbed during the war. By this means, the French were sup-
plied in those parts with the provisions and lumber so essential to them,
«nd received, also, large amounts of money in exchange for their produce
and lor French manvfoLcturee, the balance of the trade being, according to
the system of the times, greatly in favor of the French, as they sold far
more than they bought. The English government was extremely indig-
nant at this method of vitiating their efforts, but it at least helped to sus-
tain the ability of America to meet the heavy taxation which she imposed
upon herself for the prosecution of the war. In August, 1760, Mr. Sec-
retary Pitt wrote to the several governors of North America, directing
them to use their utmost efforts to detect and punish all persons concerned
in this illegal trade. MacPherson states that some of the revenue officials
in the colony were known to be engaged in the traffic, instead of endea-
oring to suppress it.
Tbadb to £urope. The British West Indies had an active trade to
Europe during the war, in which the vessels of the continental colonies
were employed. From Ireland, Jamaica impQrted during the war £1 00,000
in provisions. About 630 pipes of wine were brought yearly to the Brit-
ish Islands from Madeira.
But the colonists carried on a large illegal trade to the other continent,
also. During the war an English factory was established at Hamburg,
which flourished through the consignments made from England, but still
more by those received from North America and the West Indies. The
sugars taken by the colonists at the French islands, as well as those of the
English Islands, here foimd a market, and France was supplied with sugars
from Hamburg,
Trade with Great Britain. The trade of Great Britain with the col-
onies, instead of being diminished by the war, was greatly enlarged during
that period. The exports to the North American Provinces, compart
with those to the West India colonies, were in the two periods, 1744-8
and 1754-8, as follows: —
* The unoQnl of ragar imported foto Engtaad firom ber ragw oolooi6«i in 17^ wm 1^4.790 cwt
In 1765, tn » Ume of peace, it was 1,327,150 cwu
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438
Commerce of the United States.
North American W. India
Years. ooloniea. eolontef.
1744 £640,000 £796,000
1745 6S4,000 608,000
1746 754.000 472.000
1747 726,000 866,000
1748 880,000 784,000
Total £8,484,000 £8,861,000
North i
Years. cc^ooiea.
1764 £1,246.000
1756 1.177.000
1766 1.428.000
1767 1.727.000
1768 1,882.000
oolunlea.
£686,000
694,000
738.000
776,000
877,000
Total . . . .
£7.410,000 £8,766,000
8,484,000 8,861,000
Exceae of the last five years £8,926,000 £404,000
Thus, while the gain in the West India exports had increased in a very
moderate ratio, the export to the northern colonies had more than doubled,
and from being on a par with the former, the continental provinces, as a
market for English goods, had rieen in this brief period to double their
present importance. The total exports of Great Britain in 1760 were
£ 1 5,78 1 ,175, so that it would seem about an eighth part of her Commerce
was with her North American provinces.* To no foreign country, in 1 760,
were the exports so large as to the average of the second period to these
provinces. The largest foreign export was to Portugal, being £1,294,719.
The British East India Company's exports in 1760 were £477,339.
Thus, during a war which taxed the energies of the colonies to the ut-
most, their Commerce with the mother country was increasing in a ratio
fisir greater than it had borne in peace, and outstripping even the progress
of their population.
One occasion of this rapid increase was doubtless the large amounts of
money remitted from England during the war for the expenditures of their
army, and the sums sent in partial remuneration of the expenses of the
colonies, a great portion of which were sustained by colonial bills, and re-
paid them in specie. Another cause was, probably, that what illicit trade
the colonies managed to carry on, especially at the West Indies, was much
smaller in war than in times of peace, and that they were thus obliged to
resort to England for a large balance of merchandises which they before
obtained of the French and Dutch. But perhaps more efficient than all,
was the growing disposition among the colonists, remarked with sorrow
by many of the more simple-minded among them, to luxurious living, and
a more reckless spirit in the management of their business. There was
certainly a disposition in the colonies to overtrade, encouraged by the
ready credit which they obtained in England, and the debts thus incurred
were undoubtedly not among the least occasions of trouble in the difficul-
ties which introduced the Revolution. A work published in Dublin, in
1754, by Dr. MacSparran, relating to the colony of Rhode Island, men-
tions as one disadvantage under which the colony labored, that there were
^ too many hands in trade,'' and the same remark may have been true of
one or two other provinces. To Pennsylvania, for twenty-eight years be-
fore 1760, the exports from England had increased about as seventeen to
one.
The Assembly of Virginia in 1748 conferred on every parish minister
an annual stipend of 16,000 pounds of tobacco; but in 1755, the crop
being short, and the price rising to 60s. or 60s. the hundred, enacted that
all who owed debts payable in tobacco might, for ten months, pay them
* The ihippliig engsgod tn Uie merehant teiTioe of Eogtand ftogmeoted in 1780 to 479,941 loaa.
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dmmeree of the United S4ak$. 439
in moBey at 16s. 8d. per hundred. The ministers suhmitted. In 1758,
anticipating another short crop, the measure was tried again, but the clergj,
deeming forbearance no longer a virtue, came out against this species of
robbery, as they considered it. The king, being appealed to, pronounced
the act illegal and void, and a Virginia court decided favorably on the
suit of the ministers, though the decision was afterward reversed.
Rice. The export of rice from South Carolina in 1753 was 31,418
bbls.; in 1754 it was 104,682 bbls. From Savannah, in 1755, there were
exported 2,999 bbls., and in 1760, 3,283 bbls.
Indigo. The exports of Indigo from South Carolina in 1754 was 215
pounds, and in 1757 it was 754,218 pounds.
Sugar. A little maple sugar began to be made in New England about
^e year 1752, and the manufacture was continued on a small scale up to
the Revolution, when it largely increased. In 1758, M. Dubreuil estab-
lished a iupar plantation^ and erected the first mill in Louisiana, or in any
part of the present United States. His mill was situated in the lower
part of the present city of New Orleans. His success induced others to
follow.
Cotton is mentioned among the exports of South Carolina in 1754.
The value of this article manufactured by England in 1760 was only
£200,000.
Iron. A furnace for iron was erected in Orange County, New York,
in 1751, and is said to have produced 1,500 tons per annum of pig-iron,
which was worked up at the same establishment into bar-iron.
An act of Parliament in 1 757 gave liberty to the colonies to export
pig-iron to all parts of Great Britain, it having before been limited to the
port of London.
Silk. The export of silk from Georgia in 1755 was 138 pounds; in
1757, there was received at the filature in Georgia 1,052 pounds ; in 1 758,
7,040 pounds; in 1759, 10,000 pounds. Notwithstanding the encourage-
ments offered by Parliament, the culture now declined, although there was
now some increase in the product of South Carolina. In 1760, the export
of silk from Georgia had fallen to 558 pounds. The culture of silk was
commenced in Connecticut in 1760, from whence it afterward spread to
New York and Pennsylvania, though pursued only to a limited extent.
Grain and Flour. The export of wheat from Pennsylvania in 1749
was of the value of £148,104 currency; in 1750, £155,175; in 1751,
£187,457 ; in 1752, the amount was 86,500 bushels. The exports of flour
from Philadelphia in 1752 were 125,960 barrels, and from New Jersey
(port of Perth Amboy) 6,424 barrels, besides 168,000 pounds of bread,
and 17,941 bushels of grain. The export of com from South Carolina in
1748 was 39,308 bushels; from North Carolina in 1753, 61,580 bushels;
and from Philadelphia in l7o2, 9u,740 bushels.
Hkmp, Flax, &o. The export of hemp from New Jersey in 1751 was
14,000 pounds; of flax from Philadelphia in 175i\ 70,000 bushels; from
New York in 1755 the export of flaxseed was 12,528 hogsheads, all of
wh ch was sent to Ireland. Six wagon loads of flaxseed came into Balti-
more in 1751 from the upland parts of Maryland. In 1751, the Assem-
bly of Virginia offered bounties on the cultivation of hemp and flax in
that colony.
Naval Stores. The exports of tar from North Carolina in 1753 were
60,000 barrels; of turpentine, 10,000 barrels; of pitch, 12 barrels. From
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South Carolina— tar, 6,221 barrels ; turpentine, 3,808 barrela; pHch, 18^14
barrels.
Furs and Skiks. £zports from North Carolina, 1758, about 80,000
deerskins, and 203 hogsheads of the same article from South Carolina.
Lumber, &c. South Carolina exported, 1758, of lumber, 501,412 ieet;
shingles, 681,020 pieces; cask-staves, 78,982. Lar^ quantities of lura«
ber were sent A-om North Carolina, also, and as usufU from New England.
New Productions. A society for the encouragement of arts, manu*
fisu^tures, and Commerce, composed of nobles, merchants, and men of
wealth, and being the third association of that kind in the realm, was or-
ganized in England in 1754. Among the objects for which it offered eiH
oouragement by premium was the growth in we American colonies of the
rich and precious productions of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, as
well as the products of Asia and Africa. We suspect that people were
too much engaged in their ordinary avocations to experiment very deeply
in consequence of such encouragement
The Slavs Trade. This business still continued active, and the Rhode
Islanders, and the merchants of some other northern colonies, had not yet
become convinced, at least practically, of its turpitude. The number of
negroes imported into Jamaica, in the ten years irom 1752 to 1762, waa
71, 11 5, selling at £80 sterling per head. The number imported into South
Carolina in 1758 was 511. The number of negroes in the town of New
York (nearly all slaves) in 1755 was about 2,500; in Newport, Rhode
Island, 1,800, out of a population of 6,574. Soon after this time the
Quakers in Pennsylvania emancipated their slaves, there being 8,000 to
10,000 slaves in that colony. But the Quakers had not, after 1 755, the
administration of the government of the colony, and numbered but aboot
one-fifth of the population.
Marine Societies. The Massachusetts Marine Society, composed of
shipmasters, was incorporated by the General Court of that colony in
1754, and the same year a similar institution was organized at Newport
Population. The population of Maryland in 1755 was 153,.^64, of
whom 107,208 were whites, 42,764 blacks, and 3,592 mulattoee. Penn-
sylvania is estimated to have had 220,000, but the number of taxahlee,
86,667, in 1760, would indicate less than 200,000 at the later period. New
York, in 1756, had 96,776 whites and 18,r42 blatrks, a total of 1 10,317,
the town of New York containing about 13,500 inhabitants. Connecticut^
in 1755, had 128,218 whites and 3,587 blacks, the total being 131,805.
Rhode Island, in 1761, had 35,939 whites and 4,697 blacks, toUl, 40,636.
A British writer, at 1760, says that apart from emigration, the population
of the North American colonies had doubled in the last twenty-five years*
The MusQurro Colony. The British settlement on the Musquito shore,
in Central America, was becoming better worthy the attention of the
northern merchants. The British subjects there, exclusive of Indians, in
1757, were 1,100, and the exports were mahogany, sarsaparilla, tortoise*
shells ; also specie, indigo, cocoa, hides, and tallow, obtained in barter from
the Spaniards. Several vessels were owned there.
Paper-Mokey. In 1751, Rhode Island amended the act for the bank
of 1 750, repealing the bounties ofi^ered, that on manufactured wool being
displeasing to the English government ; 648. old tenor, or 1 6s. new tenor,
or 6s. 9d. of the new bills, were made equal to one ounce coined silver
•terling alloy. The bills were for ten years. The value of a Spanish
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Cmmetc4 of ^ UmM 8fUs. 441
■nlM-dolltr was fixed, in Pebruaiy, 1752, at 568. old tenor. In Febru-
ary, 1756, Rhode Island issued £80,000 lawfiil money bills, redeemable in
two years, fixing its value at 68. 8d. to an ounfe of silrer; and in August
provided for sinking the bills issued for the Crown Point expedition, 1 755-6,
with money received from England, Ac. One dollar specie was to be paid
Ibr every £4 of old tenor, and treasury notes to be given in part for the
bilk. In 1759, the colony was owed on worthless bonds, £49,860, and
had £35,000 to be collected on bonds, the affairs of the Paper-Money or
(}rand Committee's Office being now settled up.
Large issues were made in most of the colonies during the war, and
considering the urgency of the case, were allowed by the English govern-
ment In 1752, the Assembly of Pennsylvania attempted to avail itself
of tbe exception made by the act of Parliament in 1751, to issue £40,000.
Benjamin Franklin, as chairman of a committee on the subject, advocated
the measure in a report, setting forth the good results of previous issues,
and the advantages to be hopeS from further moderate issues. The gov-
ernor refused his assent to the bill, an angry controversy ensued, and no
Iftrtfaer issued in the colony until 1755.*
Caxada — Valu* — THE Prospect. Upon the conquest of Canada great
attention was turned in England and the colonies to this new North Amer-
ican province. In England there were some opposed to its retention, pre-
ferring to hold Guadaloupe instead, or advocating its retrocession as a
check upon the fast-growing colonies already possessed in North America.
Among these is said to have been Edmund Burke. The greater portion
of the English statesmen, however, and the English public, were desirous
of retaining Canada, and a pamphlet urging this policy, by showing the
superiority of continental to West India possessions, was published in
England in 1769. The fear of the colonies uniting against Great Britain
k considered triumphantly answered, by referring to their inability to con-
federate under a crisis so momentous as the existing war had for several
years been.
The Commerce of Canada under the French, though confined to a small
number of vessels, had been respectable for such a province. Nine or ten
vessels usually arrived yearly from the French West Indies, with ratafia,
molasses, coffee, and sugar, and thirty vessels from France, with French
merchandises. The imports in 1754 were, of manufactured goods, &c,
£157,645 sterling; of rum, sugar, <kc., £59,128; total, £216,769. The
exports were, to France, of furs and skins, £64,670; oil, ginseng, capil-
laire, lumber, &c, £7,083 ; to the West Indies and other places, of fish,
oil, iron, &c., £3,906 ; total, £75,560, leaving a balance against the colony
of £141,209, to be paid by bills drawn by the Intendant upon the treasui^r
of France.
But the commercial abilities of this great region were deemed suscept-
ible of vast augmentation. With Canada, England and her colonies had
oomplete possession of the whole fur trade of the continent, and it was
thought this trrtde might be indefinitely extended, and a great market thus
afforded for British manufactures among the Indians. It was even antici-
pated that in the hack parts of the continent might be found many un-
* The CaiiAdtaD bills of eicbaoffe on the French treMory had reached an enormoas amount in
1753, and owing to peculations by the Intendant-<?eneral, were proteelMi to the amount orX3,333,333.
In 1750, payment waa absolutely refiued until an Investigation should occur. The biOs fell to a low
iBte in consequence.
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U2 The Culture of Tea in BrassU.
known nations, like those, perhaps, found in Spanish America, with whom
important commercial relations might he opened.
The never-forgotten idea of the North-west Passage into " the ocean of
Japan, of China, and the Indies," also recurred, as an attendant upon this
conquest From the other side of Canada it was deemed that the project
might be attempted with a better prospect of success. " So miserable a
shore " as that of Hudson Bay was no longer to be solicited to reveal that
desired avenue to the treasures of the East. They saw, in imagination,
a more genial clime and a more favorable coast, redolent with the sweet
odors wafted over the milder ocean from the luxurious fields of Cathay
and the Archipelagian Isles. Here the farther end of the mysterious
channel would readily reveal itself to the easy search, and sailing through
it from that point, the envious Atlantic would be forced to open the con-
cealed terminus of its own side.
The visions of the colonists, rid of all their ancient fears, and with
nothing to do but to embrace the glorious prospect before them, were
equally grand. They began to realize how boundless were their destinies,
and saw the time near at hand when the political and commercial importr
ance of the nations of Europe should yield to the magnificent develop-
ments of America.
Art. lY.— THE CUITURE OP TRA IS BBAZIl.*
It cannot be contested now that the productions most profitable for
planters are not those which provide more immediately for our wants.
Coffee, sugar, and brandy are among those fictitious necessities which
civilization has introduced into refined societies ; and these commodities,
which are generally more injurious than useful, occupy the first rank in
all markets, leaving the second to those that serve for general nourish-
ment ; and this is the reason for which beets, since chemistry has suc-
ceeded in extracting sugar and spirit from them, have acquired so much
importance in Europe.
The history of the culture of tea is also a proof of this truth. This
plant was left for a long time to vegetate in its native country, without
being noticed, and it was used only for medicinal purposes ; but since the
caprice of an emperor and of fashion found in the leaves of this plant a
fiavor agreeable to our senses, and somewhat exciting our intellectual
faculties, agricultural industry got hold of it, and gave to the culture such
an extension, that an English writer (Mr. R. Fortune) values its annual
production at 2,895,000/.
It is well ascertained that the consumption of tea is becoming, for the
greater portion of the inhabitants of Europe, a necessary of lite, and as
such, this substance must necessarily hold a distinct place amongst the
exotic vegetables to which we are accustomed, as none of them unites all
the qualities wished for like this plant Moreover, chemistry has just dis-
covered in the leaves of tea a nutritious principle, which classifies this
* Translated flrom the Rio Janeiro Jomal d» Commereio of the 13th of June, 1855, for the Mer*
thanUl* Magaiine by Dr. Liantaud, t.e writer.
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The Culture of Tea in Brazil 443
vegetable as an alimentary article. Therefore, tea can now be considered
a beverage analogous to coffee and chocolate, and which, by its hygienic
and medical qualities, can well compete and be preferred to any other
luxury of the same kind, so that it is obtaining new triumphs every day,
and enlarging the boundaries of its dominions.
These few remarks will sufficiently explain the cause of so many efforts
made for this last century in many countries, to introduce the culture of
this valuable shrub, and thus deprive the Chinese of a monopoly which
makes the wealth of their farmers.
Having been sent by the French government to look into the actual
state of tnis culture in Brazil, I endeavored to prop my own observations
with the interesting communications kindly offered to me by some of the
most experienced dealers in this article, which led me to the conclusions
which close my official report to the Minister of Agriculture and Com-
merce, and to the scientific associations of which I am a member.
The most important question which 1 had been directed to study most
accurately, and which is also very momentous for the Brazilian people,
is — Whether the culture of tea can be advantageous as a branch of hus-
bandry ? This question, of course, refers to two arte: Ist, the culture of
the plant ; and 2d, to the transformation of the leaves from the raw into
a prepared state.
The raising of tea prospers in Brazil perhaps better than in China.
Only here we can see such luxuriant plante and with such a rich foliage,
as those of New Friburgh, St. Paul, Santos, <kc., which are far superior to
the best that I saw in the environs of Canton, Nin-po, Chu-san, &c. All
those who, like myself, have seen this plant gain in Brazil the proportions
of a third-class tree, and thrive, without any difference for an eastern or
western exposure, in any soil, without the least trouble, will class among
the most absurd stories all which has been published by agricultural so-
cieties concerning the different methods of this culture, and the great ex-
penses and care with which it is attended.
In relation to the profitableness of the culture of tea, I have only to
copy the figures which Mr. Vincent Jose de Queiros, of St Paul, handed
to me, which are still more significative by comparing them with the cul-
ture of coffee : —
** An algueire of tea (about an acre of land) can raise aboat 20,000 plants of
tea,** says Mr. Queiros, ** which will yield about 160 arrobas (32 pounds to the
arroba) of tea, when dried, which, being sold at 800 reis per pound, give the
net proceeds of 3,000,000 of reis, and pay the expenses of its cultivation,
amounting to 25 per cent. On the same quantity of land, we cannot raise more
than 2,000 plants of coffee, which will only give 600,000 reis a year, calculating
the yield at 200 arrobas.**
This is only to what refers to the culture of tea ; but things are changed
when we consider the preparation of ite leaves, as it is now done in Brazil.
When the planters of St. Paul began to prepare tea, their production was
considered somewhat inferior to that from (3hina, although it was paid in
Rio Janeiro 2,000 reis a pound, which was much above me price paid for
the tea from C!hina of the same grade.
It is evident at such a price the teas of Brazil could not compete with
those from China in the markete of Europe, and even for the home con-
sumption. This is proved conclusively by the prices current of St. Paul,
where the price of tea fell from 2,000 to 1,200 at first, and 1,000 and 800
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444 The Culture cfTeam BrcaM.
reis afterwards, and now at 600 reis (about half a dollar.) For this reasoBf
many planters left their plantations, and did not care about the expenses
made on them, and those who continued with them, could only do so by
reducing their plantations and simplifying the process of preparing the
tea, in order to diminish the cost of the article.
This statement is founded upon the most exact information, which I
gathered from reliable sources that it would be idle to mention ; but the
truth is, that within five leagues round St. Paul, only on one estate I did
not see marks of abandoned plantations.
Whilst the production of coffee is increasing in the province of St
Paul, that of tea remains stationary, and will even decrease, as the prioe
of slaves and manual labor is getting higher. Here also figures are
stronger than words. According to the documents exhibited to me by
the custom-house of Santos, the exportation of coffee was 3,463 arrobas
for other ports of the empire, and 618,968 arrobas for foreign porta—
making an aggregate of 622,418 arrobas. During ^e same period the
exportation of tea was, for the ports of the empire, 147,846 arrobas, and
to foreign ports, zero. In the same way that these figures prove the infe-
riority of the production of tea to that of coffee, they show also the cause
of this inferiority on account of there being no exportation of it to for-
eign ports, which in Brazil is well known both by merchants and planters.
But what is still to be understood, is how to change this state of things so
as to facilitate the exportation of tea irom Brazil.
Many of the planters are imder the impression that it is only necessary
to hold the teas three years longer to sell them better ; but 1 can assure
them, after many experiments made, that the bitter principle of the drug,
which is rather excessive in the Brazilian teas, being a fixed principle,
cannot be dissipated by time ; only the herbaceous taste can be corrected,
either partially or entirely, but even this improvement is more in appear-
ance than in reality ; besides, this long delay is always a loss to the plant-
ers, who cannot always afford it.
Other planters have lately thought that by giving to the Brazilian teas
the same appearance as those from China, they would easily find pur-
chasers, at a high price, in European markets. During my stay in Brazil,
I had frequent occasions to see how they prepare, in different ways, the
black tea, and how they color the green with different stuffs, especially
with Prussian blue and magnesia. By these inventions they have con-
trived to imitate, to some extent, the appearance of tea from China, but
they could not give them that aroma and perfume characteristic of the
latter, and which the connoisseurs appreciate so much, and they have not
been able to modify the proportion of the different principles which, by
chemical analysis, have been discovered in the tea-leaves, so that the
black teas of Brazil are just as bitter and astringent as the green teas.
The best means to find markets abroad for Brazilian teas will be Uie
low price. The law of cheap prices has always ruled all commercial spec-
ulations ; there is no exception for any article. Among the Brazilian teaa,
there are some qualities which cost a great deal more than the teas from
China ; but the latter are preferred everywhere, on account of their cheap-
ness.
Therefore, instead of complicating the process of preparing tea, whidi
only increases the manual labor, and in order to obtain a suitable price,
it will be necessary to make the same process more simple. This is what
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Ths Culture of Team Brazil. 445
has been understood already by the planters of St Paul. By comparing
the present mode of preparation with the account published twenty years
ago by Father Leandro de Sacramento, and by General Arouche, I find
some considerable differences. Formerly they used to put the leaves of
tea in a kind of copper kettle, well heated, until they became quite soft,
when they were placed on shelves to be stirred and turned over for a
quarter of an hour, when they were rolled up and put a^ain into the ket-
tle where, by stirring and mixing, they would take that lead color proper
of the green teas.
All these operations are now performed without taking the leaves out of
the brass kettle, which is a great economy of labor, time, and fuel. But,
notwithstanding this modification, three hours and a good deal of labor
are spent in preparing a pound of tea, as it must go on the fire a second
time, and all the leaves must be picked one by one, in order to separate
the different colors.
Such processes are excusable only in a country like Chinn, where the
most simple elements of mechanic art are still unknown, and labor is ex-
tremely cheap ; but not in Brazil, where the population, comparatively so
thin, can find an easy and lucrative occupation out of any laborious agri-
onltural work. Therefore, it is indispensable to substitute ibr manual labor
the power of machines, which comes a great deal cheaper, easier, and more
ezpeditive.
Only in this way the culture of tea may still become profitable in
Brazil ; only by these means they will be able to lower the prices to the
same standard prices of Canton, where tea is sold at from 150 to 200 rels
a pound.
Behold, then, the greatest diflSculty which we meet both here and in
Europe. It is more than twelve years since great efforts were made to
propagate the culture of tea in France ; and with the help of some of our
beet engineers, and of the wonderful discoveries made by chemistry and
physicsd sciences, we are not without hope to get over this difficulty, so
much so that the progress of the insurrection in China must necessarily
cause a rising in the prices of tea.
Our machmes can prepare very speedily immense quantities of leaves,
and might be used for a central manufacture to be established in the capi-
tal, where all the leaves of tea might be prepared for the market They
do so in Canton with the teas destined for exportation. The merchants
of Canton, at the time of the harvest, send their agents to Fo-King,
Sjang-nan, and other places, to make purchases of the green leaves of
tea, which they dry and pack up in boxes of about 96 pounds each, and
when they have amassed a sufficient quantity to load a chap — that is to
say, about 000 boxes — they send the cargo to Canton, where it is pre-
pared in the pack-houses, in which operation more than 80,000 people are
occupied.
Rio Janeiro also might become the great emporium of the Brazilian
teas, and the source of a branch of husbandry quite suitable to its climate,
to its central position, and to the immense capital circulating within its
walls. It is Rio Janeiro, more than any other city of Brazil, that it be-
booves to give an impulse to this great enterprise, having a large numb^
of good, intelligent, and industrious workingmen, whose help is certainly
indispensable to make use of the artificial means which mecnanic science
has pat in our hands.
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446 C<m,meree of Candia.
Art. T.— COMMERCE OF CANDIA.
TBS ItLAlID or CAMDIA— IMPORT! AMD IZP0RT8— COMMERCIAL IMPORTAMCB— HAITIIRRR, HOIAU«
AND CVeTOMl OP TBI PBOPLB, BTC.
Candia is a seaport city, and the capital of the Island of Crete, near the
center of its north coast It has a population of some 12,000 or 15,000,
nearly all Mohammedans. Its harbor, formed by two moles, each termi-
nating with a port, is now so choked as to be available only by vessels
drawing eight or nine feet of water. The streets are wide and roughly
paved, and the houses are well built, and interspersed with gardens and
fountains. Candia was taken by the Turks from the Venetians in 1669.
A correspondent of the Department of Stale furnishes some information
of commercial interest, in connc^ction with a description of the manners, -
morals, and customs of the inhabitants : —
" The trade of this island with the United States fairly commenced in
1847, when the bark Ganges, of Boston, loaded at the port of Canca a
home cargo of )95 casks of olive oil and 781 cases of soap, valued at
il7,e94; ako in the same year the brig Hallowell loaded at the same
port for Boston a cargo of 1,344 cases of soap, valued at $13,891. In
December, 1850, the brig Barbadoes arrived at the same port from Bos-
ton with a cargo of run), coffee, sugar, naval stores, furniture, Ac, valued
at *3,98i» 39. In 1851 the Barbadoes again arrived at this same port
with an assorted cargo, valued at $8,907 66. As this vessel had the
greater portion of her cargoes for America in waiting at Smyrna and
Malta, she took on her return but a limited amount of the produce of this
island. The cargoes of this vessel sold at very fair advantage — the net
proceeds of which were invested in the produce of Egypt, at Alexandria,
and forwarded to Boston via England ; whereby opening a new and pro-
fitable trade witii that section of the Turkish empire in the produce of
Smyrna, and also with the Island of Candia via Smyrna, of wool, almonds,
raw silk, wine, <fec., all of which paid a good profit
"The total exports from the port of Canca to Boston in 1847, and since,
have been $34,961 80 ; and from Alexandria, via Canca and Smyrna, per
brig Barbadoes, $751 87 — rendering the total amount 835,713 67; on
which amount duties were paid at the custom-house at Boston. The to-
tal imports from Boston amounted to $7,896 95 for this port, on a portion
of the net proceeds of the sales of which the purchase of the aforesaid
shipment from Alexandria, $751 87, was invested.
** The brig Barbadoes was intended for a regular trader between Boston
and the Island of Candia by the well-known, highly respectable house of
Messrs. A. S. & W. G. Lewis, of the former place ; but on a voyage to St
Domingo in January, 1853, for a cargo of coffee designed for the Meditei^
ranean market, she foundered at sea, and never has been heard from.
" In relation to Candia soap, it appears that the quantity of soap im-
ported from Turkey during a part of the years 1849 and 1850, was
155,127 lbs., and from France on the Mediterranean, 1,121,801 lbs.,
making a total of 1,277,018 lbs. for one year. The greater proportion of
the soap imported into the United States from Marseilles is manufactured
from the oil of this island, shipped by French vessels. The soap of this
island is, or has been until of late, manufactured from olive oil and Egypt-
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VemfMrce of Candia. 441
ian natim, whieh bj no means is so well adapted to the use of American
woolen manufactures, &c,y as soap made from olive oil and soda ash. With
a view of qualifying this soap for the American market, the soda ash has
been introduced into its composition, which renders it of a very pure and
fine quality.
" The following table exhibits a condensed report of the Commerce of
the Island of Candiafor the year 1853, by which it will be seen that the
trade of this island is largely increasing : —
ARRIVALS.
Porta. Noa. Tons. Men. DoUanu
Retimo 182 6,218 IM6 92,700
Caoca 640 28,848 4,548 890,968
Oandia 848 16,686 2,465 644,544
Toua 1,178 60,747 8,174 1,028,212
DEPARTURES.
Retimo 188 6,261 1,199 881,740
Canca 640 28.171 4,680 868,889
Candia 848 16,488 2,420 787,684
Total 1.166 49,916 8,199 1.972,718
Total value of exportatioDs from the island for 1868 $1,972,718
Total value of importationt for 1868 1,028,212
Balance of trade in favor of the island $944,601
" From the isolated condition of this island, and so little is its general
society influenced by European or any other especial customs, notions, <feo.,
and also so few strangers of intelligence and influence visit its ports to
give any extraordinary or particular tone to its local manners and customs,
that the broad distinctions of Turk, Greek Rayah, European, Ac, are very
prominent and distinct The ignorant, fanatical, and indolent Turk, and
the cunning, cringing, selfish, and down-trodden Greek Rayah, are met
with at almost every corner ; and the cosmopolite Jew, and stiff, reserved
European, occasionally jostle each other on the * Marina ;' while may prob-
ably be seen some one of the numerous and enterprising lonians, witn his
vessels and merchandise, cheek by jowl with some grim-visaged and
solemn Arab merchant, discussing the quality and price of a cargo of
barley.
" To be brief : the Turk of this island, with his gross vices, lax morals,
good faith in his business transactions, hospitality, apathy, ignorance, and
sinceie veneration for his Creator, is behind the 'spirit of the age ;' while
the Grt ek Rayah, unscrupulous, intensely selfish, aspiring far beyond his
condition, and crafty, is up with the spirit of the age — and both stand in
prominent contrast with each other. In fact, the Turk of this island is the
Turk of everywhere ; while tlie Greeks, as a class, are industrious and
frugal, with hut few vices. The Greeks are very selfish, and sometimes
addicted to intoxication, especially when wine is abundant and cheap.
Homicides are very rare among them, and they are very ignorant, from
the fact that schools are only to be found in the cities. Naturally, the
Greek Rayahs of this island are an intelligent people, and only require the
introduction of free schools on the American system to make them known
for inUrlligence.
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448 TreoBure Trwe.
'* An American in this magnificent island, on the very confines of civil-
ized Europe, with a population of some 225,000 persona, in this age of in-
telligence and human progression, observes one strange fact that through-
out its whole expanse of three hundred square miles there is not a printing
press, and consequently, neither a newspaper, book, nor pamphlet printed
or published.
'' For its location, natural resources, <ba, this island is unrivaled ; and
if divested of its 'nightmare' of Turkish rule, it would resume its ancient
renown of a 'hundred cities,' and a million of inhabitants, almost in the
space of the present century.
"The society of the seaports is very limited, and except among the
great body of the Greek Rayahs, there is but very little or no social in-
tercourse ; and the foreign consuls, leading merchants, and Europeans live
in a very secluded, exclusive, and quiet manner, and what are called din-
ner parties, soirees, balls, <kc., are of very rare occurrence. For the num-
ber of the population, I believe, comparatively with other sections of
Turkey, or in fact any part of the world, there is not much vice or licen-
tiousness."
Art. YI.— TBEA8DBE TRO?E:
OR THK DISCOVERY OF GOLD AND OTHER COINS IN MAINE.
It appears from the following statement, prepared by William Willis,
Esq., a gentleman of considerable historical and antiquarian research, that
the discovery of a quantity of old coin on the 11th of May, 1865, at
Richmond's Island, near Portland, in the State of Maine, has created quite
a sensation in Portland and at Cape Elizabeth, and has revived the mmorB
of a former day that large quantities of money lie buried in the soil of
that and other islands in this neighborhood. This impression is not of
recent date, nor confined to this region ; for ever since the bucancers in-
fested the coast of Maine, two hundred years ago, the impression has pre-
vailed that they concealed their treasures upon her islands, where tiiey
have been repeatedly sought by visionary men.
But the present case is no vision. A veritable collection of coin of an
old date having been found, Mr. Willis was induced to make an investiga-
tion into the circumstances ; and accompanied by Hon. C. S. Daveis, Dr.
Oilman Daveis, and Dr. John Cummings, the owner of the island, he
carefully examined the locality, and there found fragments of the pot in
which the coin was buried, and other relics of a former age. Mr. Willis
gives a description of the place and the articles discovered, which we deem
sufficiently interesting to transfer to the pages of the Merchants^ Maga-
zine ;* —
Richmond's Island lies off the southern shore of Cape Elizabeth, the nearest
point hulf a mile distant It is about a mile long and three-qnarters of a mile
wide at the broadest part, and contains a little more than 200 acres.
The first settlement made upon this island, of which we have any account,
* This aecouut wm originaUy oommaoicated by Uie writer to the ^ SUU «/ JMUna.**
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was by Walter Bagnall, in 1628 ; he eanied on a profitable trade with the In-
c&ins, and was killed by them for his extortion, October 3, 1631. Wintbrop, in
his joaroal, says be accumulated a large property, £400, by his traffic. Bngnall
occupied without title. On December 1, 1631, the Council of Plymouth granted
the island and the whole southern part of Cape Elizabeth, from Cammock^s
Patent of Black Point to Casco Bay, to Robert Trelawny and Moses Goodyeare,
merchants of Plymouth, England, and sent the patent over to John Winter, their
agent, who was one of the adventurers, to the extent of one-tenth, to establish
a trading house, and conduct the operations of the plantation. Winter took
possession of the grant at once, and entered upon a large business. He built a
ship there immediately, probably the bark " Richmond,'' of 30 tons, and sent to
Europe lumber, fish, furs, oil, &c., and received in return wines, liquors, guns,
ammunition, and articles necessary for the Indian trade, and to sustain the colo-
ny. Several ships were employed in the trade ; the names of some of them
were the *• Agnes," " Richmond," " Hercules," and " Margery." In 1635, a ship
of 80 tons, and a pinnace of 10 tons, arrived at the island. In 1638, Winter
had sixty men employed there in the fishing business, and the same year Tre-
lawny sent a ship of 300 tons, laden with wine and spirits, to the island. In
1639, Winter sent home in the bark '' Richmond," 6,006 pipe-staves, valued at
£S 6s. a thousand. The place was for twelve years, from 1633 to 1645, the lat-
ter being the year of Winter's death, one of the most important for its trade
upon this coast An Episcopal Church was established there, over which Rich-
ard Gibson, an educated man, presided from 1637 to 1640, when he was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Robert Jordan. Jordan married Winter's only daughter, inher-
ited his estate, and is the ancestor of the numerous race which bears his name
throughout this State and far beyond.
Trelawny, the principal patentee, died in 1644, and Winter in 1645. From
that time the plantation declined ; its trading operations were abandoned, and
probably the island itself, for Jordan established himself on the mainland, near
the mouth of the Spurwink River, and there were no persons remaining to sus-
tain its commercial character.
Having given this general historical view, we will proceed to describe the de-
posit and its particular location : —
Description or the Coih. The oldest of the coin is silver, of the reign of
Elizabeth, of which there are four one-shilling pieces, sixteen sixpences, one
groat, or four-penny piece, and two half-groats. All these pieces, as was the
ease with the whole silver coinage of Elizabeth, bear the same ^f&gy, title, and
motto. They are as follows : — ^On the face is the head of the queen crowned;
the rose, an old emblem, behind it ; around it her title, ELIZABETH, DEG.
ANG: FR: ET: HIB: R.GI: that is, " Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen
of England, France, and Ireland." On the reverse are the arms of England,
France, and Ireland, quartered on a shield, traversed by a cross, around which is
the motto: POSVI. DEV. ADIVTOREM. MEV: i e., Posui Deum Adjulo-
rem Meum — I have made God my helper. This motto was first adopted by Ed-
word Hi., and continued to be used till the time of Charles I. On some of the
coin the title and motto are abridged. The shillings have no date, but all the
sixpences, and some of the smaller pieces, have the date of coinage over the
shield, and on the present collection it extends from 1564, the seventh year of
the reign of Elizabeth, to 1593. In her reign both the date and milling the coin
were first introduced, but neither was unimrmly followed by her or by subse-
quent princes. Her silver coinage consisted of crowns, half-crowns, shillings,
sixpences, groats, half-groats, pennies, three-half-pennies, half-pence, and farth-
ings. No brass or copper money was coined in England before the reign of
James I. The shillings of this and the two subsequent reigns are of uniform
size, and their weight and value nearly correspond with those of the Spanish
quarter of a dollar, but they are broader and thinner.
Of the reign of James I. there are four one-shilling pieces and one sixpence ;
the shillings are not dated — the sixpence bears date 1606, the fourth year of his
reign. The title, motto, and bust on the three pieces are the same : on the face
VOL. xxxui. — NO. rv. 29
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450 Treasure Trove,
18 the head of the king crowned ; behind it, on the shilling pieces, are the figures
XII., and on the sixpence VI., to indicate their current value. Around, on the
outside of the head, is the title, lACOBUS, D. G.MAG: BRI: FR: ET. HID:
REX. ; I. e.. Jacobus^ Dei Gratia^ Magrue Britannioi^ Francia:,et Hibernian , Rex.^
James, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland. On
the reverse is a plain shield, without the cross, on which are quartered the arms
of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland ; around it the legend or motto, Qiub
Deus conjunxit, Nemo separet — " What God hath joined, let no man put asunder "
— referring to the union of the English and Scottish crowns. On the first coin-
age in this reign the title was JacobtiSy D. G. AngUB, Scoiicc, Fr, et Uib, rex ;
in the second, the words Mag. Brit., Great Britain, were substituted for England
and Scotland. The change took place in 1604, when he assumed the style of
King of Great Britain. The shilling pieces in tliis collection were coined before
June, 1605, as is indicated by ihejlnir de lySy which was the mint mark down to
that time. The sixpence has the escallop shell, which was the mint mark from
July, 1606, to June, 1607.
Of the reign of Charles I. there are but one shilling and one sixpence. On
their face they bear the impression of the king's bust, crowned ; behind the head
the fiffures indicating the value, XII. on the shillinsr, and VI. on the sixpence.
The sixpence is dated 1625, the first of the reign ; the shilling has no date. For
the singular fact that in all cases in the three reigns of Elizabeth, James I., and
Charles I., only the smaller pieces are dated we cannot account The title is
Carolus, D. G. Mag. Br. el Hi. rex ; i. e., Charles, by the grace of God, King
of Great Britain and Ireland. On the reverse are the Union Arms, quartered as
in the preceding reign ; but on the shilling the shield is traversed by the cross,
its four arms extending to the circumference. The motto is a new one, adopted
by Charles, Christo auspice regno — I reign under the auspices of Christ.
Gold Coins. The number of gold coins in the collection is twenty-one; of
which ten are sovereigns, or units, of the reign of James I., and of the value of
twenty shillings, three are half-sovereigns, or double-crowns, of the value of
ten shillings each, seven are sovereigns of the reign of Charles I., and one is a
Scottish coin of the last year of the reiffn of James as king of Scotland only.
This is the oldest in the collection of gold coins, and is dated 1602, and of the
size and value of the half-sovereign, or double-crown. On one side of the piece
are a sword and scepter, crossed at an acute angle ; between the points at the
top is a crown; opposite, on the under part, between the hilt of the sword and
the handle of the scepter, is the date 1602; on each aide is the national emblem,
the thistle. The motto around these emblems is Salus Pojndi, Suprema Lex,
t. e.y the Safety of the People is the Supreme Law. On the other side is a lion
rampant, on a shield ; a rose over the crown, and around it the title lACOBUS
6, D. G. R. SCOTORUM; i «., James VI., by the grace of God, King of the
Scots. This is a beautiful coin, and is in a fine state of preservation.
The sovereigns and crowns are subsequent to his accession to the English
throne ; two of them are of the descripti<»n which the king denominated " units,"
from their being the first issued under the United Crowns. On their face they
represent the king in armor, crowned, and holding the globe and scepter, around
which is the title. Jacobus, D, G. Mag. Brit, Fran,, et Hib. rex. On the reverse
is a shield with the arms of England, France, Si-otlnnd, and Ireland, quartered,
and surmounted by the crown. On one side of the shield is the letter!, and the
other R, which I suppose stand for Jacobus rex, King James. The motto Faciam
eos ill Genlem Viiam — I will make them one nation ; hence the name Units or
United. The mint stamp is an escallop shell, indicating its coinage to be prior
to June, 1607.
The other eight of the sovereigns are units, and a later coinage, having the
king's head crowned with laurels in the Roman style, for the first time on Eng-
lish coins. They have the same title or motto as those last described. Behiml
the head are the figures XX., designating their value, twenty shillings. These
were called Laurels, from the laurel wreath on the head.
The crowns have an impression similar to that on the sovereigns first described,
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except that the motto on the reverse is different, viz. : Henricus rosas Regnu Jo-
cobiLSy the meaning of which I do not find explained. Henry, the eldest son of
the king, a prince of great promise, died in 1612, in the 19th year of his age,
mnch lamented by the nation. Whether the coin has any and what connection
with him, I have no means of determining. These have also the letters I R on
the sides of the shield. The coinage of James I. consists of Rose Rials, of 30
shillings' value; Spur Rinls, 16 shillings; Units, 20 shillings; Angels and
Crowns, 10 shillings; and Half-Crowns, 5 shillings.
The last of the series of gold coins are seven of the reign of Charles I., all
of the denomination of sovereigns or units, and of the same coinage. They
represent the head of the king, crowned and youthful, with a double ruff round
his neck, and a robe over his shoulders ; the figures XX. behind his head, and
the title Carolus D, G, Mag, Br.^ Fr,, ei Hib, rex. On the reverse a new motto
is introduced. Florent concordia Regna ; t. e.. Nations flourish by Peace. In
the center the national arms, quartered as usual on a shield, surmounted by a
crown.
None of the gold coins have dates, and all the coins, both silver and gold, are
much thinner and broader than modern coin of similar value. The' impressions
are clear and distinct, especially upon the gold coins, which are less worn than
the silver, and nearly as bright as when issued.
The Ring. The ring is a wedding signet rinff of fine gold, weighing 8 penny-
weights 4 grains. The signet is oval, six-eighths of an inch by five-eighths in
size. On the outer side of the surface is an ornamental border, in the center
the letters G. V., a cord passes between the initials with a tie at the top, Jind
love-knot at the bottom. Inside are enffraved the word " United," then the figure
of two united hearts, and the words "Death only Partes." The workmanship
is remarkably good, the letters well formed and sharply cut The initials prob-
ably represent the parties whoso hearts are united on the ring, but who they
were we are at a loss even to conjecture.
If the initials represent a man and woman, as it is in the highest degree prob-
able that they do, I find no name commencing with V among our early settlers
with which to connect it except Richard Vines, one of the patentees of a tract
of country on the west side of Saco River, who took possession under his patent
in 1630, and continued there, filling a large space in the aflfairs of the province,
until 1646, when he removed to Barbadoes. Vines had at least one daughter,
who married Ellicot, and had by him a son named Vines Ellicot, who was living
in 1688, and then styled himself a grandson of Captain Richard Vines. There
were several persons connected with the early settlements whose names com-
menced with G, the principal of whom were Gorges, (William and Thomas ;)
Goody eare, one of the patentees of the island, 1631 ; Richard Gibson, the Epis-
copal clergyman whom Winthrop calls a scholar — he had a wife, and preached
at the island and Spurwink until 1640, when he was succeeded by Jordan; Wal-
ter Gendall, also, who lived at Spurwink as early as 1673, and had a wife. But,
after all, the ring may not have been, and most probably was not deposited by
the owner; it may have been lost or stolen and trafficked away by the finder, or
it may have been handed down from an ancestor.
Location. The coins and ring were found in a stone pot of common manu-
facture, and a beautiful globular shape, resembling a globe lantern. The pot
would probably contain a quart, and was found about a foot below the surface,
on a slope of land gradually descending from the summit in the center of the isl-
and northwesterly to the shore. The spot is about four rods from the bank,
which is there elevated 16 or 20 feet above the beach. There are traces of the
foundation of buildings about the place; stones from the beach were turned up
in plowing; in one place are apparently the foundations of a chimney, and near
was a cavity, which had probably been a cellar. The place had not been plowed
within the memory of the present generation, if it ever had, until it was broken
up last year. This year the plowing was deeper. Mr. Hanscom, the tenant of
Dr. Cummings, was holdincr the plow, and his son, twelve years old, was driving.
When the boy came to the place he observed the pot, bottom up, and, picking
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452 Treamre Trove.
it up, said to hia fatiier, ^I h&ve found iC in allusion to rumors and firequent
conversationB among tlie people in the vicinity relative to money having oeen
formerly buried on the island. Hia father took it, and said, ** It is a broken mm-
jug of the old settlers; throw it over the bank."
On second thought, he told him to lay it one side on a pile of stones. On
turning it up, all that could be seen was earth, caked inside. Another small son
of Mr. Hanscom was sitting on the pile of stones where the pot was laid, and
began to pick the earth in sport He soon came to the coin, and their astonish-
ment and excitement may easily be conceived. The contents were regularly ar-
ranged on the bottom of the jar ; the gold on the edge at one side^ the silver on
the other, and the ring in the middle.
The whole number of gold pieces was 21 ; of silver of various sizes. Si-
te tal standard value, $100. The silver was considerably discolored; the gold
very little. Part of the fracture of the pot appeared fresh, as though caused by
the recent plowing; the rest was of an earlier date and made, it is conjectured,
by the plowing of the previous year. But it is probable from appearances, and
from the pieces to complete the jar not being found, that it was a broken vessel
when the coin was placed in it.
A piece of le^d, which had been bent to adapt it to some object, was found
near ; but from the circumstance that the pot was filled with hard earth, it is
probable that it was not covered, or that the cover had got misplaced. Mr.
Hanscom and two other men immediately spaded the earth in the vicinity of the
spot, but no more coin or any other valuable thing was found. Some broken
pottery, pipes, an iron spoon, piece of a large thick green glass bottle, charcoal,
rusty nails and spikes, were scattered about, which the plow had turned up. A
building had evidently stood there or near by, but without a cellar.
The question most eagerly asked, and most difficult to answer, is — ^ How
came the treasure there V^ No satisfactory answer can be given ; we can only
approach the answer by conjecture. I have no doubt that the deposit is a soli-
tary case, and can afford no encouragement to the idle rumors that have long
prevailed, that large sums of money were many years slso buried on the island.
The probability is, that the deposit was made by some mhabitant of the island,
or some transient person, for security, and that he either suddenly died or was
driven from the island, or was killed by the Indians. That the money found was
all that was deposited, there seems no reason to doubt.
My conjecture is that the deposit was made as early as the death of Winter,
which took plaee in 1645 : and 1 go still further, and express the belief that the
money is connected with the fate of Walter Bagnall, who was killed by the
Sagamore Squidraset and his company, October 3, 1631. Bagnall had one com-
panion with him, a servant or assistant, whom Winthrop calls John P , the
blank we cannot supply. He had accumulated a large estate by trading. Win-
throp calls him a wicked fellow, and the Indians were exasperated by his bard
usage of them.
The principal part of the silver is of the reign of Elizabeth— only five pieces
were of James, and two of Charles — and the date shows one of them to have
been coined in 1626. Of the gold, only seven out of the twenty-one pieces were
of the time of Charles, and as these must have been coined before the breaking
out of the civil war in 1642, they may have been before 1631. The couiage
after the civil war commenced was of different patterns, and of much coarser
execution than that issued before. That the deposit must have had an early
date — before the commencement of the civil war — is evident from the ^t that
it contains not a piece of coin of a later date than 1642. In 1632 the expedition
fitted out at Boston and Piscataqua to pursue Dixy Bull, a pirate who had vav-
aged Pemaquid, and plundered vessels, on their return stopped at Richmond's
Island, and hung up Black Will, an Indian, who had been concerned in the mur-
der of Bagnall.
Now, my solution is that this coin was BagnalPs, concealed by his servant or
by some of the Indians, perhaps Black Will, and that it has lain there ever since.
In regard to the ring, it probably had no connection with any of those parties,
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Journal ^ Mercantile Law. 458
but may have been received by Ba^all from some of the rovers on the coast or
other person who came di&honestly by it, and placed by him with his other
treasures.
That the articles were hidden before the Indian war of 1676, is manifest from
the absence of any coin of a date thirty years prior to that event, and from the
fact that the island had been deserted for many years before the war by all per-
sons who had money to conceal. Jordan himself, the head and leader of that
whole region, lived on the main land near the month of Sparwink River, where
his house was burnt by the Indians in the autumn of 1676, with all its contents,
and he Iwrely escaped with his Hfe. The treasure, therefore, is not connected
with the Indian war, but its history must be sought in prior events.
PoRTLAMD, May 22, 1856. WILLIAM WILLIS.
JOURNAL OF MERCANTILE LAW.
GUARANTY — LIABILITIES OF BANKS.
In the Supreme Court, General Term, June, 1864. Before Judges Mitchell,
Rosevelt, and Gierke. Talman r». the Rochester Gity Bank.
Mitchell, J. The defendants* points state that they may concede that if the
bond and mortga^re mentioned in this case had been assigned in good faith by
Mnmford to the Rochester Gity Bank as security for the debt which he owed to
the bank, the bank might (with the consent of Mumford) have assigned the bond
and mortgage to another, and guarantied the payment of the bond and mortgage.
But that the distinction was manifest between the right of the bank to guaranty
choses in action belonging to it and its right to guaranty those belonging to an-
other. The concession is right, and a bank may certainly assign or convey any
property held by it, and may enter into the common covenants of guaranty or
warranty, or making such assignment or conveyance. This right is a matter of
substance and not of form ; as a formal contrivance complying in all outward
respects with the requirements of the rule would be a nullity if it was in fact a
mere contrivance, and the substance of the transaction were contrary to the rule;
so if the case before the Gourt is in substance within the rule, and only needs a
formality to bring it in all respects within it, the omission of the form should be
disregarded, and the substance alone looked to ; for it is not a question whether
the bank has u^ed the requisite forms or not, but whether it had any power or
capacity to do the thing which it has done, in any possible form ; whether the
bank had any powers, functions, or franchises, to guaranty in such a case, not
whether it had used all the requisite forms, which would clearly show that it had
such right This is not like the case when that which partakes of the character
of form is made necessary by statute ; then the seeming form becomes essential
and matter of substance by the eflfect of the statute — as when a bank is forbid-
den to issue circulating notes unless payable on demand or at its place of busi-
ness. If the bank has the power or capacity to give its guaranty under the cir-
cumstances of this case, there is no statute against this form of doing it The
counsel for the plaintiff accordingly insists that the transaction in question was,
in effect as well as in form, a guaranty by the bank, of securities in which it had
an interest This requires an exnmination of the arrangements made between
the parties, os shown by the complaint On the 1st of August, 1838, Mumford
was indebted to the bank in a large sum of money, and the bank was desirous
of obtaining payment; Mumford, in order to procure the means of payment, and
it is to be inferred in compliance with this desire, assigned to the American Life
Insurance and Trust Gompany the first six installments Unmounting to $14,260)
of a bond and mortgage which he held from one Ingersoll. It was made a con-
dition of the purchase that the bank should guaranty the final collection of those
installments and of the interest to become due thereon ; and the bank did ao-
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cordingly execute to the Trust Company its goaranty, which was delivered to
the Trust Company at the same time and place that Mum ford assigned to the
company the l)ond and mortgage. Mumford received the consideration money
for the assignment and guaranty, and applied the funds to payment of bis in-
debtedness to the bank. His negotiation of the sale (as is admitted by the plead-
ings) was with the knowledge and assent of the bank, and for the mutual bene-
fit of himself and of the bank. The guaranty executed by the bank recites that
Mumford being indebted to the bank had proposed, as is to be inferred to the
bank, to sell the bond and mortgage for the purpose of applying the funds of
the first six installments upon his indebtedness to the bank, upon receiving from
the bank their guaranty of the said installments and interest thereon, to enable
him to effect the sale, and that Mumford, in pursuance of that arrangement, had
executed an assignment of the bond and mortgage to the Trust Company, with
a covenant guarantying the collection of the principal and interest, and then in
consideration of the premises, and of one dollar paid by the Trust Company,
the bank guaranties to the company the final collection of the said installments,
and of the interests thereon, and reserves to itself the right, upon any default
in payment of principal or interest, to pay the amount then unpaid to the com-
pany, and to have the bond and mortgage assigned to the bank, if the bank so
elect. The mortgaged premises were sold on foreclosure, and on a final sale on
24th November, 1851, only realized 8^,150, which was their fair value on the
last-mentioned day. Ingersoll was insolvent, and removed from the State, and
nothing could be collected from him. The bank is called upon to fulfill its guar-
anty, and insists that it had no legal capacity to make such a guaranty, and that
it is not therefore liable on it. From this statement it is plain that Mumford
held the bond and mortgagee, and arranged with the bank to convert it into mo-
ney for the benefit of the bank, and to apply the money to be received to pay
his debt to the bank, and that in pursuance of this arrangement communicated
to the Trust Company, he assigned the bond and mortgage to the company, and
the bank at the same time guarantied to the company the payment of the bond
and mortgage, or of the first six installments on it, and that Mumford received
the monev from the Trust Company, and applied the proceeds to the payment
of his debt to the bank. If Mumford had assigned the bond and mortgage to
the bank, and the bank had assigned them to the company, and guarantied the
payment^ as it did, it is conceded that the bank would have been liable. Tlie
only difference is that the one transfer from Mumford to the bank that would
have been necessary in that case was omitted, and Mumford, to simplify the
transaction, assigned directly to the company. This was a mere matter of form
in conveyancing, and neither the one form nor the other can be considered in any
degree as an attempt to enlarge the franchises of the bank. The measure of a
franchise is never determined by immaterial forms. The question always is
what power or capacity has been given, not whetlier the power is exercised in a
particular form. In substance, the bank had an interest in the bond and mort-
gage— the arrangement made between it and Mumford, that he should assi^
the bond and mortgage for their benefit, or assign them and apply the proceeds
to pay his debt to them, gave them such an interest in this bond and mortgage
that to some extent the bond and mortgage were the property of the bank. It
was agreed to be theirs when it was agreed that the proceeds should be theirs ;
and when this agreement was carried out, and became an executed contract, it
made the bond and mortgage as much to have been theirs by rektion during the
process of completing the arrangement, as if there had been an express contract,
of a sufficient consideration to assign the bond and mortgage directly to the
bank, that the bank might assign to the company.
It was contended that in some respects the complaint set forth not facts, but
the evidence of facts only. If the facts stated are such that if they were found
as stated, the plaintiff must recover by operation of law, then the plaintiff has
set forth a sufficient 6ause of action. So when the plaintiff alleges the execu-
tion of the guaranty by the bank, under its seal, and the guaranty recites the
consideration on which it was executed, and that is a lawful and sufficient con-
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Journal of Mercantile Law. 465
alderation, that is ^ma fade enough. A statement of certain evidence from
which the law draws a conclusion of fact is in effect a statement of that fact;
but a statement of evidence from which the law would not draw a conclusion of
fact, but which would be left to a jury to find one way or the other, although it
be 80 clear that a jury ought to find only one way, may not be sufficient in plead-
ing. So it might be that it would not m pleading be a sufficient allegation of
unseaworthiness of a ship to tUege that she set sail, and on the same day, with-
out encountering any storm or casualty, foundered at sea, although a jury would
be bound, on such evidence, to find that she was unseaworthy. In pleading it
might be insufficient, because by possibility the ship still was seaworthy when
she left her port. Yet, even in such a case, it may be doubtful whether the
proper remedy is by demurrer, when the party has a more appropriate remedy
by moving to make the pleading more definite and certain. The judgment ajJ-
pealed from should be affirmed, with costs.
SHIPMEKT OF GOODS — CONSIGNMENTS, ETC
In the Supreme Court, Special Term, (1864.) Before Judge Gierke, Beeche
& Kuramdt vs, Stephani and others.
This was a motion to dissolve an injunction relative to importations of Ger-
man goods, amounting to $70,000.
Decision. P. A. Milberg, of Hamburg, Germany, consigned to the plaintiffs
four different shipments of merchandise, with instructions to deliver the same to
Jacob Rybach, one of the defendants, upon payment of the freight and expenses.
Upon the arrival, in December last, of two of the consignments, by the ships
Rastede and Donan, they delivered to Rybach the bills of lading for them, on
receiving from him the amount which they demanded for the said charges. Soon
after this, the plaintiffs received notice from Milberg, and from other defendants
in this action, that the latter claimed to be entitled to the goods embraced in the
several consignments, and cautioning them not to part witli the possession of
the property and of the bills of lading to Rybach, on the ground that he had
fraudulently obtained possession of it from them, being merchants and manufac-
turers in Vienna ; that he pretended to purchase the goods with the design of
never paying for them, and of causing them to be conveyed secretly to the Uni-
ted States ; and, to carry out such design, he caused the goods to be secretly
removed from Vienna to Hamburg, and there shipped by Milberg, who was not
then aware of the fraud, to New York, whither Rybach himself soon after took
passage. On receiving this confirmation, and before Rybach (with the exception
of two cases, each containing a piano forte,) obtained actual possession of the
property out of the public store, where they then remained in the custody of the
collector, the plaintiffs applied, on the 30th December last, to one of the justices
of this Court for an injunction, which was granted, to restrain him and the other
claimants from taking possession and disposing of the property, and for the ap-
pointment of a receiver, praying in their complaint that the defendants may be
required to interplead and settle their conflicting claims; and that they, the
plaintiffs, may be absolved from all liability in the premises. The plaintiffs al-
lege, in their complaint, that they have no interest in the goods; that they do
not collude with the defendants or any of them, and that this action is com-
menced solely for their own protection. They further allege, that after the
commencement of this action, and after service of the injunction on Rybach, he
entered into a stipulation, on which an order was duly entered, by which it was
agreed that Mr. Charles Looseg, the Austrian Consul, should be appointed re-
ceiver of all the goods compri^ in the four shipments, with liberty to make
sale's and to retain the proceeds to await the further order of the Court; but
that Rybach, in evasion of these proceedings, and in violation of the injunction,
made a pretended sale to Stephani, since made a defendant by amendment, and
fraudulently continued with bim to have goods, which were imported in the Ras-
tede, removed from the public store, and afterwards placed in the store No. 112
Liberty-street; after which they were delivered by Rybach to Coronna and Lai-
ienfelt, as commission merchants, for sale on his account.
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On these facts the pbintlfis now apply for an extension of the imanction and
receivership, so as to embrace the proceeds of the goods that might have been
sold, and the documentary evidences of title to all of the gooda— for a receiver-
ship against Stephani, and an attachment against Rybach for a violation of the
injunction. The defendants, Ryback and Stephani, move severally for a dissolv-
tion of the injunction with costs against the plaintiffs, upon affidavits denying
many of the facts alleged by the plaintiffs in their original and amended com-
plaint, and in their affidavits. Instances are continually occurring, especially in
a commercial community, where from peculiar and unforeseen circumstances, a
person who owes a debt, or has incurred a liability, is unable to determine, with-
out serious risk, to which of several adverse claimants it should be rendered ;
and, to prevent the probable or even possible injustice or vexation, arising from
the prosecution of actions by any or all the claimants, this Court will compel
them to test their claims by judicial investigation in an action between themselves;
in other words, the Court will compel them to interplead, on the application of
the person owing the duty or liability, and will relieve him from further respon-
sibility. The plaintiff, however, must show that he does not collude with any of
the claimants ; that the claims are what, under the old distinctions, were denom-
inated legal ; that priority should subsist between him and the defendants ; that
he is in possession, actually or constructively ; that he does not claim any inter-
est in the property in dispute, and that he can in no other way be protected from
an oppressive or vexatious litigation, in which he has no personal interests It
matters not in what capacity the plaintiff has incurred the debt or liability —
whether as a stockholder or tenant, or an ordinary agent, or as a public officer,
or as nn accidental recipient of the property. He has a right to claim the equit*
able intervention of the Court, for his complete indemnification and relief.
I am of opinion that the plaintiffs are entitled to all the relief the^y ask, and
that the applications made by Bybach and Stephani to dissolve the injunction,
should be denied without costs.
LIBEL TO RECOVER FOR SALVAGE SERVICES.
In United States District Court, before Judge Ingersoll. Deci^on in Ad-
miralty. Isaac C. Phillips et al. xi, the ship United States.
This libel is filed to recover a salvage compensation for services rendered to
the ship United States, by the steamtugs Hercules and Underwriter. The ship,
worth from 810,000 to $16,000, and having on board a cargo of about a thou-
sand tons of railroad iron, worth about $45,000, while bound into the port of
New York about two or three o'clock P. M., on the 11th of March, 1863, ran on
the outer middle shoal about three miles from Sandy Hook. There was seven-
teen or eighteen feet of water on the shoal, and the ship drawing about nineteen,
was carried over the shoal by force of the sea and the wind, which was blowing
a gale from the northeast. Soon after she had a signal for a pilot, and was
spoken by one; but the sea was so rough, that he could not then board her. He
ther /ore directed tlie captain of the ship to follow his boat and he would lead
him into deep water. The direction was followed till the ship arrived near the
point of the Hook, when the pilot was enabled to board her, and she then pro-
ceeded under his direction as far as the Southwest SpiU She could then pro-
ceed no farther up the harbor, as the wind was dead ahead. When the pilot
went on board, the ship— which was an old one — from thumping over the outer
middle, was leaking badly.
The necessary hands being at the pumps, and after her arrival at the South-
west Spit, the captain and pilot consulted for ber safety, and thereupon the pilot
ordered a signal set for the steamtug Hercules, which, having that day towed
down a schooner from New York to lighten the Avalanta, which was ashore out-
side of the Hook, was about two miles from the ship in the Lower Bay, looking
for business in her ordinary occupation of towing vessels up and down the har-
bor. The evidence was contradictory as to whether the signal was an ordinary
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one for a tow, or B«igna] of distress. The Hercules came in obedience to the
signal, and took hold of the ship between four and five P. M., and the captain of
the ship told the captain of the Hercules that the ship was leaking badly, and
that the water was gaining on them.
The Hercules not being able to tow her with as mnch dispatch as was desired,
a signal was set fron^ the ship for the Underwriter, which had also gone dowB
in search of business. The Underwriter immediately obeyed the signal, and the
two tugs brought the ship in safety up the harbor, although from Uie leak she
settled one or two feet while coming up, and ran her upon a mud-bottom in the
Atlantic Dock between nine and ten o'clock at nig^t This was on Friday, and
by the following Wednesday she filled with water. The usual price paid to a
fitieamtug for towing a Teseel up from the Lower Bay varies from $25 to $100,
aecordinff to the state of the weather and the difficulties of the case.
Held by the Court: That the weight of evidence is, that the signal set was
fiot a signal of distress, but a signal for a tow. In obeying the signal, the tugs
went to her aid, expecting and agreeing to enj?age in the business which the sig-
nal indicated. But although the tugs started for the ship with the view to render
a towage service merely, yet if the ship, when the tugs came to her assistance,
wap, in point of fact, in a condition where loss or serious damage was reason-
ably to be apprehended from her leaky condition, in connection with the boister-
ous state of the weather — if she was encountering a threatened or impending
peril, from which she was rescued by the tugs — then, although the signal set by
the ship was only for a tow, and although when the tugs started for the ship in
obedience to the siffnal, they understood that they were wanted only for towage
service, they woula be entitled to be compensated for a salvage. For where a
ship or its lading is saved from impending peril by the service of any persons,
upon whom there is no obligation to render the service, then such service is to
be compensated as a salvage.
A mere towage service is confined to vessels which have received no damage
which puts them in peril of loss. A mere towage compensation is payable ib
those cases only where the vessel receiving the service is in the same condition
she would ordinarily be without having encountered any damage or accident.
And if a towage engagement merely leads to the rescue of a ship from an im-
minent danger, it should be remunerated as salvage. (3 Hag^ 428.)
That the Court does not find as a fact that the ship and cargo would have
been lost or greatly damaged, if she had not been rescued by the tugs, but does
find that there was danger of such loss, or great damage, and that the ship was
rescued from that peril by the tugs, and the compensation which the libelants
are entitled to have received for their services must be a salvage compensation.
That there was but little, if any, more labor and peril incurred by the tugs than
would have been incurred in such weather in performing a towage service ; that
the^ manifested promptitude in obeyhng the signal, but were not diverted from
their proper and usual employment, but were engaged in it ; that the libelants
have experienced but trifling injury or loss by the service which they have ren-
dered, no more than probably would have been sustained if the ship had not by
her leaky condition been exposed to Impending peril — and that under all the cir-
cumstances, the case demands only a moderate compensation. Decree, there-
fore, that the libelants recover tlie sum of 91*000, to be divided equally between
the two tugs.
COMMERCIAL LAW OF PARTHERSHIF.
The Pittsburgh Commercial Journal publishes a case which was lately (1855)
argued and decided in the District Court of Alleghany county, before Judges
Hampton and Williams, involving some interesting questions relating to the
rights and duties of partners. As the matter was amicably adjusted before the
decision was announced, the names of the parties need not bo given ; but for the
information of our readers, many of whom are interested in the questions, we
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give a synopsis of the points decided, taken from the opinion filed by his Honor,
Judge Hampton : —
On the 29th of October, 1863, three persons entered into articles of partner-
ship to carry on the ** General Foundry Business" for the term of five years.
One of the partners becoming dissatisfied, various proposals to purchase or sell
were made without coming to any agreement At length, on the 9th of June,
one of the partners delivered to his co-partner a note, stating that " in order to
get rid of any further difficulties or trouble with you, I will leave the concern
and give you all that I have put in, or any interest that I have in it forthwith."
On ^e 11th of June an answer was returned as follows: " I accept your propo-
sition as you have pleased to make it in your note of June 9, 1866." The re-
tiring partner, on receiving this answer, demanded indemnity against the out-
standing debts and liabililies of the firm, amounting to several thousand dollars.
The remaining partners refused to give such indemnity, but assumed the posses-
sion and control of the firm, and commenced to carry on the business in their
own names.
A bill in Chancery was then filed by the retiring partner, setting forth the fore-
going facts, and praying the Court to decree a dissolution of the partnerehip,
and an account to be taken, and asking for an injunction to prevent the remain-
ing partners from using the property and carrying on the business for their own
benefit, and for a suitable person to be appointed as a receiver to take charge of
ih^ property and as.'^ets of the partnership, and wind up the business, unless the
complainant was indemnified against the debts and liabilities of the firm. The
case came on to be heard upon a motion by the complainant for the appointment
of a receiver, and was fully argued by counsel. For the complainant it was
contended —
That although the articles stipulated for the continuance of the partnership
for five years, yet it might at any time be dissolved by agreement of the parties,
or by decree of the Court of Chancery for misconduct on the part of one or
more of the parties.
That whether the offer by complainant and the acceptance of defendants was
binding and operated as a aissolution or not, still the defendants* conduct was
wrono^ful, and justified the appointment of a receiver, inasmuch as they refused
to indemnify the retiring partner, and were applying the property to their own
use.
That in equity the retiring party was entitled to indemnity, although not men-
tioned in his offer, and his right to such indemnity could only bo defeated by an
express waiver.
That while the partnership continued, each partner was entitled to participate
in the management, and upon dissolution, the first duty of all the partners was
to wind up the business, and apply the property to discharge the liabilities of
the firm ; so that in either aspect the defendants had no right to assume control
of the property and carry on the business for themselves without the consent of
the retiring partner. And having done so, the Court should appoint a receiver.
For the defendants it was contended —
That the complainant had voluntarily offered to quit the concern, and give up
his interest without any demand of indemnity, and that offer being accepted, he
was bound by it, and could not impose the new terms of indemnity.
That if the Court was of opinion there had been no dissolution, the defendants
were still willing to go on under the articles.
That they acted under a supposed right in carrying on the business in their
own names, and intended to pay the debts as fast as practic;ible.
That the appointment of a receiver would be highly injurious to them, and the
interests of the firm, and no irremediable injury had been shown requiring such
appointment. •
An elaborate opinion of the Court was filed on Wednesday last by Hampton,
President Judge, holding —
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J<mnMiX of Mercantile Law. 469
1. That the correspondence hetween the parties did not warrant the belief
that the complainant intended to mve np his interest in the partnership and re-
main liable for its outstanding debts and responsibilities without security against
them, and strong conclusive evidence would be required to establish such as the
intention and understanding of the parties, and there was no express waiver of
indemnity.
2. That unless there was an express waiver of indemnity, the retiring party
would, in e(]uity, be entitled to have the business wound up and the property
iq> plied to discharge the liabilities of the partnership, or else to have adequate
security and indemnity against them.
3. That it made no difference whether the offer and acceptance of the 9th and
11th of June operated as a dissolution or not, because if the partnership con-
tinued, the defendants had no right to exclude the complainant from his fair
share of the management, and if it was dissolved, they had no right to appro-
priate the property to their own use, and leave the complainant responsible for
the debts of the concern, without indemnity or security, and against his con-
Bent
4. That the defendants, having deliberately excluded the complainant from
all participation in the business of the firm, changed its name, opened new
books, talten and used the partnership property in carrying on their own busi-
ness, with full knowledge that the complainant refused to terminate the partner-
ship until he was indemnified, there is no course left for the Court to pursue but
to decree a dissolution and appoint a receiver, unless the defendants pay the
debts of the firm or secure the complainant against liability for the same.
WHAT CONSTITUTES ▲ DRAFT OB INLAND BILL OF EXCHANGE.
A case of some interest has been decided in the Cuyahoga Common Pleas by
Judge Starkweather. The point resolved was — what constitutes a draft or in-
land bill of exchange. Suit had been brought on a piece of paper, which read
as follows: "Cleveland, June 30, 1853 — Wicks, Otis & Brownell, pay to L. P.
Burgess, or order, on the 13th day of July, 1853, three hundred dollars." Signed,
R. B. Baily ; indorsed, L. F. Burgess. Demand and notice were made on the
16th July, instead of the 13th, the holders treating the paper as an inland bill of
exchange or draft, allowing three days' grace. It was set up in the defense, in
behalf of the indorser, that the paper in question was a bank check, Wicks,
Otis Sir Brownell being bankers, and therefore not entitled to grace. After able
arguments, the case was submitted to the Court The Judge held —
1. That the only question to be determined was whether the instrument in
question was a bill of exchange or a bank check eo nomine. If a bill of ex-
change, then it was entitled to grace, not only by the general rule governing
commercial paper, but by positive statute enactment, which no evidence of loc^
usage could be permitted to control.
2. That even if local usage could be admitted, it was shown in this case that
there was no uniform usage with the banks of Cleveland upon the subject.
3. That whether the paper in suit was an inland draft or a bank check, sui
generis, was to be determined by inspection of the instrument itself, applying
to it those tests which commercial law has established for distinguishing the one
class of paper from the other.
4. That on examination of the paper itself, it seemed to lack some of the or-
dinary qualities of a bank check, being payable to order instead of to bearer, and
at a future time, instead of immediately or on demand ; whereas it was found to
possess all the requisites, and to answer precisely to the definition of a bill of
exchange, as recognized in the books and by the commercial world, and must
therefore be declared to be a draft, and entitled to grace under the statute.
Judgment for plaintiffs.*
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4W Commercial Chronicle and Seviete.
COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW.
REVIVAL Of THE tHIPnHO IlfTBKCtT—PltOflPBCTt FOE BRBADtTVrrS IH FEAMCB, OBKM AXT, aBBAT
BRITAIM, AND TBK UKITBD tTATBS— BTATB Of TBB MONET M ARKBT— BAMK WAR AT TRB RORTH-
WBIT— BARK MOVBMBKT IN NEW YORK, BOSTON, AND OHIO— BVtINBSt AT NEW YORK ASBAT
OPnCB AND NEW ORLBANt MINT— IMPORTS AT NEW YORK POR ADOUBT AND PROM JANUARY IST.
— IMPORTS Of DRY GOODS— EXPORTS PROM NEW YORK POR AUGUST AND PROM JANUARY IsTj—
EXPORTS OP PRODUCE— RBCBIPTS POR CASH DUTIBt— EXPORTS >ROM NEW ORLEANS POR TMR
FISCAL YBAR— FOREIGN EXCHAROB, BTO.
The business of the country has become more animated, with a decided im-
provement in many important particulars. The revival of the shipping trade will
give a fresh impulse to a large class of business operations. It is already felt in
the market value of ships. The price of staunch old vessels has been advanced
20 per cent, while a long list of new vessels, some of which have been offered in
the market for nearly a year, have at last been sold, and in many cases at $10
per ton more than was asked during the last spring and summer. This im-
provement is owing in part to the general revival of trade, in nearly all parts of
the world, but especially to the demand for freight from our own ports. Cotton
comes forward earlier, and will be freely exported. The great business of the
next year, after cotton, is to be in breadstuff's. There is now no question but
what the harvests of Europe have sadly disappointed the hopes of the people .
In Germany the yield is far below the average, and the demand for rye from this
country has already been active. Several cargoes have already cleared for An-
twerp, and over a quarter of a million of bushels of rye have been contracted
for to arrive at the seaboard for the same destination. In France the grain crop
is also deficient, and much excitement has already been felt there in regard to
the future. We learn of engagements in French markets for large deliveries of
wheat and flour three or four months ahead, at very full prices. We doubt,
however, if this business is well managed in that country. It is something so
novel that the merchants appear to be always at one extreme or the other. Last
year a large majority of the imports from this country, were neither suitable in
quality nor landed at the proper season ; while a great many cargoes sent out on
French account were ordered to England for a market. In Great Britain there
is less said about any deficiency, but the crop is below an average, and the Eng-
lish must be heavy importers of breadstuff's. This was caused, not as many
appear to suppose, by the rains of the summer, but by the severe cold of last
winter. The thermometer was at zero for a considerable length of time, with
unfavorable winds, and much of the wheat was winter-killed. The demand for
food for Europe is now directed to the United States. Our own crops were
somewhat injured in the gathering, owing to the wet weather, but the damage
has been limited and local, while the actual yield is greater than ever before
known in the history of the country. In the Genesee Valley, and in Ohio, where
some of the best white wheat is raised, the damage is serious, but in most other
parts of the country the injury is nominal. In the Far West and Northwest, the
yield is enormous ; and Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, the last three
especially, have raised wheat enough to feed the whole country, with a surplus
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Commercial OhrcmcU and Eeview.
461
to spare. The Canadian wheat, mach of it very choice, will fully supply in oar
markets the deficiency in Grenesee. What effect the foreign demand will have
upon prices, it is yet too soon to determine. If no such demand had arisen,
breadstufis wonld have been lower throughout the country than for many years.
If the crop now harvested could be sent at once to market, the export movement
would only bring the market value up to paying prices. But the harvest, owing
to the wet weather already noticed, was several weeks later than usual, and this
brings the work of threshing, &c., too near to seeding-time for the farmer^s con-
venience. Still the quantity already in movement is very large. The channels
of communication, both by water and railroad, are becoming choked with the
quantity on its way to market, and unless this movement id interrupted by an
early frost closing navigation, or the exporters become excited, and bid upon
each other, we see no reason to anticipate such prices as shall be uncomfortable
for the home consumers. Indian corn is promising beyond all former precedent ;
ibe warm weather during the first two weeks of September was of almost in-
calcnlable benefit to the crop, and unless something quite unexpected occur, the
yield will be immense. This, of course, will not be available for the current
season, but it brings out all the old corn, and thus the supply is far in advance
of what even the most sanguine anticipated.
Money has been more in demand in all parts of the country, and rates of in-
terest are about one per cent higher than the average of la^t month. This is
brought about by no want of confidence, but appears to be simply the result of
the requirements for capital to move the crops, and to meet the revival of busi-
ness on all sides. There has been a sturdy movement among the Western
bankers who are operating under a general banking law requiring a deposit of
publks stocks, to drive out from immediate competition with their circulation,
currency from other states which is not thus secured. One or more chartered
banks in Georgia have been the most direct objects of attack, and we are rather
disposed to agree with the assailants that the bills of such institutions are too
&r firom home, in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. We shall be glad to see the
day, when all bank bills below $5 are banished from circulation. We have gold
and silver enough to supply the place of the small notes, and the exchange
wonld much increase the comfort and prosperity of the poorer classes, who are
always the greatest sufferers by all bank swindles.
The following will show the bank movement at New York since the opening
of the year : —
WXEKLT AVBEAGBS NKW TOaK Cmr BAIIKS.
Loans umI
Dftte. Capital. Dltoounts. Specie. CirculatioD. Deposits.
Jan. 6, 1855 |4B,000,000 $82,244,706 $18,596,963 $7,049,982 $64,982,168
Jan. 18 48,000,000 83,976,081 15,488,625 6.686,461 67,803,398
Jan. 20 48,000,000 85,447,998 16,872,127 6,681.855 69,647,618
Jan. 27 48,000,000 86,664,657 16,697,260 6,739,823 20,136,618
Feb. 8 48,000,000 88,146,697 17,489,196 7,000,766 72,923,317
Feb. 10 48.000,000 89,862,170 17,124,891 6,969,111 78,794,842
Feb. 17 48,000,000 90,850,031 17,839.085 6,941,606 75,193,636
Feb. 24 48,000,000 91,690.504 16,870,875 6,963,562 74,644,721
March 8.... 48.000,000 92,886,125 16,531,279 7,106,710 76,958,344
March 10... 48,000,000 92,881,789 16,870,669 7.181,998 76,259,484
March 17... 48,000,000 92,447,846 16,983,982 7,061,018 76,524,227
March 24... 48,000,000 98,050,773 16,602,729 7,452,231 76,289,928
March 81... 47,688,415 93,634,041 16,018,105 7,337,633 76,600,186
April 7 .. 47,855,665 94,499,894 14,968,004 7,771,584 77,818,908
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Commercial Chronicle and Review.
Loans
Date.
CapItaL
and disGountfl.
Specie.
Ctrcnlalion.
Depodta.
77,282,242
April U . . .
4*7,866,665
94,140,899
14,890,979
7,523,528
April 21 . . .
47,866,666
98,682,898
14,856,041
7,510,124
75,744,921
AprU 28....
47,866,665
92,605,951
14,282,424
7,610,985
76,219,951
May 6
47,855,666
98,093,248
14,826,060
8,087,609
78,214,169
May 12 ....
47.855,666
91,642,498
14,585.626
7,804,977
76,860.592
May 19
47,856,665
91,675,600
16,225,056
7,688680
77,351,218
May 26....
48,684,780
91,160,618
15,814,583
7,489,687
76,766,740
June 2
48,684,780
91,197,658
15,897,674
7,656,609
76,843,286
June 9
48,684.730
92,109,097
15.005,156
7,602,668
77,128,789
June 16
48,688,880
98,100,885
14,978,558
7,452,161
77,894.464
June 28
48,688,880
94,029,425
14,706,629
7,H85,658
79,118,186
June 80
48,683,880
95,578,212
15,641,970
7,894.964
81.908,966
July 7
48,638,880
97,852,491
15,881,098
7,748,069
86,647,249
July 14....
48,833,380
98,521,002
16,576,606
7,615,724
86.664,186
July 21 ... .
48,838,880
99.029,147
15,918,999
7,407,086
82,079,690
July 28
48,888,880
99,088,799
15,920,976
7,409,498
81,626.788
Aug. 4
48,833,880
100,118,569
15,298,858
7,642,908
88,279,990
Au^'. 11
48.888,880
100,774,209
15,280,669
7,714,401
88.141,820
Aug. 18
48,883,880
101,154,060
14,649,245
7,610,106
81,948,671
Aug. 25
48,838,880
100,604,604
13,826,878
7.582,095
81,278.568
Sept 1
48,838,380
100,486,970
12,862,823
7,620,178
81,057,210
Sept 8
48,838,880
100,278,783
12,006,626
7,861,148
80.442,478
Sept 16
48,883,880
99,897,009
12,218,240
7,721,825
80,610,806
The highest point reached in loans since the weekly statements commenced,
a period of over two years, was on August 18th, when the total was upwards of
one hundred and one millions of dollars. The highest point in specie was dur-
ing the week ending February 3d, when the total was nearly seventeen-and-a-
half millions of dollars. The large receipts at Sub-Treasury for duties, the
shipments to all parts of the interior, to the West for the produce movement, to
the South for the purchase of exchange and the protection of some of the Geor-
gia banks now run upon, and to Canada to equalize the exchanges, have absorbed
a portion of the gold, having taken up more than the total received from Cali-
fornia, and the quantity in bank is daily diminishing. Still, the banks at New
York are relatively stronger than when the weekly statement commenced, as
they had then only $9,746,452 in specie, against 197,889,617 in loans.
The Boston banks have shown an increase in both loans and specie: —
WEEKLY AYE&AGES AT BOSTON.
August 21. August 27. September 3. September 10. September 17.
Capital 132,710,000 $82,710,000 $82,710,000 $82,710,000 $82,710,000
Loans and discounts.^ 58.688.440 58,688,440 58,768,248 54.242,086 54,209,816
Specie 8,347,014 8,347,014 8,441,562 8,486,528 8,442,186
Due from other banks 7,168,806 7,168,806 7,886,889 8,021,480 8,118,861
Due to other banks. . 5,768.171 6,768,171 6,867,499 6,068,681 6,826,860
Deposits 15,241,003 15,241,008 15,918,474 16,961,681 16,660,018
Circulation 7,128,668 7,128.668 7,144,870 7,569,766 7,640,147
The country banks of Massachusetts keep most of their specie funds at the
agency appointed for the redemption of their bills. The following is the condi-
tion of the country banks September 1, 1855, compiled from the returns to the
Secretary of State : —
Capital $26,922,860
Net circulation 12,248,612
Deposits. 6,562,828
Profits on hand 2,721,442
Total $47,450,182
Notes, bilb of exchange,
Ac $46,886,784
Specie 1,080,704
Real estate 582,664
Total $47,450,188
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Commercial Chronicle and Review. 463
We also annex a quarterly bank statement, exhibiting the condition of the
several incorporated banking institutions of the State of Ohio on the first Mon-
day of August, 1855, as shown by their returns made under oath to the Auditor
of State, as compared with the returns for the quarter ending in May : —
BS80UACE8.
Aug., 1855. Hay, 1855.
Discounts. 112,657,226 |1 8,889,818
Specie. 1,9'78,1 46 1.864,866
ISotes of other banks 1,828,422 1,887.666
Due from other banks. 1,081,437 968,664
Eastern deposits 2,889,664 1,771,908
Cash items 76,728 108,889
Bonds of State and United SUtes 2,690,478 2,480,718
Keal estate 4 0 1 ,606 844 ,282
Other resources 1,194,844 1,169,661
lubiliths.
Capital stock 16,776,250 $5,670,760
Circulation 8,627,489 8,881 ,258
Safety fnnd stock 1 ,088,1 09 1 ,006,808
Due banks and bankers 996,626 1,870,126
Due depositors 6,060,984 6,646,460
Surplus 751,862 779,861
Time drafts 1 8,692 48,1 7 5
Discount interest 288,218 29,686
Dividend unpaid 6,740 119,218
Other liabilities 260,680 287,688
The above shows a decrease of $1,182,692 in discounts; an increase of
91234280 in specie ; $617,761 in Eastern deposits ; $504,500 in capital stock ;
9146^286 in cu'culation ; and $414,484 in deposits. The variations, it is seen,
are very slight. A further reduction has been made in the capital of the Ohio
Life and Trust Company Bank, which is now only $223,000, against $311,000 in
May, and $51 1,000 in February. The outstanding circulation of the Miami Val-
ley Bank is $103,310, and of the Savings Bank of Cincmnati, (2,855.
The receipts of gold from California continue as large as usual, but as a con-
siderable portion of it does not find its way to the Assay Office, it is not included
in any of the mint statements. The following will show the business at the
New York Assay Office for the month of August: —
DEPOSITS AT THE A8SAT OFFICE, NEW TORE, FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
Gold. Silver. Total.
Foreign coins. $8,000 $2,900 $5,900
Foreign bullion 31,000 1,750 82,760
Domestic buUion 2,216,000 16,760 2,281,760
Total deposits $2,260,000 $20,400 $2,270,400
Total deposits payable in bars. $2,280,400
Total deposits payable in coins 40,000
Of the deposits of gold, $75,000 was In California mint bars.
The Philadelphia Mint did very little business, having been closed for repairs.
The following is a statement of the deposits and coinage at the Branch Mint,
New Orleans, from the 1st August, 1854, to the 31st July, 1855, inclusive: —
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464 Chmmerdal CkronieU and Bmnew.
60LD DSP06IT8.
Oalifoniia gold bullion $490,990 92
Othergold bullion 26,189 88
$617,180 75
BfLYia DBP08XT8.
Extracted from California gold $3,449 18
Otber silver bullion 2,417,630 26
2,421,079 89
Total gold and silyer deposits $2,988,260 14
GOLD OOINAOB.
Double eagles. 3,000 $60,000 00
Eagles 11,600 116,000 Oa
Quarter eagles 21,000 62,600 00
Golddollars 60,000 60,000 00
Tbreedollars 24,000 72,000 00
Pieces 109,600 $349,600 00
BILTEK OOINAGB.
Halfdollars 8,018.000 $1,609,000 00
Quarter-dollars 982,000 238,000 00
Dimes 640,000 64,000 00
Halfdimes 1,020,000 61,000 00
Pieces 5,610,000 1,867,000 00
Total coinage 6,719,600 pieces. $2,206,600 00
There was no coining during the months of April, May, June, and July, ope-
rations in the coining department having been suspended for the purpose of put-
ting up a new engine.
The imports of foreign merchandise of all descriptions at the port of New
York for the month of August were J6,677,734 less than for August, 1854, and
$3,687,375 less than for August, 1853, but $1,197,711 greater than for August,
1852. This is in accordance with the intimation given in our last number, and
here we think that the comparative decline will cease. Our readers will remem-
ber that the imports, which had increased to an amount unprecedented in the
history of our Commerce, began to recede in September of last year, the total
for that month being $3,025,816 less than for September, 1853, and with a sin-
gle exception (February, 1855,) every month since has shown a falling off from
the corresponding period of the previous twelve months. For l^e year ending
August 31, the total imports at this port were $46,186,914 less than for the year
ending August 31, 1854, a decline for more rapid and important than the previ-
ous increase. A very considerable portion of the decline for the last month is
in goods entered for warehousing, the receipts being taken for consumption as
fast as landed, while last year the excess above the wants of the trade waa so
great that over four millions went into public store. We annex a comparative
statement for the month : —
FORSKUr IMPOBTB AT VVW TOBK FOR AUGUST.
\m. 1851. 18S4. 18iS.
Entered for consumption $18,711,421 $16,788,862 $17,479,992 $18,899,758
Entered for warehoumog 464,962 2,226,299 4,128,787 1,856,428
Free goods 1,076.388 667,408 1,804,662 1,201,670
Specie and bullJoo 66,917 611,716 176,692 48,64t
Total entered at the port $16,808,688 $20,198,744 $28,084,188 $16,606,899
Withdrawn from warehouse 1,329,991 1,746,864 8,088,066 2,889,884
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Commercial Chronicle cmd Review. 465
T^e total imports at New York from foreign ports from January Ist to Au-
gust 31st were $37,363,083 less than for the corresponding eight months of last
year, $37,346,029 less than for the same time in 1853, and only $11,216,203
greater than for the same time in 1852, as will appear firom the following com-
parison : —
PORKIGir IMPORTS AT NSW YORK FOR EIGHT MONTHS FROM JANUARY IST.
18S3. 18SI. 18§4. 18$S.
Entered for consumption $72,209,450 110,347,169 102,181,108 $72,806,088
Entered for warehousing 6.916,630 16,818,888 21,814,110 17,621,075
Free goods 9,886,827 10,886,626 12,848,868 9,768,868
Specie and bullion 2,086,166 1,611,281 1,781,782 671,794
Total entered at the port .. . $89,646,672 188,108,804 188.126,868 100,762,775
Withdrawn from warehouse. 10,962,668 9,972,966 14,882,982 17,160,118
The entries for warehousing have materially declined, while the withdrawals
from warehouse for consumption have increased. Of the decline in the imports,
about one-half has been in dry goods. The total receipts of this description for
August were $3,286,840 lens than for August, 1854, $1,624,138 less than for
August, 1853, but $422,367 more than for August, 1852. Thb decline, as com-
pared with the last year, extends to all descriptions of goods, but has been com-
paratively least in sillcs : —
IMPORTS OF FOREIGN DRY GOODS AT NEW YORK IN AUGUST.
XNTSRBD FOR CONSUMPTION.
\m. i8di. \m. isifi.
Manufactures of wool $2,628,842 $8,606,759 $8,864,880 $2,662,263
Manufactures of cotton 1,240,071 1,648,745 1,608,019 806.606
Manufactnres of silk 2,706,702 2,981,048 8,606,467 8,674,080
Manufactures of flax 614,686 712,842 766,888 607,196
Miscellaneous dry goods 686,684 616,007 648,620 688,919
Total entered for consumption . $7,626,986 $9,868,901 $9,771,819 $8,079,007
WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE.
1861. 18$3. 1854. 18iS.
Manufactures of wool $221,498 $846,668 $788,166 $402,640
Manufactures of cotton 96,769 86,119 822,066 128,779
Maoafacturesofsilk 140,148 101.271 894,498 824,446
Manufactures of flax 42.129 14,672 78,686 99.286
Miscellaneous dry goods 21,686 10,699 88,166 88,016
Total $621,225 $668,814 $1,611,415 $988,166
Add entered for consumption 7,626,985 9,868,901 9,771,819 8,079,007
Total thrown on the market .. . $8,148,210 $9,922,215 $11,888,284 $9,067,m
ENTERED FOR WAREHOUSING.
ml. \m. 18M. 18K.
Manufactures of wool $86,890 $270,868 $815,686 $95,269
Manufactures of cotton 45,01 8 182,627 800,869 47,272
Manufactures of silk 72,579 99,273 479,160 28,954
Manufactures of flax 19.878 47,881 176,742 28,484
Miscellaneous dry goods 28,686 12,486 46,862 28,812
Total $252,896 $662,485 $1,817,269 $228,241
Add entered for consumption 7,626,985 9,868,901 9,771,819 8,079,007
Total entered at tlie port $7,879,881 $9,926,886 $11,589,088' $8,^02,248
VOU XXXIU. — HO. IV. 30
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466 Commercial Chronicle and Review,
This leaves the total receipts of dry goods at New York, since January Ist,
$23,871,440 below the corresponding total for last year, and $24,321,364 below
the total for the first eight months of 1853, but $152,466 greater than for the
same time in 1852, as will be seen by the following comparison: —
I1CP0BT8 OF FORKIQN DUT GOODS AT THE PORT OF MEW YORK FOR KIQHT MOIfTHS, FROM
JAKDABT IST.
XNTBRBD FOR CONSUMPTION.
ISa 18§S. I8S4. mi.
Manufactures of wool $9,998,688 $18,518,981 $15,258,181 $10,417,073
Manufactures of cotton- 6,956,869 11,017,762 11,748,661 6,471,337
Manufactures of silk 14.949,488 28,660,502 20,671,840 14,881,814
Manufacturea of flax. 4,088,676 5,681,209 6,059,004 8,422,551
Miscellaneous dry goods. 8,029,189 8,872,518 4,084,796 3,428,557
Total $88,966,790 $62,700,972 $66,821,982 $87,571,832
WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSS.
18§2. 185S. 18H. im.
Manufactures of wool $1,800,686 $1,610,207 $2,693,735 $1,946,267
Manufactures of cotton 1,221,666 787,609 2,104,1 26 1,901,682
Manufactures of silk 1,641,819 1,109,648 2,198,154 2,157,878
Manufactures of flax 657,652 164,813 689,981 971,886
MUcellaneous dry goods. 260,961 268,242 296,086 611,761
Total withdrawn $4,982,1 1 8 $8,880,014 $7,926,082 $7,687,914
Add entered for consumption . . . 88,966,790 62,700,972 56,821,932 87,571,332
Total thrown upon the market. $48,948,908 $66,680,986 $64,747,964 $45,169,246
XNTERED FOR WAREHOUSING.
18$i. 18$S. 18§4. Vm.
Manufactures of wool ... $1,002,073 $1,924,619 $8,996,996 $1,867,680
Manufactures of cotton 686,882 998,619 2,179,512 1,442,552
Manufactures of silk 1,724,697 1,214,821 2,817,373 1,670,228
Manufactures of flax 248,662 288,626 752,835 725,226
Miscellaneous dry goods 261.081 276,848 829,988 569,673
Total $8,907,885 $4,647,088 $10,076,149 $5,465,809
Add entered for consumption. . . . 88,966,790 62,700,972 56,821,982 87,671,882
Total entered at the port ... $42,874,175 $67,848,005 $66,898,081 $43,026,641
This will probably close the decline for the current year, as each month for
the remainder of the season will doubtless show an advance upon the correspond-
ing total for last year.
The exports from New York to foreign ports for the month of August, ex-
elasive of specie, were $601,607 less than for August, 1854, $342,821 less than
for August, 1853, but $2,046,877 more than for August, 1852. We annex a
eomparative summary : —
EXPORTS FROM NEW TORE TO FOREION PORTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
18a 18dt. 18S4. ISSS.
Domestic produce $2,840,820 $4,640,888 $4,487,619 $4,281,481
Foreign merchandise (free) 46,464 79,857 268,857 151,482
Toreign merchandise (dutiable)... 220,978 877,720 515,270 222.176
Specie 2,986,888 1,188,978 4,648,320 2,609,393
Total exports $5,644,095 $6,1 81,983 $9,806,066 $7,264,682
Total, exdusiye of specie 2,608,262 4,997,960 6,256,746 4,655,189
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Commercial Chronicle cmd Review.
467
The total exports from New York to foreign ports, exclusive of specie, for the
eight months ending August Slst, were only $2,381,553 less than for the same
time last year, but $2,640,549 more than for the same period of 1853, and
910,435,796 more than for the same time in 1852.
The exports of specie are less than for the same time last year ; but the re-
shipments of foreign goods, and especially of free goods, has increased, as will
appear from the annexed comparison ; —
EXPORTS raOM NEW TORE TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR EIGHT MONTHS FROM JANUARY IST.
1893. mi. \M, 18$S.
Domestic produce. $27,462,188 184.846,680 139,458,720 134,679,662
Foreign merchandise (free) 688,442 1,090,626 1,218,460 8,440,696
Foreign merchandise (dutiable).. 2,966,286 2,866,901 8,161,979 8,422,848
Specie. 18,681,841 18.768,667 28,666,689 22,607,612
ToUl exports $49,688,251 $62,665,624 $67,480,798 $64,060,118
Total, exclusive of specie 81,006,910 88,802,067 48,824,169 41,442,606
These large exports, in the face of a small supply of breadstufis, have created
some surprise, and shows that the export demand has been active in other de-
scriptions of produce. We annex a comparison, showing the exports of some
of the leading articles of domestic produce from that port since the opening of
the year : —
EXPORTS OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF DOMESTIC PRODUCE FROM NEW TORE TO FOREIGN
PORTS FROM JANUARY IST TO SEPTEMBER 17tH: —
Ashes — pots . .
pearls .
Beeswax
.bbls.
..lbs.
185i. 1855.
6,892 10,706
918 1,872
197,638 184.098
BreadBtuff^-'
Wheat flour ..bbls.
Rye flour
Cora meal
Wheat bush.
Eye
Oats
Corn
Candles — mold..boxes
•perm
Coal tons
Cotton .iMdes
Hay
Hops
738,029
10,266
64,518
1,562,662
816,168
89,064
2,621,644
37,236
6,289
17,967
246,104
8,161
978
884,647
16,907
87,620
162,818
12,911
12,211
8,186,667
89,063
8,956
7,762
200,196
4,174
8,228
18S4. 188i.
Naval stores bbls. 476,764 619,981
Oils—whale,... galls. 167,202 191,121
sperm 826,231 680.082
lard 23,186 79,779
linseed 4,836 8,685
Prov%Bion% —
Pork bbls. 76,842 129.696
Beef. 46,884 68,744
Cut meats, lbs. . ..16,626,670 14,968,962
Butter 1,67 1,407 608,284
Cheese 1,662,869 2,983,605
Lard 11,110,788 6,122,905
Rice trcs 18,920 12,628
Tallow lbs. 4,824.817 1,188,946
Tobacco, crude., pkgs 28,404 23.741
Do., manufactured.lbe. 2,837,016 3,761,694
Whalebone 1,031,188 1,486,820
The above presents some interesting features, obvious, however, without any
farther explanation.
The receipts for cash duties at the port of New York show a much less com-
parative decline than the imports, owing to the increase of the total value of
goods thrown upon the market from the bonded warehouse. The total for the
month is only $923,833 63 less than for August of last year, and $455,861 66
less than for August, 1853. The receipts for duties since January Ist arc
$6,620,252 61 less than for the same time last year, and $8,176,010 65 less
than for the same period of 1853. as will be seen from the annexed com-
parison : —
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468 Commercial Chroniek and Review.
CASH DCTIK8 BSOnVID AT HBW TOBK.
I8Si 18§3. 18S4. 18lg.
In Augast 18,884,295 66 $4,746,657 81 $5,214,629 78 $4,290,796 15
Pl-evious 7 months.. 17,491,100 06 26,807,486 65 28.788,706 54 18,087,287 66
Total since Jan. Ist. $21,876,895 62 $80,554,094 46 $28,998,886 82 $29,878,088 81
This revenue is sufficient for the wants of the government^ and if our opinion
in regard to the coming imports is correct, will be more likely to increase than
diminish for tlie remainder of the fiscal year.
We arc now enabled to give a comparative statement of the imports and ex-
ports at New Orleans for the fiscal year : —
FOBSieN DCPOBTS AT ITEW OBLBAN8 FOR THB TEAR VNDINQ JDNE 80.
18S3. 1854. 1861.
Dutiable $8,019,029 $8,272,449 $6,»89,00«
Free 4,272,262 8,876,578 4,297,170
Specie and bullion 1,862,882 2,258,128 1,697,486
Total imports $18,654,118 $14,402,156 $12,928,608
KXPOBTS FROM NEW ORLEANS TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR THB TEAR ENDING JUNB 80.
18». 18i4. 18S$.
Domestic produce $67,768,726 $60,656,786 $54,988,827
Foreign merchandise 528,984 275,845 811,884
Total exports $68,292,660 $60,982,180 $56,300,711
The above shows a falling off in the imports from the last year of about
eleven per cent; and in the exports, of only about nine per cent If
the promise of the foreign trade for the next year shall be fulfilled, the
iDcr^se will be great both in imports and exports, but greatest in the latter,
from the large shipments in breadstuffs and other produce. The shipping trade,
BB already stated, is now reviving; freights have rapidly improved, and iho de-
mand for vessels is daily increasing 20 per cent. Foreign exchange is still well
maintained, but must come down as both cotton and grain go forward.
nW YORK COTTON MARKET FOR THB MONTH EIDINd SEPTEMBER 21.
VBBPARBD FOE THB H BECHANTB' MAOAIIBB BT UaLHORN & rBBOBBlCKfON, BR0KBR8,RBW TOEK.
Our market since the close of our last report, August 24th, has declined fully
three-quarters of a cent per pound on all grades. The free receipts of new cot-
ton at the South, with a rapid advance in freights, together with weekly unfavor-
able advices, as regards the foreign markets and the stoppage for a time of about
175,000 spindles at the eastward, in consequence of the want of water in the
various streams — these causes, with little or no complaints in regard to the grow-
ing crop, and a larger stock on hand on the 1st September than was anticipated,
gave grounds for the above decline, and which was not arrested at the close of
Uie present report. Our own spinners continue to confine their purchases to
their immediate wants, and in consequence of the heavy stocks in the Easteni
markets, greater inducements have been oflTered them there than in our own mar-
ket. The amount purchased for export has been small, while tbe quantky
shipped under advances has been rather large. For speculation there has been
but little done, while a few small parcels have changed hands in transitu.
The ofiicial statement of the cotton crop for the year 1854-5, ending 31st
August, shows the total receipts to have been 2,847,339 bales, which is a decrease
of 82,688 bales from the previous year, and 416,643 bales decrease from Ike
year before. The quantity of new cotton received at the shipping porta to the
Ist September amounted to 34,079 bales, against 1,890 bales last year. Tbe
quantity consumed by the manufacturers north of Virginia is 593,584 bales,
which is 7,000 bales less than the year previous. The estimate given for the
consumption of cotton by the States south and west of Virginia is put down si
85,000 bales, against 106,000 bales for the previous year. This estimate, although
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Commercial Chronicle and Review, 469
given as such and made with core, we think falls below the actnal consumption
of cotton in the territory mentioned above. The opening of new channels ot
communication in the South and VVest^ and the establishment of various m inu-
factories, together with the Increasing and new sources for the consumption of
the staple, which are opening daily, demands that a more accurate statement be
prepared of the consumption of cotton soath and west of Virginia than can be
obtained by ffuensing Correct statistics cannot be too dearly obtained, nor too
highly prized. The export to Great Britain has been 1,549,716 bales, being a
decrease of 54,034 bales from the previous year. To France, 409,931 bales —
increase over year previous, 35,873 bales. To North of Europe, 135,200 bales
—decrease, 29,972 bales. Other foreign ports, 149,362 bale8---decrea8e, 26,806
bales. Total foreign export, 2,244,209 bales— toUl decrease, 74,939 bales.
For the week endincf August 3ist the sales were estimated at 6,000 bales.
The foreign advices being favorably construed, the market closed with much
firmness at : —
FBIOIS ADOPTED AUGUST 81 ST FOB THB FOLLOWING QUALITIES : —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N. O. k, Texas.
Ordinary 10 10 10 lOi
Middling Hi Hi llf Hi
Hiddling&ir 12i 12i 12i 121
Fair 12* 12f 13 18i
The market for the week ending September 7th commenced to droop — there
was an increased desire to sell in consequence of the stock taking on the Ist of
September proving larger than anticipated. The amount being —
On hand, unsold .bales 47,469
Sold, not delivered 2.224
On shipboard, not cleared 7,15S
ToUl 56,846
The foreign advices likewise disappointed holders, and the market closed with-
out inquiry — sales for the week 5,000 bales, at the following nominal quotations:
PRICKS ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 7tH FOB THB FOLLOWING QUAUTIE8 : —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.& Texas.
Ordinary 9f 9f 9f 10
^diddling 11 Hi Hi Hf
Middlingfair 12 12i 12i 12f
Fair 12i 12i 12f 13
The sales for the week ensuing did not exceed 4,500 bales. A decline of
I a i cent per pound failed to induce purchasers to enter the market. Telegraphic
advices from the South of heavy receipts, with positive orders to sell, gave buy-
ers the advantage to the above extent, without imparting activity to our market,
which closed extremely heavy at the following : —
PBICBS ADOPTED 8EPTEMBEB 14tH FOB THB FOLLOWING QUALITIES : —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.A& Texas.
Ordinary 9i 9i 9i 9i
Middling «.. lOi lOf lOf lOj
Middlingfair \H llf llf 12i
Fair 12 12i 12i 18
The sales for the week ending September 21st were estimated at 5,000 bales,
at a further decline of | cents per pound. The accounts both from the foreign
and our own Southern market offered no encouragement to holders, while buy-
ers at each decline showed less desire to purchase. The scarcitv of freight was
also felt upon the market, which closed nominally at the following: —
PBIOES ADOPTED SEPTEMBEB 21ST FOB THE FOLLOWING QUAUTIES: —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.A& Texas.
Ordinary 9 9 9 9i
Middling lOi lOi lOi lOf
Middlingfair 10* 11 W^ llf
Fair Hi Hi 12 12i
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470 Journal of Banking^ Currency^ and Finance.
JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE.
FINANCES OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
Id the MerchanUf Magazine for July, 1855, (vol. xzxiii, page 93,) we pablished a
table showiog at a glance the debts, population, and value of taxable property io
nineteen of the largest cities of the United States. That table was prepared by
Marie <b Kanz. The following f&cts in regard to the same cities are entitled to a re-
cord in this department : —
New Yobk. The sum of |5,l7l,808, aocnmulated as a sinking fund, ($540,141 of
which was added in 1854,) is to be deducted from the amount of the above debt The
city own wharves, real estate, markets, &c, appraised at $22,430,250, besides the
aqueduct, the cost of which was $15,474,000— in all $37,904,250. Tbe revenue from
the aqueduct in 1854 amounted to $641,853. Population in 1845, 371,223 ; in 1850.
515,557 ; in 1855, about 700,0C0. Taxable property in 1844, $235,960,047 ; in 1854.
$462,285,780.
Albany. The actual debt of the city is only $282,016, which is provided for by a
sinking fund of $20,000 a year. The interest on $1,550,000 is paid by three railroad
companies, whose duty it is to provide also for the payment of the principal by a
sinkmg fund. The revenue of the aqueduct is sufficient to meet the interest on
$800,000 borrowed to build it The Western Railroad had, December 1, 1854, a
sinking fund of $897,349 to be applied to the payment of a loan of $1,000,000, pari
of the above sum of $1,550,000. Population in 1840, 41,139; io 1850, 60,763; in
1855, about 60,000.
Baltiiiobe. The interest on $4,800,000 is paid by various railroad companies. The
current expenses in 1855 will be less than $600,000. The payment of the interest is
made subject to a deduction of a tax of 5 per cent Population in 1850, 159,054; in
1866, about 200,000.
Boston. There are assigned to the payment of the debt: — Ist. A special tax of at
least $50,000 a year — on the Isfc of January the sinking fund was $1,411,868. 2d.
The product of sales of the landed property of the city, amounting to 4,370,21 1 Fquare
feet, within ten years the sales of 2,017,450 feet have produced $1,866,873. 8d. The
revenue of the aqueduct the cost of which is represented by a debt of $5,482,261,
and the net revenue in 1864 was, without deducting the interest $137,674. 4th. The
balance remaining in the treasury on April 80, of each year, which was $157,344 in
1854. Population in 1850, 136,881; in 1855, about 160,000. Taxable property in
1844, $118,460,800; in 1854, $207,018,200.
BaooKLTN. This city and its suburbs, Williamsburg and Bushwick, were consoli-
dated into a single municipality in January, 1856. The debt was increased $460,000
in April. It will be reduced m July by the payment of a loan of $200,000. The
sinking fund amounts to $400,410. The property belonging to the city is valued at
$722,554. The debt is all at 6 per cent Population of Brooklyn, <fec^ in 1850,
181,857. The consolidated population is estimated by Uie mayor at about 200,000.
Cincinnati. $875,000 emitted for the construction of the aqueduct $1,130,000 in
behalf of railroads. The law at present prohibits any new railroad loan. Tbe debt
has just been increased $500,000 m payment for wharves bought of the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi Railroad. The city owns, beside the wharves, property valued at $5,568.526 ;
the aqueduct is $1,000,000; railroad stock, $1,130,000 par value; and the White
Water Oanal, $400,000. Population in 1830, 24,821 ; 1840, 46,838; 1850, 116,436;
1866, about 150,000.
Cleveland. $400,000 emitted for building the aqueduct and $266,000 in behalf of
railroads. The city owns $331,000 in railroad stock, of which $281,400 pay a divi-
dend of 10 per cent Population in 1840, 6,071 ; in 1850, 17,600 ; in 1868, 81,000.
Chicago. The city owned in December, 1864, property valued at $276,424, beside
the aqueduct which cost $400,000. Population in 1840, 4,479 ; in 1846, 12,088 ; in
1860, 28,269 ; in 1864, estimated at 75,000. Taxable in 1845, $8,065,022 ; in 1860,
$7,220,249; in 1854, $24,392,239.
DsraoiT. In the debt is included the new loan of $250,000 emitted June 1 1, 1866 ;
$600,000 in all have been emitted for the construction of the aqueduct, the revenue
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Journal of Banking^ Currency^ and Finance. 471
from wbich will ia four years exceed the interest on this sum. The taxable and no-
taxable property of the city is appraised at 121,790,820. No new debt for municipal
objects can be incurred. A einkmg fund has been provided for by which the debt will
be cleared off in seventeen years. Population in 1830, 2,222 ; in 1840, 9,102 ; in 1850,
21,019; in 1854, 40,378.
Jkeset CiTT. Thb loan was contracted for the construction of the aqueduct Tax-
able property in 1861, $7,761,618 ; in 1864, «12,878,286. Population in 1860, 11,478 ;
in 1854, 20,989.
Louisville. $700,000 emitted for subscriptions in railroads. The city owns
$744,696 in real estate and $863,458 in stock of various companies. A new emission
of $100,000 in favor of public schools will soon appear. The revenue on the stock
and other property of the city pays the interest on $1,062,000. The sum of $110,773
has in the course of the year been paid into the sinking fund. Population in 1844,
84,000; in 1860, 48,184; in 1864, oflacial estimate, 70,000. Taxable property in
1845, $11,666,308; in 1850, $20,462,162 ; in 1853, $31,783,849; in 1854, $35,000,000.
MiLWAUKiB, $828,000 issued in behalf of railroads and secured by bond, Ac. The
city owns $167,657 real estate, besides about $1,000,000 for railroacf stock. Popula-
tion in 1840, 1,700; in 1850, 20,061 ; in 1854, over 35,000. The official valuation of
taxable property represents only about one-fourth of^its actual value or $18,000,000.
New OaLEANS, $4,000,000 of this has been issued in favor ot three railroads, a
special tax bein^ imposed for the payment of the dividends. $5,621,000 in 6 per cent
bonds, payable m 1892, has been issued in exchange for the bonds of the old munici-
palities. The obligations of this last class, not yet exchanged, amount to $2,526,262.
To insure the payment of interest on this $8,147,262, the Municipal Council is obliged
by the charter of the consolidated cities to raise annually by tax $650,000, to be ap-
plied first to the interest on the debt, and the remainder to the redemption of the
Donds. If the levy of the tax of $660,000 be not the first act of the annual session,
every subsequent becomes void. By an act of State Legislature, passed March 1 6th,
1855, the city is prohibited from increasing the present amount of its debt, and as
soon as the debt, by the action of the sinkmg fund, shall be reduced to $12,000,000,
the authorities cannot under any pretext raise the debt above that figure. Population
in 1840, 105,490; in 1850, 188,661 ; in 1855, about 160,000.
Philadelphia. This city owns property valued at $16,681,286, which bring in an
income of $1,088,313; of this, $3,276,000 is in railroad stock at par value, and the
aqueduct is $1,966,000. Of this property, $7,186,685 cannot be alienated for the pay-
ment of the debt. A tax of 5 per cent is deducted from the amount of the interest.
Population in 1350, 409,045; in 1855, about 600,000.
PnrsBORG. $1,800,000 issued in favor of railroads. By an act of the Legislature
the municipal debt cannot exceed $1,160,000. The property of the city includes
$1,800,000 in railroad stock, par value. Population in 1830, 12,668 ; in 1850, 46,601 ;
in 1864, about 62,000.
St. Louis. $1,460,000 issued to railroads, and $308,896 for the construction of the
aqueduct The property of the city, including the aqueduct, is valued at $2,026,000,
beside $1,450,000 in railroad stocks, par value. The city will, in addition, issue
$660,000 in favor of railroads. The sinking fund is supported, first, by a payment of
$10,000 a year; secondly, by the product of the sale of $700,000 worth of lands;
thirdly, by the dividends on railroad stock belonging to the city. Taxable property
in 1846, ? 15,000,000; in 1850, $29,770,649 ; in 1856, $51,223,869. Population in
1845, 63.491 ; in 1850, 76,860; in 1855, estimated at 115,000.
Sacbamento. Of the debt, $285,000 has been contracted for the construction of the
aqueduct A new loan will soon appear, the product of which will be applied to the
payment of the loan becoming due July 1, 1855, and to the liquidation of the floating
debt. 'ITie interest on the debt will amount in 1855 to $135,698. The ordinary ex-
penses of the city are estimated at $100,000. Tax on real and personal property
amounts to $160,000, and is to be applied to the payment of the debt According to
the message of the mayor the indirect imposts will be sufficient to pay the expenses
of the ciiy governraeul. Population in 1852, 10,000; now much greater.
San FaANCisco. Sinking fund $60,000 a year. The most recent valuation of tax-
able property fixes it at $52,000,000. The city having decided in May to consolidate
the floating debt, there will soon be issued about $1,800,000 in 6 per cent bonds.
Wheeling. $500,000 issued to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad bear the guaranty
of the State; $350,000 bear the guaranty of railroads, and $260,000 are guarantied
by a special tax for the payment of interest, and by an annual payment of $8,000 to
the sinking fund. Population in 1860, 11,488 ; in 1866, 14,186.
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472 Journal of BanJcing^ Ourrency^ and FinancB.
THE UNITED STATES ASSAY OFHCE IS NEW TOM.
The following well- written description of the modus operandi of adsaying gold, Ac^
at the office in "Wall-street, was published in the Evening Post some months since'
under (he title of " An Hour at the Assay Office." With a slight curtailment, we
transfer it to the pages of the Merchants* Magazine ;—
What becomes of the gold ? Doubtless this is the question that some of the read-
ers of the Evening Post nre often puzzled to answer. They know all about the dig-
ging, grinding, and washing of it in the mountains and streams of California, and its
traiismiBsion over the Isthmus till it reaches the port of New York. They hear of its
safe arrival in the trusty hands of Adams's and other express companies, but after
that they know nothing of it, except when they are reminded of its presence by the
sight of some bright, newly-stamped five or ten dollar piece, which, however, has a
proverbial facility for taking to itself wuigs, before the possessor has had time to re-
flect whence it comes or whither it goes.
If our inquisitive readers will take a walk with us to the rather venerable looking
(at least for New York) granite building adjoining: the Custom-House, in Wall street,
and now occupied as the United States Assay Office, they will be able to satisfy their
curiosity. Mr. Butterworth, the Superintendent, of whom we make our first inquiriee,
informs us of the objects of the assay office, namely, the determination of the value
of the gold brought into our city, and the preparation of it for coinage by the United
Staten Mint at Philadelphia, or for transhipment, in bars, to foreign countries.
Our readers will bear in mind that the assay office, where the melting, refining,
parting, and other operations upon the gold are performed, is in the rear of the bulld-
mg fronting on Wall- street. Tlie latter is occupied by the Sub-Treasurer's office and
weighing-room, and by the private rooms of various incumbents of government offices.
But before we witness the processes referred to, let us visit the Treasurer's weighing-
room, which is in the front building. Here all the deposits, whether in bars or dust,
(generally, however, in dust,) are first brought, and here their original weight is as-
certainedL The dust, which lies in, it may l^, half- peck boxes on the floor, is not, as
might be inferred from the name, a fine, bright yellow powder, but looks rather like
dingy, brass colored granite, broken by a hammer into the fineness of ordinair Turk's
Island salt. After weighing, the deposit is carried into the Treasurer's vault, in the
assay office proper, whence it is taken and melted.
The melting is done in crucibles, containing two or three gallons, over a coal furn-
ace heated to an intensity that would satisfy Nebuchadnezzar himself. The poor,
swarthy melter, who superintends with a long-handled ladle, say ten feet in length,
even at that distance turns to a most copperish hue of complexion, and has to aban-
don the work in a few hours for the rest of the day. There he stands, watching the
boiling yellow fluid, alternately covering it up and stirring it with his long pole, until
in an hour or two the contents of the crucible can be dipped out and the molten mass
poured into molds, by which it is shaped into bars of about three hundred ounces
each.
The gold is then returned to the vault of the melter and refiner, a cell some twelve
feet square, with two iron doors, secured by four locks, and with granite walls, put
together with cannon balls inserted between the stone in such a manner as to defy the
most ingenious and persevering burglar. Four men are appointed to sentinel this de-
pository at night, and a similar provision is made for the Treasurer's vaolt, where the
gold that has gone through all tne processes which are appointed for it, is placed.
On entering this vault in company with Mr. Morfit, the courteous assistant melter
and refiner, we were not at first impressed with the appearance of what was there
exhibited. Usually one derives hid idea of such places from his readings in fairy tales
and in the Arabian Nights, where we are told of caves so full of precious metals and
jewels that the mind craves a little variety in the way of something more common-
place. Not so here, however. In one comer there were perhaps a couple of wheel-
oarrow-loads of silver, as pure and white as the goat-hunter, clambering over the hills
of Potosi, pulled up with the roots of the sapling he was supporting himself by. In
another corner was, perhaps, the same bulk of gold, weighing about four times as
much. In such a situation it was not unnatural to think how pleasant it would be to
trundle that glittering heap off for the benefit of whom it might concern, and how
little one would object to its weight, if such a task were imposed. But how much it
expanded one*8 estimate of what he saw, when informed that that diminutive pile of
golden bricks was worth half a million I To what excellent uses could ii not oe ap-
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plied I A house in Fifth Avenue, ditto at Newport, railroad fttodcF, reputation as a
patron of philanthropic eodeties and foreign miaeions — all the possible amenities of
life are suggested by that little heap in the comer. There it lay, as Hood says :—
Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! f
Brl^t and yeiiov, hard and cold ;
Molten, graven, bammered, and rolled ;
Heavy lo get, and lighi to hold ;
Hoarded, bartered, bought, and sold ;
Stolen, borrowed, »qiuiidered, doled ;
Spurned by the young, but hugged by the old
To the very verge of the churchyard mold ;
Price of many a crime untold !
Gold I Gold! Gold! Gold!
Good or bad a thousand fold 1
But to return to business. The gold having been, as we have seen, weighed, meltedt
weighed again, and deposited as bullion in the vault, is next to be assayed— that is, to
have its value and fineness ascertained by a delicate chemical process. We were for-
tonate enoug^h to witness the operation, as superintended by Mr. Mason, the assistant
assayer. ^ It is performed in this wise : on each deposit — which, it must be remembered,
still retains witn its gold the various impurities with which it first came out of the
mine — two bars are selected at random, and a small shaving of a prescribed weight
is cut from each. A pair of scales is employed, so delicate that the thousandth part
of a grain will turn it, to weigh them separately. They are then wrapped roun<l m a
thin coating of lead, and having? been put into little cups, called cupels, made of phos-
phate of lime— or, in plain English, of burnt bone— are subjected to an intense heat
At once the lead melts, and uniting with the copper and other foreign ingredients of
the gold, assists their ozjrdising, and with them is absorbed into the porous substance
of the cup, leaving no sign, except a dark stain, of its presence. But the gold still
^ines out in the cup, inclosed by a trifling wash of silver, that for some reason or
other does not like to disappear with the remaining alloys.
Now, although there is no objection to silver per se, the assayer would prefer that it
would not inclose that beautiful round button of pure gold that remains in the cup,
for the same reason that the fastidious boarder, in his Chatham- street headquarters,
preferred his butter and his hairs on separate plates. This, then, is the way he separ-
ates them : — The button is placed on an anvil and flattened with a hammer to such a
thinness as may make it permeable to the nitric acid in which it must now be im-
mersed. A small long-necked bottle, called a mattrass, contains this fluid, into which
be drops the button. The bottle is heated over a foroace, and the acid completely
absorbs the remaining alloy, leaving the gold perfectly pure, with only a slight black
covering of oxydized alloy, which is removed by annealing. The adhering acids are
then washed off, and all he has to do is to re weigh the two shavings of gold, and to
ascertain how much they have lost by the chemical changes they have been put through.
He thus discovers what proportion of pure metal is contained in a given part of a de-
posit, and from this judges of the fineness and value of the deposit itself. The owner
then can receive its value in pure bars of other gold, and go on his way, resigning all
cUim to the original quantity which he brought to the oflSce.
The assayer has now done his work, and the responsibility of tho melter and refiner
begins. His business is merely that of his predecessor, only on a less delicate and
much larger scale ; t. e., to free the entire deposit from alloy, just as the assayer had
cleansed bis diminutive shaving of a few grains in weight from its impurities. Let
US ascend one story higher in the building, and see him operate. When we reach this
height we see the workmen in the granulating room sweltering over seven larq;e fur-
naces along the sides, and we notice that the cement floor of the apartment is covered,
about two inches deep, with iron grating, through which there gleam, at all times,
small particles of refuse gold or silver, which have been carelessly or unavoidably
dropped. It will not do to lose them, and so at certain periods the floor is carefully
swept, and the sweepings, dirt and all, with the men's aprons, the discarded crucibles,
ladles, itc, are collected, burnt, ground, and otherwise transformed, till a very consid-
erable revenue of precious metal is obtained therefrom. What it amounts to in the
assay oflSce has not been definitely stated, but we were told that at the mint in Phila-
delphia it came to the handsome figure of 160,000 a year, enough, by the way, if
properly applied, to bless 26,000 families with a year's supply of the Weekiy Evening
Post.
The melter and refiner takes us to his treasury vault, and the workmen draw their
small wagon loads of gold and silver into the melting room. The melting is now to
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474 Jourrud of Banking^ Currency^ and Finanu,
be attended to. One hundred pounds of silver to fifty of gold is placed in each cru-
cible, the rule being two of the former to one of the latter. After an hour and a
quarter the two are rendered fluid, and the man at the furnace, with his locghandled
ladle, dips out the mixed metal, and swinging round the edge of a large copper ves-
sel, pours it into the cold water contained in it. This rotatory motion has the effect
of preventing the solidification in a mass of the metal, causing it to harden and sink
to tlie bottom in the form of fiakes or grains. Hence it is called the process of gran-
nlation, and the mixed metal, from the excess of silver m its composition, is called
granulated silver. It is certainly beautifully white, looking like the oxydized silver
that we see among the ornaments of a jeweler's window, as, indeed, it is the same
thing. Not only has it been melted itself, but it has facilitated the melting of the
other alloys of the gold, and after drawing them out and mingling with them, has
completely incrusted the pure yellow metal that is concealed in it.
If, now, we can only get rid of this incrustation of silver, we shall have the genuine,
unadulterated gold, that will need but little more than pressing into bars or coining
to answer the purposes of Commerce, which is never sorry to witness an accession to
its already enormous family of *' yellow boys." To ascertain how this is accomplished,
we must go up two flights of stairs higher, into the parting room, where the granulated
silver is carried. Here we find four rows of eight porcelain pots, each with a capacity
of from twenty to twenty-four gallons. They are placed in troughs of boiling salt-
water, and into each is turned a charge of one hundred and fifty pounds of the gran-
ulated or mixed metal, over which is poured as many pounds of nitric acid. This
acid, uniting with the silver, forms a solution which is called nitrate of silver, and the
effect of such an alliance is to separate and sink the pure gold to the bottom of the
jar. The nitrate of silver is then drawn oflf with a gold syphon — gold being the only
metal which can withstand its action — and another charge of nitric acid is applied to
complete the work. After the second charge has been in the same manner removed,
we see at the bottom of the pot an unpromising sediment remaining, as black as Jer-
sey mud. But the spectator must not be discouraged. Like a singed cat, the sedi-
ment is better than it looks — in short, it is pure yellow gold, as will be shown by
washing it a few times in warm water, so as to free it from the acid that still clings
to its exterior. It now appears thoroughly pulverized, and fairly entitled to the name
of gold dust
The next operation is to solidify it by subjecting it to a pressure of two hundred
tons from a hydrostatic press, when it comes out in the form of cheeses about a foot
in diameter, with a thickness of three inches. Then put it on a furnace heated red-
hot so as to expel the last drop of water from it, and again melt it in a crucible, from
which it must also again be molded into bars of fine gold, varying, according to their
size and fineness, from $6,000 to $800 in value. TheHe are once more assayed at the
hands of the assayer, by the process before explained, stamped to indicate their num-
ber, fineness, and weight, and committed to the vault of the Treasurer, there to await
his disposal. It is only such bars that are received at the banks, who are unwilling
to accept those which have been assayed without the authority of the goverument.
Their conversion into money must be done at the mint in Philadelphia.
Our merchants also, fur several reasons, prefer the gold bars to coin in making their
foreign payments. In the first place, they are cheaper, as they are compelled to pay
fifty ceuts on a hundred dollars for money, while the charge for bullion of the t-ame
value in bars is but six cents. They are, moreover, obviously more acceptable to mer-
chants abroad than our national coin, except m those countries where coin is wanted
to supply emigrants bound for our t'hores.
The fineness of the bars manufactured at the assay ofiice, as shown by its operations
on the last deposit of California gold, was 995 thousandths — a success not hitherto
equaled by any other similar establishment. When first deposited with the assaj^er,
it ranges on an average from 860 to 885 thousandths of pure metal According to
the requirements of Congress, our national coin must contain ten per cent of alloy, i. e^
one hundred parts out of every thousand. Fine bars, by the same rule, are required
to consist of 889 thousand ths of pure gold, with a permission to refine as much further
as may be found possible.
But to complete our account, we should give a report of the fate of the silver,
drawn i ff in solution with nitric acid from the porcelain pots which we have men-
tioned. All we have to say is, that it is emptied into an enormous vat, capable of
swimming a tolerably sized young elephant, and nearly filled with a solution of com-
mon salt. The silver is thus precipitated — that is, sunk in a solid form to the bottom,
becoming what is called chloride of silver. It is then freed from the acids adhering
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Journal of Banking^ Currency^ and Finance. 475
to it, in the same maoner as we have mentioned in the case of gold ; reduced to a
naetallic powder bv an immersion in vato containing sulphuric acid and zinc, washed,
pressed, dried, and clieesed, in precisely the same way as gold, and is thus ready to be
re-melted and re-employed for the purification of the more precious metaL
Such is a brief account of the processes used by the new assay office in performing
the duties assigned by the government to it. Every one knows how important and
necessary it is to the mterests of business in an immense commercial city like New
York ; and it is extremely desirable not only that the designs of provincial jealousy
for curtailing its usefulness should be defeated, but that its powers and responsibilities
should be still further extended. It has been too recently established to enable us to
present any statistics showing anything more than a probable estimate of the extent
of its operation ^or a year. A single arrival from California, on an average, brings it
a deposit of nearly a millionand aquarter in value, and such arrivals occur weekly.
This would give a monthly accumulation of five millions. The machinery of the
office is enough for the annual assay of fifty millions. Fifty men are now employed
in carrying on its operations. The officers are Sam. F. Butterworth, Superintendent ;
John J. Cisco, Sub-Treasurer; Prof. John Torrey, Assay er, with A. Mason, Assistant ;
£. N. Kent, Melter and Refiner, with C. Morfit, Assistant
THE HEW YORK COUNTRY BANK EXCHANGE.
We publish below the plan adopted by the country banks in the State of New
York for their clearing house in the city of New York: —
AETIOLSa or ASaOOIATIOK.
The several incorporated banks, banking associations, and private bankers of the
State of New York who shall execute this instrument in the manner hereinafter men-
tioned, hereby associate together for the purpose of establishing in the city of New
York a common agency fur the redemption of their circulating notes, and also the cir-
culating notes of other incorporated banks, banking associations, and individual bank-
ers, pursuant to the provisions of the 8 th section of the act of the Legislature of the
State of New York, entitled *' An act relating to the redemption of bank notes,"
passed May 4, 1840, under the following rules and regulatioos: —
1. The association shall be known as the *" New York Country Bank Exchange.**
2. The agency shall receive all the circulating notes of country banks in good
credit, which shall be sent to it by an associate, at the legal discount of one-quarter
of one per cent. The circulating notes of each member of the association whicn shall
be forwarded to the agency, or otherwise redeemed by it, shall be duly assorte<l and
returned to the bank issuing the same, at a discount of one- fifth of one per cent Ex-
changes shall be made and the balances settled and paid daily. The balances due
from debtor banks shall be paid by them through the bank in the city of New York,
with which they shall respectively keep their account, on the draft or requisition of
the manager of the agency ; and the balances due to the creditor banks shall, in like
manner, be paid by the manager to their credit respectively, in such bank in said city
as they shall deeignate.
8. The association shall be in no way responsible for the exchanges, nor for the
balances resulting therefrom, except so far as such balances shall have actually been
pMud into the hands of the manager ; and in such case the responsibility of the asso-
ciation shall be limited to the distribution by the manager to tne creditor banks of the
sums received by him ; and should any loss occur while such balances are in the hands
of the manager, it shall be a charge only upon the specific fond hereinafter provided,
to be placed in the charge of the manager.
4. JEIach member of the association shall appoint the manager thereof its legal
agent for the redemption of its circulating notes, as required by law.
6. For the purpose of redeeming such circulating notes as shall be offered at the
agency otherwise than through the associated banks, each bank, or individual banker,
on becoming a member of the association, shall deposit with the manager the sum of
two thousand dollars, and in case its circulation received from the Bank Department,
or which it shall be authorized to issue, shall exceed one hundred thousand dollars,
then such deposit shall be equal to two per cent upon such circulation ; which sum
shall remain on deposit with the association unimpaired so long as the bank or banker
depositing the same shall continue a member thereof, and shall be returned on with-
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476 Journal of Banking, Ourreney, and JPinanee.
drawing tberefWnn — subject, howerer, to any iudebtedness of such bank or banker to
the association, and to its liability for its proportion of the losses or expenses thereot
6. In case the expenses of the association shall exceed its income from its bn^inesa,
sach expenses shall be apportioned by the executiye committee, and paid by the
associates quarterly, in proportion to the amount of redemptions made ny them re-
spectively.
7. Each bank belonging to the association may be represented at all meetings by
one or more of its princifNil officers, but shall be entitled to but one vote.
8. A meeting of the association shall be held at the office of the association on the'
second Wednesday of May in each year, at which meeting a president shall be elected
by ballot Special meetings may be called by the executive committee at their dis-
cretion, and shall be called by them on the written request of any ffve of the asso-
ciates. Representatives from fifteen banks shall at all times constitute a quorum.
9. At every annual meeting a standing committee of ^ve bank officers shall be
elected by ballot as an executive committee, whose duty it shall be to act as a board
of directors of the association, with power to procure from time to time suitable
rooms for the transaction of the business of the association ; to provide whatever may
be necessary for the use uf the agency ; to appoint and remove all officers, clerks, or
other persons employed, except the manager ; to fix their salaries, apportion and
draw far the expenses, establish rules and regulatioos for the conduct and manage-
ment of the business in all cases not herein provided for, and generally to direct the
affairs of the agency.
10. The manager shall be appointed and his salary fixed by the association. He
shall give security, to be approved by the executive committee, in the sum of fifty
thousand dollars, for the faithful dischaige of his duties, and each derk shall give like
security iu the sum of ten thousand dollars.
11. The manager, under the direction of the executive committee, shall have charge
of the business at the agency, so far as it relates to the manner in which it shall be
conducted, and all the clerks shall be under his direction. He shall have power to
suspend any clerk or other person employed for cause, and shall report such suvpen-
sion, and the reason of it, to the executive committee. He shall act as secretary at
all meetings of the association and of the executive committee.
12. The executive committee shall have power to suspend the manager, whenever
in their opinion the interests of the association shall require it Upon such suspension
being made, the committee shall immediately cull a meeting of the association, and
report the cause of such suspension, when final action shall be taken by the asso-
ciation.
13. In case any associate shall neglect or refuse to provide for the payment of any
balance against such associate, arising from the exchanges, the manager may thereupon
in his discretion return the circulating notes of the defaulting bank constituting such
balance, to the bank or banks from which the same were received, and in the same
Sroportion as sent by them, first causing each parcel of said notes so returned to be
uly protested. The bank so in default shall thereupon be suspended from the aseo-
ciatton by the executive committee, or in their absence by the manager, until the final
determination of the association in the matter at a meeting to be called as soon as
practicable thereafter.
14. The executive committee shall designate a bank or banks in the city of New
York, in which all drafts drawn for balances shall be deposited and the funds of the
association kept
15. New members may be admitted into the association at any time, with the as-
sent of the executive committee, such new members paying an admission fee, to be
fixed by the executive committee, making the deposit hereinbefore mentioned, and
signifying their assent to these articles, in the same manner as the original members.
16. For cause deemed sufficient by the association at any meeting thereof, any bank
may be expelled from the association, provided a majority of the whole number of as-
sociated banks shall vote in favor thereof.
17. Any member of the association may withdraw therefrom at any annual meet-
iogt on giving thirty days' previous notice of its intention to withdraw to the exeon-
tive committee — first paying its due proportion of all expenses, liabilities, and losses,
if any.
18. For the purpose of oiganizatioo, and until the first annual meeting shall be
held, George W. Cuyler, of Palmjra, in the county of Wayne, shall be the manager
of the association, at an annual salary of ^ye thousand dollars ; and George U. Mum-
ford, of Rochester, George W. Tifft, of Buffalo, Edward B. Judsou and Hamilton
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Jimrwd of Bankinff^ Currency^ cmd Fintmce, All
Wbite, of Syracuse, Jopiah N. Starin, of Auburn, Solon P. Hungerford, of Adams, and
William R. Obbome, of Biogbamtoo, eball constitute the executive committee.
19. These articles shall be submitted to the several banks and individual bankers
of the State, "wboee notes are not redeemed at par in the cities of New York, Albany,
or Troy, for their approval and adoption. When approved by the boards of directors
of the incorporated banks or banking associations, or by individual bankers, such ap-
proval shall be signified by the signatures thereto of the president, cashier, or financial
officer of the bank or institution adopting the same. When fifty banks shall have
adopted these articles, the agency may be put in operation.
SO. AmendmentB of these articles may be made at any meeting of the aspociation
by a vote of two-thirds of all the members present, being not less than a majority of
all the members belonging to the association.
THE MAm BRACE OF STATE CREDIT.
BT J. THOMPSON, BANKER, OF MEW YORK.
The stocks or certificates of indebtedness of a nation. State, or city, should be largely
held directly or indirectly by its own citizens. No paper security not so held ever
acquires a high standard of credit. On the contrary, all State or corporate indebted-
ness so held, enjoys the confidence of capitalists, wherever and whoever they are.
The payment of interest or principal to citizens is much less burdensome and far
less impoverishing than such payment to non-residents.
To establish and illustrate the foregoing, look at Great Britain, with thousands of
millions of debt, her stocks are considered the best in the world, and with teus of mil-
lions of annual interest, all promptly paid, without ever disturbing her finances or the
regular course of exchange. These happy results arise from the fact that ninety-nine-
hundredths of her debt is owing to Englishmen. Let us suppose for a moment that
the British debt was held by citizens of other countries, how long would Englishmen
bear the burdens of either direct or indirect taxation to provide the interest alone ;
aad would any profound reasoner on stock or paper securities trust his money in Brit-
ish Consols t It is our opinion that the payment of interest on the debt of Great
Britain to non-residents for only one year would cause the bankruptcy of the nation,
a revulsion in Ck>mmerce, and a suspension of specie payments by every bank in the
kingdom.
We could show by statistics that the credit of a State rests principally oo two
imndatlons —
Ist. By the per centage of debt due its own ciUaens.
2d. By the character of its population.
The amount is of far less consequence than either of the foregoing. Had any con-
siderable portion of the stocks of Missis«<ippi, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, or Michigan,
beeo held by the citizens of those States, neither would ever have been classed among
the non-paying.
Besides the loss of moral, political, and interested influence, there is a positive finan-
cial loss in owing non-residents. The interest semi-annually, and the principal when
paid, is an export of specie or its equivalent — it is an impoverishing element
The remarks on this subject, as well as our article on the two systems of banking,
published in the Merchants^ Magazine for September, 1855, (vol xxxiii., pages 855-6,)
have an object, namely, to show to the people of Virginia, Tennessee, and Pennsylva-
nia, that tlieir true interest liee in engrafting the Security System when granting bank-
ing privilegesL
Stocks held by the banks of a State as a basis of currency, are to every intent held
by the people of the State, and the same happy results will follow that are SQ protm-
iDent in the State of New York, and so apparent in Great Britain.
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478 Journal of Banking, Currency, and Finance,
REAL AlVD PERSONAL PROPERTY OF BROOKLYN.
We give below a Btatement of the asBessed or taxable value of property in the dif-
ferent wards of the city of Brooklyn, (Long Island, New York,) for the years 1854
and 1856:—
. 1854. . . 1855 V
Wants. ResL Personal. TotaL ReaL PcninnaL TotaL
1 |4,686»661 $1,058,738 $6,744,284 $4,937,900 $l,669.tf97 $6,507,897
2 2,861,888 1,423,463 4,257,296 2.966.850 1,681,658 4,688,688
8 7,161,280 2,628,425 9,779,955 7,810,760 2,891,660 10,208,400
4 4,580,522 892,800 5,472.822 4,686,760 878,200 6.563,950
5 2.598,053 15,000 2,618,068 2,806,225 87,600 2,843,826
6 12,275,798 1,293,940 18 669,729 9,873,560 1,564,950 10,938,460
7 6,599,626 91,000 6,640,626 6.806,966 92.800 6,899,265
8 8,022,582 225,800 8,247,882 4,240,868 286,860 4,476.168
9 6,156,416 162,620 6,269,086 6,274,260 69.000 5,383,260
10 8,211,785 229,600 8,481,886 8,138,016 248,100 8.881,116
11 7,681,681 284,500 7,816,481 8,007,245 286.000 8,-342,245
12 8,850,415 8,000 8,.^58.416
Total 64,665,117 $8,184,881 72,849,998 67,889,779 $9,591,786 77 481,515
We also add the figures of Williamsburg and Bush wick, which now form part of
the city of Brooklyn :—
1 (18th). $6,180,265 $1,184,659 $7,864,824 $6,911,760 $869,000 $7,270,750
2 (14th) 2.968,980 414,000 8,872,980 3,846,085 890,604 8,726,689
8 (15th) 2,108,499 16,400 2,119,419 1,628.352 14,000 1,642,352
16 1,653,245 96,000 1,662,745
Total 11,242,664 $1,614,659 12,867,228 18,688',482 $1,781,104 14.811,686
17 8,106,860 109,000 8,215,860 2,488,100 899,000 2.628,000
18 , 1,559,887 82,000 1,641.387
The Seyenteenth and Eighteenth Wards constitute what was known as Buahwick
before the consolidation.
COINAGE OF GOLD AND SILVER IN MINTS OF MEUCO FROM 1521 TO 1853.
A document has been published in Mexico, under the title ** Foreign Commerce of
Mexico since the Conquest,'' which contaibs interesting statistics concerning the amoont
of gold and silver yielded by the mines of that country. The entire worth of gold
and silver stamped by the different mints of Mexico from 1621 to 1852, together with
manufactures from the precious metals, amounts to $8,562,205,000, as follows : —
Silver coined in the city of Mexico $2,248,1 65,000
Ck>ld coined in the city of Mexico 11 1.806,000
$2,869,971,000
Silver coined in other Mexican towns $859,621 ,000
Gold coined in other Mexican towns. 15,1 18,000
874,784,000
Gold and silver manufactures 827,600,000
Total $8,662,206,000
The whole of this sum, wiUi the exception of about $100,000,000, has been, it is
supposed, exported. In the year 1690, the amount of silver coined in the city of Mex-
ico was $6,286,000; in the following year it was $6,214,000. From 1691 until 1700,
the quantity decreased until it amounted to only $8,379,000. After the latter year it
steadily rose until it reached, in 1809, its highest point, viz.: $24,708,000. In 1810,
only $17,961,000 were coined; in 1811, but $8,966,000, and so on till 1887, when but
516,000 silver dollars were issued by the Mexican Mint In 1888, $1,089,000 wer«
coined, and the quantity again began to increase. In 1862, it amounted to $2,770,000.
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Journal of Banking^ Currency^ and Finance, 479
THE BASK OF BSGUIVD AID ITS I0TE8.
Tbe Bank of England has recently changed its plan of printing bank notes. The
object is to prevent counterfeiting. An elaborate account of tbe old and new modes
is given in the last number of the Banker^ Magazine. If, says tbe writer, we exam-
ine forms of notes printed by typography, we » hall observe that the notes of the Bank
of France and the Belgian notes are so produced ; but, in these cases, the character of
the note b adapted to the style of printing, and even there the number printed is so
■mall as to appear insignificant when compared with tbe number issued by the Bank
of England, At the former establishment about 800 impressions are printed every
day ; at the latter nearly 80,000 are produced, as 9,000,000 notes are Issued per an-
num, representing nearly £300,000,000.
A paper-mill is in operation in Hampshire, England, which is used exclusively for
the manufacture of bank-note paper, llie first ever issued was made in these mills,
in about the year 1719, and it has ever since been produced on the same premises.
From an analysis lately made by an eminent chemist, it has been ascertained that the
water of this river is well adapted for the purposes for which it is required in this es-
tablishment The building, the machinery, and, indeed, the entire premises, have un-
dergone very considerable alterations and improvements of late, (in hct, they are not
yet brought to completion,) in order to adapt them to the perfect execution of the
paper used for the new bank note, the issue of which is to commence oo New Year's
day.
These mills are used exclusively for the making of bank-note paper, and at the
present time about 50,000 notes are made daily. The artisans and work-people live
mostly in neat and picturesque cottages, adjoining the premises, and are occupants of
the same dwellings formerly occupied by their great-grandfathers.
Tbe quality and watermark of the bank-note paper have, in the new note, (now on
the point of being issued to the public,) been brought to a high degree of excellence.
The molds from which the paper is made are executed by Mr. Brewer, who, with Mr.
Smith, patented a very valuable invention, which was rewarded by a medal at the
Oreat Exhibition of 1861. Suffice it to say that, in thus improving and endeavoring
to perfect the bank-note paper, the authorities of the bank have had entirely in view
the protection of the public from fraud and loss.
COmAGE OF THE BRITISH MINT.
Tbe annual account of the moneys coined at the Royal Mint of Great Britain during
the year 1854, has been laid before the House of Commons. It states the total value
of the gold coinage to have been £4,152,188, including 921,890.478 ounces weight,
and 3,589,611 pieces of sovereigns, and 144,480.840 ounces weight, and 1,125,144
pieces of half-sovereigns, the value of which latter was, of course, one-half, or £562,572.
Ko double-sovereigns were coined. The total value of the silver coinage amounted to
£140,480, including 550,418 florin pieces, of 200,150 . 200 ounces in weight and £55,041
io value; 552,414 shilling pieces, of 100,489 ounces weight and £27,620 in value;
840,116 sixpenny pieces, 76,874.200 ounces weight and £21,002 in value; 1,096,618
groats, of 66,461 .450 ounces in weight and £18,276 in value ; 4,158 fourpenny pieces,
of 252 ounces in weight and £69 6s. in value; 1,471,754 threepenny pieces, of 66,897
onncris in weight and £18,896 in value; 4,752 twopenny pieces, of 144 ounces weight
and £39 12s. in value ; and 7,920 silver penny pieces, of 120 ounces in weight, and
£88 in value. The total value of the copper coinage was £61,688, including 6,827,520
pennies, of 127 tons in weight and £28,448 in value; 12,461,568 half-pennies, of 115
tons in weight and £25,961 in value ; 6,504,960 farthings, of 80 tons in weight and
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480 Commereial RegulmUotM.
£6,776 in yalue ; and 677*876 half- fitrthings, of 1 ton 11 cwta. 2 qre. in weight aod
£852 168. in value. It is worthy of mention that no crowns or half-crowns were
coined in 1854. The g^ross total valne of the gold, silver, and copper coinage of 1864
amounted to £4,854,201.
BANK OF MUTUAL REDEMPTION.
The following act of the Legislature of New Hampshire authorises banks io thai
State to hdd stock in the Bank of Mntual Redemptioo to be located in Boston. Thia
act was passed at the last session of the New Hampshire Legislature, and approyed
July 14th, 1856. The act takes effect from and after its passage : —
AM ACT AUTHORIZING BANKS IN THIS STATE TO BOLD STOCK IN THE BANK OP VUTVAL
BEDEMPTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and Hou9e of Representativei in General Cowrt etm-
vened. That any banking corporation in this State may subscribe for, and hold in its
own name, shares in the capital stock of the Bank of Mutual Redemption, to be lo-
cated in Boston, Massachusetts, to an amount not exceeding 5 per cent of the capital
stock of the bank subscribing therefor ; and such subscription shall be made only
when authorized by the unanimous voto of the durectors making the same.
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.
OF [MP0RTATI01I8 INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM THE BRITISH PROVINCES.
The Secretary of the Treasury (James Guthrie) has issued the following circular to
collectors and other officers of the customs, in relation to merchandise entitled to free
entry and liable to duty under the existing revenue laws : —
Trkascrt DKPAiTMKirr, July 31, 1B5S.
The following decisions on questions submitted to this Department, arising on im-
portations into the United States from the British proTinces of Canada, New Bruna-
wick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward's Island, being the product of said pruvincea,
under the Reciprocity Treaty with Qrcat Britain of June 5, 1854, are communicated
for your information and government: —
XNTTTLED TO FaBB ENTRY.
Animals of all kinds ; ashes, comprehending pot aod pearl ashes ; black salts and
salts of lye ; bags, barrels, or other original packages, containing flour, wheat, or other
free product ; barley ; bark of hemlock or other trees ; beams, when rough hewfi or
sawed only ; beans ; boards, when rough hewn or sawed only ; bran ; breadstuffs of
all kinds, not further manufactured than flour and meal; broom-corn; burr-8tonea»
hewn or wrought, or unwrought ; butter ; Canada Balsam, collected from a species of
pine tree, as turpentine ; castoreum, a product of the beaver; cattle tails, if undressed ;
cheese ; clap boards, if rough hewn or sawed only ; coal ; com, Indian, or maize ; cot-
ton wool ; dried fruits; dyestuffs ; fish of all kinds, products of fish and of all other
creatures livmg in the water, the exemption from duty to extend to the fisheries of
Newfoundland and Labrador; fish, wholly or partly cooked, in cans hermetically
sealed; firewood; flax, unmanufactured ; flour of all kinds; fresh meats; fruitii, dried
or undried ; fruits, preserved, in cans hermetically sealed ; furs, nndreaaed ; grain of
all kinds ; grindstones, hewn or wrought, or unwrought ; gypsum, ground or unground ;
hair, on the hide or skin or tail thereof, undressed ; hair seal skins, undressed ; hemp,
unmanufactured; hides, undressed; horns; horn* tips; hubs for wheels, knees for vea-
•ela, lasts, last blocks, and laths, if rough hewn or sawed only ; lard ; linseed ; lumber
ef all kinds, round, rough hewn or sawed only ; manures ; marble, in its crude or un-
wrought stato ; meals of all kinds; meats, fresh, smoked, or salted ; meats, wholly or
partly cooked, preserved without oil or spirits, in cans hermetically sealed ; miJdhnga,
as flour; mill- feed, as flour; nuts; oats; oatmeal; oil, from fii*b; ores of metahsof
aU kinds ; palings, pickets, posts, Ac^ if rough hewn or aawed only ; patea or acfsaps af
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Commercial Regulatums. 481
raw hides or skins ; pearl and pot ash ; peas ; pelts ; pitch ; plants ; potatoes ; pool-
tnr ; poultry, cooked wholly or parUy, preserred in cans hermetically sealed ; products
of fish and all other creatures living in the water ; provender, from wheat or other
grain ; rags ; railroad ties, rough hewn or sawed only ; raw hides and skins, or parts
thereof; rice; rotten wood; salted meats; salts of lye and black salts, (see ashes;)
sansages and sausage-meat ; saw-logs ; scantling, rough hewn or sawed only ; screen-
ings from grain ; seeds ; shingles, shmgle-bolts, and shingle-wood, rough hewn or sawed
onlY ; shrubs ; skins or tails, undressed ; skins, or parts thereof, undressed ; sbipstuffs,
as oreadstufi^ ; slate ; spars, round and sawed only ; spokes of wheels, if rough hewn
or sawed only ; stone, in its crude or unmanufactured state; tails, undressed; tallow ;
tar ; timber of all kinds, round, rough hewn or sawed only ; tobacco and tow, unman-
u&ctured ; trees ; turpentine ; vegetables ; vegetables, wholly or partly cooked, pre-
served in cans hermetically sealed; venison ; wool, unmanufactured.
LIABLX TO DUTT UNDXH THB BZISTINa BKVBKUB LAWS.
Beams, (see timber and lumber ;) bear's grease ; beeswax ; boards, (see timber and
lomber ;) biscuit ; bread ; cakes ; felloes for wheels, (see timber and lumber ;) grease
of all kinds, except butter, tallow, and lard ; hay ; hops ; hubs for wheels, knees for
vessels, lasts, and last-blocks, (see timber and lumber;) lime; milk; oil-cake; palings,
pickets, posts, railroad ties, scantlings, shingles, shingle-bolts, shingle-wood, spars, and
spokes for wheels, (see timber and lumber ;) spirits of turpentine.
TiUBEa oB LoMBEa. Articles of wood entered under these or any other designa-
tions, remain liable to duty under the existing tariff, if manufactured in whole or in
part by planing, shaving, turning, or riving, or any process of manufacture oUier than
rough hewing or sawing.
It having t)een represented to the Department that in some of the frontier collection
districts, compensation has been demanded by officers of the customs for preparing
the papers of claimants under the Reciprocity Treaty with Great Britain, it bc^comes
necessary to remind such officers that the laws having fixed the salaries of all officers
of the customs, they cannot legally demand extra compensation for any services ren-
dered in connection with their several offices ; and that the exactions complained of
cannot be made without subjecting them to the heavy penalties provided in the 17th
section of the act, ** Further to establish the compensation of officers of the customs,
Ac" ap|>roved May 7th, 1822.
Questions in relation to the charge of /eft on the entry of free goods having been
submitted to the Department, in special reference to importations under the Reciproc-
ity Treaty, it is thought proper to state, that the 7th section of the act ^'To provide
for obtaining accurate statements of the foreign Commerce of the United States," ap-
proved February 10th, 1820, requiring the regular entry and examination of all/rtft
goods, the fee to the collector of 20 cents " for permit to land goods," as provided in
the 2d section of the compensation act of March 2, 1799, is legallv chargeable in each
case of landing free goods ; all such fees, however, as well as all others received by
the collectors on our Northern, North-eastern, and North-western frontier, to be ac-
counted for to the Treasury in the form prescribed by law, the salaries of such collec-
tors, allowed by the act ** To regulate the foreign and coasting trade, Ac.," approved
March 2, 1831, modified in some instances by subsequent acts, being in lieu of all fees,
salaries, emoluments, or commissions, allowed prior to the date of said act.
JAMES GUTHRIE, Secretary of the Treasury.
THE TALUE OF MERCHANDISE MUST BE INDORSED ON THE BOND.
By a regulation of the United States Treasury Department, when a special penal
bond is given, it b the duty of collectors to indorse on the bond the estimated value
and the date of importation of the merchandise before it is delivered. This doty
is to be carefully performed, and will require a constant and faithful supervision.
If anything occurs to excite doubt of the continued sufficiency of the principal or
sureties, the collector requires either a new bond in the same form with adequate se-
curity, or in case the parties fail to give it, an adequate bond on each importation, as
in cases where no special penal bond is given. If the estimated value of the merchan-
dise exceed one-half of the penalty of the bond, in no case can it be suffered to be
delivered to, or remain in possession of the parties subject to this bond.
VOL. xxxiu. — NO. IV. 3 1
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482 Commercial Beffulaiions,
DUTIES OF OFnCERS IN CHARGE OF UNITED STATES WAREHOUSES.
All bonded warehouses, whether public or private, as well as the stores occupied hj
the appraisers, where there are such, are placed by the collector in the custody of
officers designated for the purpose, to be known as storekeepers, who always keep the
keys thereof in their own possession, and personally superintend the opening and clos-
ing of the doors and windows. They are required to be in constant attendance at the
stores from seven o'clock, A. M^ to sunset, from April 1st to October Ist^ and for the
residue of the year from eight o'clock, A. M., to sunset, except the time necessary lor
their meals, not over one hour at noon, when the stores are closed. They are prohib-
ited from allowing any goods to be received, delivered, sampled, packed, or repacked,
except in their presence or the presence of some person designated as an assistant by
the collector, and they are required to keep accurate accounts of all goods received,
delivered, and transferred, and of all orders for sampling, packing, repacking, Ac They
are also required to make daily returns of all goods received and delivered, and inform
the Superintendent of any infraction of the warehouse rules and regulations by in-
spectors or other persons. These officers are also required to keep exact accounts of
all the labor performed on merchandise sent to such stores, whether unclaimed or in
bond, and their returns to the custom house of its receipt must certify the nature and
amount of such charges. They must also keep rolls of all persons employed in audi
warehouses, which rolls must exhibit the names of such persons, the number of days
employed, the rate of compensation, and the total amount earned, to be receipted for
by the person to whom due, and paid weekly or monthly, according to the custom of
the port, by the proper disbursing officer of the customhouse, on certificates or tickets
signed by the officer in charge, and setting forth that the person named has been em-
ployed for the number of days stated, at the rate of compensation stated, that the
amount specified therein is due to him, and that he has signed the pay-rolls therefor.
At the close of the quarter these rolls are to be returned by the officer in charge to
the collector, to be compared with the certificates or tickets before described, and oo
which the payments have been made, and to accompany such collector*s account with
the vouchers for disbursements on account of public stores and warehouse&
CxaTiFicATE TO Camckl Bond. Ou receiving the permit for the deposit of merdian-
dise in store from the collector, certified by the storekeeper that the goods designated
in the permit, with the exception of such as have been ordered to the appraiser's store,
have been deposited in the store, and on the same examination being had as is required
by law on importations of merchandise from foreign ports, it is the duty of the col-
lector, if satisfied that the goods so deposited and examined are the identical goods
described in the entry and invoice received by him from the collector at the port of
withdrawal, to immediately furnish the party making entry with a certificate, coun-
tersigned by the naval officer, where there is one, of their delivery in the proper form,
and is also required to transmit a duplicate of such certificate to the collector at the
port of withdrawal.
SEIZED AND UNCUIMED GOODS,
lation of the United States Treasury Department, unclaimed and aeiaed
i stored in stores of the third class on the order of the collector ; and the
r occupant must look to the goods for the storage and charges, at the osual
ry rates, and is liable for the safe- keeping of the merchandise as for other
le collector can give no permit to withdraw such goods without the pay-
legal duties and charges ; and if the g^oods are sold, must cause the stor-
rges to be paid out of the proceeds of the sale.
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Commereial Bepulations. 488
TIB mrn of 8upbriiitb]idsit of pubuc warehouses.
Id an ports where the natare and extent of business maj require each an officer, it
is the dntj of the collector to designate, with the approlmtion of the Treasury De-
partment, some suitable person, to be styled the Superintendent of Warehouses, whose
duty it will be to superintend all the public and private bonded warehouses in such
ports, visiting them daily, where the number of warehouses will admit, or, if not, as
often as may be, to ascertain whether the officers are prompt and regular in their at-
tendance, the books correctly kept, the merchandise properly stored, and all the regu-
lations prescribed by the department and the collector faithfully observed and dili-
gently enforced. It is also his duty, when required by the collector, to examine and
inspect such stores as may be offered to be bonded as private warehouses, and make
report thereon to the collector, and generally to perform such duties in relation to the
care of warehouses, and the custody of the goods deposited therein, as may be neces-
sary to their security and the protection of the revenue.
He will also superintend, with the officer of the store, all silks withdrawn for print-
ing, dyeing, <&c, as provided in these instructions, taking an account of the same. And
it is also the duty of the person or persons withdrawing such goods for dyeing, ^ to
notify the collector that the Superintendent may be present at the place and time re-
quired.
Such Superintendent is to be stationed where most convenient, and is required
to make a daily report to the collector of every violation of the warehouse mstruo-
tkms and rules, and of all other matters coming under his observation. It is intended
that this officer, under the directions of the collector, shall have a general supervision
of the warehouse business in the several warehouses, to see that the laws and regula-
tions are faithfully observed by the officers in charge of each store, and the importer
or agent having joint custody. He is also charged with the superintendence of the
cartage, drayage, or lighterage of all merchandise sent to warehouse under bond, or
withdrawn therefrom for transportition or exportation ; and also the cartage, drayage,
or lighterage of all merchandise ordered to the appraiser's office for examination, or
the public stores for custody, and is required to take care that the work is promptly
and faithfully performed, that the necessary receipts for merchandise are returned la
due season to tbe officers sending or delivering the same, and that the regulations for
the government of this branch of the service are in all respects complied with, and
every infraction of the same promptly reported to the collector.
DEUYERT OF GOODS SOLD AT AUCTION, ETC.
The United States Treasury Department directs that immediately after the sale by
an auctioneer of any goods — such as unclaimed goods with the duty unpaid, remain-
ing in a public store one year, and duly bonded merchandise, remaining stored for the
space of three years from the date of importation — the collector shall proceed to de-
liver them to the several purchasers, the lots or parcels belonging to them, on due
payment to him of the sum or sums for which sold This delivery shall be made on
a general permit, to be countersigned by the naval officer, if there be any at the port
The duties of the auctioneer are to be limited to selling the goods, and his charge for
such service, which in no case shall exceed the usual commission at the port, and all
other expenses properly chargeable on the goods which may have accrued, must be
presented and paid within ten days of date of sale. These expenses must be propor-
tioned pro rata on the different lots and parcels, and a statement must be made giving
the gross proceeds, the amount of duty, storage, and other expenses, and the net pro-
ceeds of each lot of goods in the sale.
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484 Chmmercial Regulaium9.
BONDS MAT BB eiySV BT A9 IMPORTER TO 11 nm^UOR P0RT.
It is Btated in the Union, on the anthority of the United States Treafloiy Depart-
ment, that in order to fiicilitate the transmisBion of merchandise in bond from a port
of entry to any interior port of delirery, under the act of 28th March, 1854, the im-
porter of any goods, wares, or merchandise^ residing at an interior port of delivery,
and desiring to haye the merchandise transported in bond, can prodnoe his invoice to
the snryeyor or designated collector of the interior port, take the oath or oaths required
by law, and execute the transportation bond according to the prescribed form, with
proper sureties, before the surveyor or collector of the port, who is required to certify
on said bond a sufficiency of the sureties, and transmit the bond to the collector of the
port of importation ; and the bond so taken is as valid and binding as though executed
io the office of the collector where the entry is made. The invoice, with the oath at-
tached, can be transmitted by the importer to his agent or attorney at the port where
the goods are expected to arrive ; who, upon their arrival, is to present the transpor-
tation entry, with bill or bills of lading therefor, in the form and setting forth the par-
tieulars required ; after which, the same proceedings are to be had as in other entries
for transportation under bond from one port to another in the United States.
PoaTS WHKKX suoH BoMDs CAN BE EXECUTED. The interior ports of delivery at
which bonds can be so executed, and goods transported under Uiem, are Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania ; Cincinnati, Ohio ; Louisville and Paducah, Kentucky ; Nashvflle, Mem-
phis, and Knoxville, Tennessee ; St Louis, Missouri ; Wheeling, Virginia ; Evaneville,
Jeffersonville, and New Albany, Indiana ; Alton, Cairo, Qalena, and Quin<^, Illinois ;
Burlington, Keokuk, and Dubuque, Iowa ; and Tuscumbia, Alabama.
TIME OF TRANSPORTATIOJf B05D IBT UHITfiD STATES.
If the port to which the merchandise is to be transported be not more than one
hundred miles distant by the route proposed, the time inserted in the bond shall be
twenty days ; if over one hundred, and less than two hundred and fifty miles, thirty
days ; if over two hundred and fifty, and less than fi've hundred miles, sixty days ;
and if over five hundred miles, ninety days ; but if the distance be over two hundred
and fifty miles, the collector may, at the instance of the party, allow thirty additional
■days.
Nine months will be allowed for transportation of merchandise in bond between
the Atlantic and Pacific ports of the United States around Cape Horn, and four
months by other routes between these ports. If the transportation within the time
prescribed is retarded by accident or other unavoidable cause, on regular protest and
due proof of the accident or other unavoidable cause, the collector may receive the
goods, or any part thereof, within a reasonable time thereafter.
TEE STOREKEEPER OF A PORT IBT THE UNITED STATES.
The deputy collector is the ex officio storekeeper of the port, and has the general
superintendence of the warehouse business. The warehouse superintendent and store-
keeper at the several stores, with the clerks employed on the store accounts, and on
the warehouse business generally, are under his immediate direction, subject, however,
to the control and supervbion of the collector of the port
In order to enforce a proper responsibility on the part of collectors for merchandise
in bond, these officers are required to account for the duties arising on merchandise
entered at their respective districts for warehousing or re-warehousing with the same
particularity as to details as they are now required to account for the duties on goods
entered for consumption.
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REOUUTlOffS AT mOiTTIBR PORTS OF THE UinVD STATES.
On the arrival of mercfaaadiae at a frontier port, and the due delivery of the mani-
fest or manifests by the master or coodnctor, the collector or other proper officer of
the CQStoms is required immediately, if the goods be forwarded under locks, to remove
•uch lock or locks from the car or cars, and carefully inspect and examine the pack-
ages by the manifest or manifests, to ascertain whether they agree with the descrip-
tion contained therdn, and whether they have been in any way violated. The same
comparison and examination will also be required of the cording, sealing, and brand-
ing, to see that no alteration or fabrication of ihe seals or brands has taken place.
Should the goods be found not to agree with the manifest, or should there be any rea-
aon to believe that any violation, alteration, or fabrication has occurred, the collector
most take immediate possession of the goods, and send a statement of the case to the
department, at the same time notifying the collector of the port from which the goods
were forwarded. If the packages, however, be found to agree in all respects with the
manifests, the cords, seals, and brands unbroken and intact, the collector or other officer
will permit the same to be sent forward without detention to their destination in the
province designated. Should the merchandise arrive at the frontier port before the
receipt of the triplicate entry, it will not be detained there for that reason, but wiU
be inspected and checked by the manifest. When the entry shall have been received
it will be compared with the manifest or manifest^, and if it shall appear that all the
packsges described therein have passed inspection, and been duly delivered to be for-
warded to their final destination, the collector shall furnish to the exporter or his agent
a certificate of the same.
TRA9SP0RTATI0V ROUTES FOR MERCHANDISE lil BOBTD.
The following routes for the transportation of merchandise in bond from one port of
entry to another port of entry, or delivery, have been authorized by the Treasury De-
partment:— From the ports of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, to
Pittsburg, Wheeling, Oincinnati, Louisville, St Louis, Nashville, Natchez, Evans-
Tille, New Albany, Burlington, (Vermont,) Sacketfs Harbor, Rochester, Oswego,
Lewiston, Bufialo, Ogdensborg, Plattsburg, Cape Vincent, Erie, Toledo, Sandusky,
Oleveland, Detroit, Michi)imackinac, Chicago, and Milwaukie, by canal, railroad,
river, or lake, wholly or in part, as the party may select in his entry. Also, from
a port or ports on the Atlsntic to any other port on the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, or
the Pacific, or vice vtrta^ by such route or conveyance as the party in his entry may
select Also, from the port of New Orleans to any port of entry or delivery on the
Mississippi and its tributaries, and by such conveyance and route as the party selects
in his entry. Also, from the ports of Charleston and Savannah to the ports of Knox-
vlile, Nashville, and Memphis, by such conveyance and route as may be designated on
tiie entry. Whatever mode of transportation may be adopted, whether by land or
water, or partly by land and partly by water, the route is required to be set forth and
particularly described in the entry.
RATES OF LABOR AND STORAGE IN THE PUfiUC STORES.
^ The chai^ge for storing goods deposited in the public stores must be at the usual
rate at that port, and the charge for labor at these stores must be at a rate that will
remunerate the government If collectors frul to demand and receive the amounts
due for the storage and labor accruing in public stores, or the pay of an officer re-
quired in private stores, they will be charged with such sums in their quarterly ac-
counts by the commissioner of customs.
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486 Commercial BegulaUans*
PACKIirO AND REPACRIIG MERCHAIDI8B.
All merchandise id public or privaie bonded warehouses in the United States may
be examined at any time daring the business hours of the port by the importer, oon-
signee, or agent, who shall have liberty to take samples of his goods in quantities ae*
oordiog to the usage of the port ; make all needful repairs of packages, and to repaid
the same, provided the original contents are placed in the new package, and the orig-
inal marks and numbers placed thereon, in the mode prescribed in the seventy -fifth
section of the act of 2d March, 1199, and thirty- second section of the act of Ist March,
1828 ; provided that no samples shall be taken, nor shall any goods be exhibited or
examined, onless under the immediate supervision of an inspector of the customs, and
by order of the importer, owner, or consignee, at hb expense ; nor shall any package
be repaired, or goods repacked, without a written order from the collector of the
port
Pknaltt. The penalty for failure to transport and deliver bonded merchandise,
withdrawn from warehouse lor transportation in the United States, within the time
limited in the transportation bond provided for by the sixth section of th3 act of 28lli
March, 1854, is deemed and taken to be an additional duty of 100 per cent on the in-
Toice or appraised value of the merchandise so withdrawn. Thus, if the value of the
merchandise be |400,and the rate of duty 25 per cent, the duty to be secured by the
bond will be |100, and the additional duty of 100 per cent, |400 — making the sum
of $600 to be collected in case of non-compliance with the condition of the obligation
in the bond.
PENALTIES IF GOODS ARE RELANDED IN THE UNITED STATES.
By the fourth section of the act of August 80, 1852, authorizing the exportation of
merchandise in bond by certain routes to Mexico, it is provided that no goods, wares,
or merchandise exported out of the limits of the United States, according to the pro-
visions of that act, shall be voluntarily landed and brought into the United States ;
and that if landed or brought into the United States, they shall be forfeited, and the
same proceedings will be had for their condemnation and the distribution of the pro-
ceeds as in other cases of forfeiture of goods illegally imported ; and all persons con-
cerned in the voluntary landing or bringing such goods into the United States, shall
be liable to a penalty of $400.
It will be necessary to maintain a great vigilance along the frontier of the Rio
Grande to prevent the illegal introduction of merchandise into the United States In
all cases of this description that are discovered, the full penalties of the law will be
rigorously enforced.
EXPORTS TO CANADA AND OTHER BRITISH PROVINCES.
Merchandise intended for exportation to the adjacent British provinces can be for-
warded from the ports of importation in the United States by way of any of the fol-
lowing designated ports :— Rouse's Point, Ogdensburg, Oape Vincent, SuspenaioD
Bridge, Lewiston, Bufi^lo, Oswego, Rochester, Dunkirk, and Plattsburg, New York;
Burlington, S wanton, Alburg, and Island Pond, Vermont; Detroit^ Michigan ; East-
port, Maine ; and Pembina, Minnesota. ^
WAREHOUSE AND TRANSPORTATION ENTRY.
The Union states, on the authority of the Treasury Department, that on the arriyal
from any foreign port of goods destined for immediate transportation to other ports of
the United States, the warehousing and transportation may be combined in one entry ;
the oaths to be the same as prescribed in the warehouse entry.
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Commercial Regiilations, 487
CARTAflB, DRATA6B, OR LI0HTERA6B OF GOODS IBT BOND.
All goods in bond, whether pasaing from the vessel or other conyejaDCe in which
imported to the warehouse, or from one vessel or conveyance to another vessel or con-
veyance, or from the warehouse, on permits of transportation or exportation, all un-
claimed goods, and all goods ordered to the appraiser's store for examination, are
carted, drayed, or lightered, by the custom-house eartmen, draymen, or lightermen
unemployed, and at all ports by persons specially authorized by the collector or other
chief revenue officer. The intention is, that bonded goods shall at all times be in the
custody of the officers of the customs, or their authorized agents. Such persons are
subject to the orders of the collector, and are held to a strict compliance with all the
warehouse rules and regulations. The officers are in all cases required, whether at
the vessel or warehouse, to give the eartmen, ^, a ticket descriptive of the merchan-
dise delivered to them, and designating the store, vessel, or other place to which it is
to be taken, which ticket is to be returned to the officer from whom the merchandise
was received, duly receipted by the officer to whom the merchandise was delivered.
The eartmen, draymen, and lightermen are held responsible for the safe conveyance
of all merchandise delivered to them, and for the good condition of all delivered by
them. If they neglect or refuse to convey all merchandise required of them to the
public stores or elsewhere as soon as it is ready, on report to the collector, they are
subject to dismissal from further employment
ENTRY OF MERCHANDISE FOR CONSUAIPTION.
The entry for consumption must state in full all the particulars required, together
with the invoice and bill of lading, and must be presented at the collector's office to
the clerks charged with the duty of examining it When examined, if found correct, it
is the duty of the clerks to estimate the duUea on the invoice value and quantity, cer-
tify to the invoice, and nuke out a permit in the form prescribed in the act of 1799.
The entry and accompanying papers are then taken to the naval officer, who makes
a like examination, and if it is found to be correct, checks the entry, invoice, and per-
mit The papers are then taken to a deputy collector, who administers the oath, de-
signates the package or packages to be sent to the appraiser's store for examination,
marking the same on the invoice, entry, and permit If the importer desires to avail
himself of the privilege given by the act of May 28, 1830, and obtain possession of
his goods by giving the bond required by the fourth section of that act, he must give
this bond, pay the duties as estimated, and send his permit to the vessel in which his
goods were imported ; but if he prefers to await the examination by the appraisers,
it is the duty of the collector, after having administered the oath and directed what
packages are to be examined, to issue an order to the officer on board the vessel, and
Bend the invoice by a messenger to the appraiser's store.
IMPORTERS' BOND FOR MERCHANDISE.
Merchants receiving frequent importations may, to obviate inconveniences which
would be felt in giving the penal bond prescribed in the fourth section of the act of
the 28th of May, 1880, for each importation, give one in lieu thereof running for a
period not exceeding six months.
In each case it is the duty of the collector to see that the security provided by the
bond is substantial with regard to the pecuniary ability of the obligors. Great care is
required to be taken by the collectors and other officers of the customs in the pro-
ceedings in the importations, so as to insure beyond doubt the sufficiency of the bond
should the United States be compelled to resort to it
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488 Pa$ial Department.
THB BfiTU&V OF CUSTOM-HOUSE APPRAISfiKS,
The appraisera, io everj case, are required to make their report or return of appraise-
ment in writing, and to aign the same, not bj the initials of their names, but in foil
The report or retam is to be written on the invoice, if practicable. If not, on a sep-
arate paper to be permanentlj attached to the invoice. The return of the appraisecB
is to describe, in all cases, the character or dass of the merchandise, as nearly as pos-
sible, in the terms of the tariff, and state under what schedule, in their opinion, it
falls, for the information of the collector or naval officer.
POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
MODmCATIOll OF PBUSSIlV-AAISaiCAil POSTAL TEEATT.
The rates of postage for the correspondence between the United States and foreigo
countries, passing through the Gkrman Postal Union, under the Prussian- American
Postal Conyentioo, have undergone some slight modification since the publication of
the foreign postage taUe of March 1, 1856, and the following list embraces all the
countries and places to which letters and newspapers may be forwarded in said cloeed
mail, with the necessary alterations.
Postmasters should compare this with, and note the alterations upon, the postage
table above referred ta
FRKPATinCMT OFTIONAL.
German- Austrian Postal Union, States of, viz.: — Prussia, all other German
States, and the whole Austrian Empire, by the Prussian closed mail, via
London and Oetend cents SO
Alexandria cents 88 { Norway 46
Altona 88 Papal Stotes 35
Beyrout 40 | Parma 88
Candia. 40 j Poland 87
Cesme 40 Rhodes. 40
Constantinople 40 Russia 87
Dardanelles, the 40,SaIonica 40
Denmark 86 | Samsum 40
Galatz 40 ' Sardinia 88
Gallipoli 40 Smyrna 40
Greece 42 Sweden 42
Ibralia 40 1 Switzerland. 85
Ionian Islands 88 Taltcha. 40
Italy 83 Trebizonde 40
Larrnca 40 Tuloza 40
Lauenburg. 88 Tuscany 85
Lombardy 88 i Varna 40
Modeua 83 |
PaXPATMKMT BJCQUIBKD.
China, except Hong Kong, via Trieste cents 63
East Indies, Engliah possessions in, via Trieste. 88
East Indies, and all other countries in and beyond the East Indies, via Trieste. 70
Hong Kong, via Trieste 88
Egypt, except Alexandria 88
Turkey, Wallacbia, Moldavia, Servia, Levante, and Turkijh Islands in the Med-
iterranean, via Trieste, except Alexandretta, Antivari, Beyrout, Bourghas,
Oaifa, Candia, Caoea, Cesme, Constantinople, Dardanelles, Durazzo, Galati,
Gallipoli, Ibralia, Ineboli, Jaffi^ Lamsa, Latakia, Mersina, Mytelene, Prevesa,
Rhodes, Salonica, Sinope, Smyrna, Tencdos, Trebizonde, Taltcha, Tuloza,
y alona. Vara, and Yolo, by Prussian closed mail 80
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Postal Department. 489
Alexandretta, ADtivari, Bourghas, Gaifo, Durafso, Ineboli, Jafia, Latakia, Mer-
sina, Mytelene, Prevesa, Sioope, Tenedos, Valona, and Volo, via Trieste, by
PraBsian closed mail 40
The rates above mentioned are the full postage through to destination, with the ex-
ception of "Turkey, Wallachia, Moldavia, Servia, Levant, and Turkish Islands in the
Mediterranean," as requiring the prepayment of 80 cents a letter, which is the United
States and Prussian postage.
Newspapers to be sent in the Prussian closed mail must be prepaid six cents each,
which is the full United States and Prussian postage. If to go through said closed
mail to the British possessions in the East Indies, or to Hong Kong, they must be pre-
paid ten cents, and if to other points in Ohina, or to countries beyond the East Indies*
thirteen cents each. But to the East Indies and Ohina it is believed that the cheapest
route for newspapers is in the British mail via Southampton, four cents each, to be
prepaid, being the full United States and British Postage.
With reference to the Prussian closed mail, we are desired to remark, also, that in
many instances, letters which should come in this mail, particularly from the southern
part of Qermany, are received in the open mail generally via France, thus rendering
them subject to additional and much higher rates of postage ; and it is suggested that
writers would aid greatly toward correcting this irregularity by requesting their cor-
respondents in Qermany to inform themselves as to the correct rates of postage, and
to mark their letters specially to be forwarded in the " Prussian closed mail via Ostend
and London."
It should also be observed that a prepayment in either country of less than the
combined rate of thirty cents on a single letter goes for nothing, no account being
taken of partial payments.
ACCOUNTS AND RETURNS OF POSTMASTERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Every postmaster, according to the Union, speaking on the authority of the Post-
Office Department, is required to make up his accounts and forward transcript s of
them to the third Assistant Postmaster- General, at the end of every quarter, which is
on the last days of March, June, September, and December. In case of death, resig-
nation, or removal of a postmaster, or the discontinuance of an office, or in case of the
giving of a new official bond in consequence of a change in the name of an office, the
expiration of the term for which the postmaster may have been appointed, or other-
wise, the accounts are required to be made up to the day (though it is not the end of
a quarter) in which the office ceases to operate, or the new appointment, or the new
bond, as the case may be, takes effect. Many postmasters have been in the habit of
forwarding to the department their original accounts, keeping no duplicate or copy.
This is contrary to the regulations of the department, and will not be permitted. The
department requires, in all cases, transcripts or copies only to be sent, and the original
accounts to be carefully preserved for inspection.
P08TA0E ON BACK NUMBERS OF NEWSPAPERS.
Back numbers of newspapers, if addressed to a regular subscriber, are chargeable
with a postage of one cent each, payable either at the office of publication or the
office of delivery ; but if sent to a person not a subscriber, they are considered trans-
ient papers, and as such are chargeable with one cent each if prepud, and with two
cents if not prepaid. None but regular subscribers to newspapers are entitled to the
benefit of quarterly or yearly prepayment
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490 Postal Department
PUBLICATIONS SENT TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND SMITHSONIAN IN-
STITUTE.
The fifth eectioo of the act of CoDgress, approved 8d March, 1855, extendmg the
right to send books, maps, and charts, or other publications entered for copyright, and
"which, under the act of August 10, 1846, are required to be deposited in the Library
of Congress and in the Smithsonian Institute, by mail, free of postage, does not con-
flict with the provisions of the third section of the act approved SOth August, 1852,
which provides " that there shall be no word or communication printed en the same
after its publication, or upon the cover or wrapper thereof, nor any writing or marks
upon it, nor upon the wrapper thereof, except the name and address. There shall be
DO paper or other thing inclosed in or with such printed matter -" and " if such condi-
tions are not complied with, such printed matter shall be subject to letter postage."
The written notification from the author or publisher of works to be entered fbr
copyright should be forwarded by mail prepaid, as the right to receive maps, charts,
or other publications, free of postage, does not embrace written letters accompanying
them, though the letters may relate exclusively to the subject.
THE DUTIES OF POSTMASTERS IN REGARD TO WASTE PAPER.
James Campbell, the Postmaster General, has made the following important order
in reganl to waste paper : —
** It shall be the duty of the postmaster, or of one of his assistants, in all cases im-
mediately before the office is swept or otherwise cleared of rubbish, to collect and
examine the waste paper which has accumulated therein, in order to guard against
the possibility of loss of letters or other mail matter, which may have fallen on the
floor, or have been intermingled with such waste paper during the transaction of busi-
ness. The observance of this rule is strictly enjoined upon all postmasters, and its
violation will constitute a grave offense. Postmasters must be careful to use, in mail-
ing letters or packets, all wrapping paper fit to be used again ; and the sale of any
such paper is strictly forbidden by the regulations of the Department"
REGISTRATION OF LETTERS.
In the new system of registration for the greater security of valuable letters sent
by mail, with each letter bill sent from the mailing office a blank letter bill is sent,
which is denominated the return letter bill, and which should be filled up at the office
of delivery according to instructions, and returned to the mailing office from which it
was received. We are informed that several postmasters, disregarding the general
instructions with which they have been furnished, and misunderstanding the instme-
tions printed on the bill received from the mailing office, (which is, to return to " this
office,") are in the habit of returning these bills to the Department. We are ad-
vised that postmasters at distributing offices, in making their entries in their acoonot
of distributed registered letters sent, should treat such letters precisely as if not re-
gistered, taking no account whatever of the registration fee. No distribution commis-
sion is allowed them on the registration fee.
LOST DRAFTS OR WARRANTS.
The Washington Union learns from tlic Postmaster- General, that in all cases
where application is made for the issue of a duplicate draft or warrant, upon the al-
legation that the original is lost, every such application must be addressed to the
Auditor for the Post-Office Department, and must be accompanied by a statement, or
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Commercial Statistics. 491
ofttb, or affirmation by the applicant, or by tbe person who is the legal holder
thereof, showing the time, place, and all the circumstances attending the loss or de-
struction of the draft or warrant, witl^its number, date, and amount; in whose favor
it was issued, and if assigned, to whom made payable ; together with any other par-
ticulars relating to it within the knowledge of the applicant The applicant must
also produce a letter or certificate from the officer or person on whom the draft or
warrant may have been drawn, showing that it has not been paid, also that pay-
ment of the same will not thereafter be made to the owner or any other person
whatever.
COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.
IMPORT OF CLOTHS I5T0 THE USTITED STATES.
The following tabular statement, compiled from the Treasury Reports, shows the
comparative import of cloths and cassimeres into the United States from Holland,
Belgium, France, England, <bc., for each of the years from 1889 to 1854. It will be
seen that the cloths of Germany and France have been rapidly gaining on England in
the American market: —
IMPORT OP CLOTHS AMD 0AB8IMBRE8 INTO THE UNITED STATES.
Haose Towns
and Holland, Belgfom. France. England. Total.
1840 $16,612 $93,185 $89,'767 $4,490,880 $4,696,529
1841 18,171 141,168 180,478 4,697,145 4,942,867
1842 16,268 208,046 296,689 8,476,022 8,996,677
1848 6,879 60,240 92,998 1,195,970 1,860,628
1844 48.877 860,128 694,648 8,784,466 4,777,940
1845 66,966 277,078 1,244,825 8,815,868 6,411,860
1846 198,210 298,194 1,33",701 2,864,894 4.192,810
1847 274,409 888,370 1,703,678 2,207.821 4,527,742
1848 716,031 896,712 2,466,802 2,777,612 6,364,145
1849 810,468 896,710 1,178,260 2.118,439 4,996,967
1860 1,000.231 769.799 1,689,706 2,771,282 6,184,190
1861 1,411,282 478,682 1,988,181 8,786,070 7,669,520
1862 1,826,062 444,987 1,786.680 8.401,892 6,908,471
1868 2,474,082 642,497 2,288,478 6,821,486 11,071,906
1864 8,681,189 494,786 1,771,482 7,692,966 18,159,668
SHIPS OF THE WORLD.
"We give in this number of the Merchants* Magazine a tabular statement of the
number of vessels, with their tonnage, included in the commercial marine of the
world, except those of China, Japan, and the East, concerning which little is known.
Most of the jSgures, as will be seen, are given from official reports of the various
governments, at different dates from 1848 to 1864, with the estimates of increase from
tbe date of reports to 1864, founded on past rates of increase and their present com-
mercial activities, so that the table presents a tolerably correct view of the shipping
of the world in 1864. For the figures we are indebted in part to a long and able ar-
ticle in the London Ifewt of April 12th, 1865. llie number of Bremen vessels in the
table may be that of arrivals of their own ships rather than the actual number owned
in that city. The number of American vessels is not given in the report, but it will
be seen that our tonnage is about one-ninth more than the British, including our steam-
boats and small fishing craft Adding one ninth to the number of their vessels we
have about 40,600 as the number of our own : —
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Commercial Statistics.
SHIFFINO OF THE WORLD IN 1854.
United States in 1864
Great Britain and colonies in 1854 >
France, official, in 1850
Increase to 1854
Spain and colonies in 1850 7,606
Increase at 5 per cent in 1854 880
Portugal in 1848 789
Increase at 7 per cent to 1854 47
Sardinia, Tuscany, Naples, Sicily, and the Papal
States to 1854, supposed
Austria in 1849 6,083
Increase at 5 per cent to 1854 1,620
Greece in 1854
Turkey in 1854
Egypt in 1854
Belgium in 1850 149
Increase to 1854
Hollandinl850 1,798
Increase at 15 per cent to 1854 297
Hanover and Oldenburg in 1854 may have. . . .
Hamburg in 1852
Lubeck
Bremen
Mecklenburg
Prussia in 1 849 1,581
Increase at 80 per cent to 1864 459
Denmark in 1852 4,695
Increase at 2 per cent to 1854 94
Tonnage at 10 per cent
Norway in 1851
Sweden in 1862
Kussia less than
Mexico, Brazil, and all the States of Central
and South America
Sandwich and Society Islands
Giving Norway 852 vessels, which is less than
her tonnage would warrant
We have as the shipping of the world.
Giving to Russia
VesielB.
Tonnage.
40,500
6,661,416
85,960
6,048,270
14,854
• • • • •
688,180
28,000
861,401
18.020
716,130
7,986
87MM
80,635
5,681
886
1^,166
17,066
259,688
64,895
646,021
7,608
824,447
8,970
264,981
2,220
182,000
280
80,577
5,428
88.790
149
896,924
59,538
86,000
2,090
456.462
600
40,000
869
119,884
70
9,880
500
160,000
160
288,638
86,091
40,000
1,990
189,190
'18,919
868.729
4,789
208,109
....
868.G82
886
147.928
800
1,530
198,785
100
8,000
189.148
14,457,977
852
145,500
105,509
And we have as the tonnage of the world 15,600,000
At $50 the ton, the shipping of the world is worth the enormous amount of
1776,000,000. Of this fifteen and a half millions of tonnage, more than ten and a
half millions belong to the English race ; more than twelve and a half millions belong
to Protestant nations, including that of France ; more than thirteen millions of this
•* abundance of the sea " is in part already " converted to the Church." It presents at
the present hour the great barrier to the conquest of the world by military absolutism,
and a great bulwark of civil and religious liberty.
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Commercial Statistics. 493
COfifPARATIYE NAVIOiTION OF GREAT BRITAIIf AlfD THE UNITED STATES.
The following table shows at a glance the comparatiye tonnage entering the ports of
Great Britain and the United States «t different periods, from the commencement of
the present centurj to 1864, inclusive. It will be seen by this table that Great Britain
was in 1864 nearly 2,000,000 tons ahead of the United States; but in a few years,
with the same ratio of increase, the United States will become the first commercial
power in the world : —
ENTERED GREAT BRITAIir. ENTERED UNITED STATES.
Yearn. Great BrttAln. Foreign. Total. United States. PoreiinJ. Total.
1800 922,694 780,156 1,'702,749 682,871 128,882 806,758
1807 907,764 680,144 1,487.407 1,089,876 47.672 1.287,648
1814 1,290,248 899,287 1,889.585 69.626 48,302 107,928
1820 1,668,060 477,611 2,116.671 801,252 79,204 880,467
1880 2,180,042 758,828 2,938,070 870,299 134,419 1,004.718
1840 2,807,867 1,298,840 4,106,207 1,676,946 712.863 2,209,809
1860 4,078,544 2,085,152 6,113,696 2,678,016 1,775,628 4,348,839
1862 4,267,816 2,462,354 6,730,169 8,285,522 2,067,868 5,292,880
1868 4,618,207 8,284,843 7,797,660 4,004,018 2.277,930 6,281,948
1864 4,789,986 8,109,766 7,899,742 3,762,116 2,182,224 6,884,339
EXPORTS OF TEA FROM CHINA TO THE UNITED STATES.
We have received from a correspondent at Hong Kong, the CTiina Maily containing
fall statistics of the tea trade for each year from June 30, 1846, to Jane 80, 1864, and
from June 80, 1864, to June 10, 1856, from which we condense the exports to the
United States (years ending in June) as follows: —
YeaiB. Vessels. Total green. Total black. Total lbs.
1846 18,812,099 6,960,469 20,762,668
1846 40 14,236,082 4,266,166 18,502,288
1847 87 13,853,182 4,318,496 18,171,625
1848 88 16,845,030 8,998,617 19,888,640
1849 37 13,818,700 4,858,800 18,672,800
1860 44 14,896,400 7,861,400 21,767,800
1861 64 15,215,700 13,545,100 28,760,800
1852.., 68 20,937,300 13,396,700 84,334,000
1853 72 26,489,800 14,484,700 40,974.500
1854 47 18,280,300 9,587,200 27,867,600
The total export of tea from the undermentioned ports from Ist of July, 1864, to
10th June, 1866, has been as follows : —
Canton 2,400,000 | Shanghae 1 9,6 1 0 | Fuhohan 4,860,000
IRON IBIPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES IN 1860-64.
The following statement, exhibiting the quantity and value of railroad iron imported
into the United States from June 30, 1850, to June 30, 1864, inclusive ; and also the
quantity in bond on the 80th of June, 1864, is derived from a report made by F
Bigler, Register of the Treasury : —
Cost par
Year ending— Tons. Cwt. Value. Duty. ton.
June 80, 1861 188,626 16 H901,462 $1,470,486 60 $26 98
1852 246,626 10 6,228,794 1,868,638 20 26 86
1868 298,996 04 10,426,037 8,127.71110 84 87
1864 282,866 19 12,020,309 3,606,092 70 49 49
Total 1,016,118 09 $88,676,692 $10,072,977 60
In bond June 80, 1864... 47.732 18 1,986,184 $4161
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494 Journal of Mining and Manufactures,
WOOL IMPORTED INTO GREiT BRITAIS.
We give below a statemeDt of the quaDtity of wool imported into Great Britain in
each of the last fifteen years — that is, from 1840 to 1864, inclusiye : —
Total. Germaoy. AnatralU.
Years. Pounds. Pounds. Pounds.
1840 49,486,284 21,812,664 »,726,24S
1841 66.170,974 20,969.376 12,890.362
1842 46,881,689 16,613,269 12,979,966
1848 49,243,098 16,806,448 17,488,780
1844 66,718,761 21,847,684 17,682,247
1846 76,818,766 18.484,786 24,177,217
1846 66,266,462 16,888.706 2 1,789,846
1847 62.692.698 12,678,814 26,056,816
1848 70.864.847 14,429.161 30,018.221
1849 76,768.647 12.750,011 86,879.171
1850 74.326,778 9,166,781 89,018,221
1861 83,811,976 8,219.286 41.810,917
1862 98,761.468 12.766,268 48,297,402
1863 119.896,549 11,684,800 47.076.010
1864 lOd.121,996 11.448,618 47,489,660
THE IMPORTS FaOIC OTHSa COUNTRIES INCLUDED IN TBE ABOYB FIOURKS, ARK: —
1840. 18§i.
From South Africa 741,741 8.228,698
East Indies 2.441,870 14,966,191
South America 4,887,274 5,134,834
Continent of Europe, exclusive of Germany
and Spain 8,4 4 1,264 14,481 ,488
Other foreign countries 618,823 2,964,921
Spain 1,266,906 424,800
JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
THE COAL HELDS ASD PRODUCTS OF THE OHIO TALLET.
BT MR. SMITH, OF THE CINCINlf ATI RAILROAD RECORD.
The coal trade is likely to increase so rapidly and become so large an element of
railway traffic, that it is worth while to look into the sources of supply and demand.
The first thing that strikes us is the remarkable and most important fact, that the
Ohio Valley contains (proportionally) the largest coal field in the world A seoond
fact, scarcely less remarkable, is that, including the natural water courses, and the ex-
istent and probable artificial lines of Commerce, it has the largest means of inter-
communication. A third striking fact is, that in the abundance of food and the great
quantity and variety of minerals, it has the greatest inducements for the consomptioo
of coal in manufacturing.
In this article we shall consider the first branch of this subject, the coal fields and
products of the Ohio Valley.
1. What is the Ohio Valley ? The Ohio Valley comprehends all that space of
country penetrated and watered by the Ohio River and its tributaries. It compre-
hends Western Pennsylvania, Western Virginia, all of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois^ up
to the narrow rim of the Lakes, and the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. It com-
prehends a surface of about 230,000 square miles ; and on that surface the coal basins,
or, in other words, the surface which is underlaid with coal is, according to the best
authorities, as follows : —
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Journal of Mining and Manufacturea. 495
Western Virginii.
Ohio
Indiana
niioob
Kentucky
Tennessee
Sarfkoe.
Coal surface.
20,000 equare miles.
10,000
equare miles
26,000 "
18,000
86,000 •* «
10,000
u
88,000 «
7,500
u
40,000
86,000
u
40,000 "
18,600
«
40,000
6,000
n
Aggregate 288,000 " 99,000
The above surfaces are not those of the States named, but of that part in the Val-
ley of the Ohio. We see, then, the extraordinary fact that more than one-third the
Valley of the Ohio is underlaid with coal I That we may see clearly the immense
advantage enjoyed by the Valley of the Ohio in this particular, we subjoin a table of
proportionable coal surfaces in the most civilized nations : —
Oreat Britain
France
Belgium »
United States
Ohio Valley
Here, then, we find that one-half the coal surface of the United States is in the
Ohio Valley ; and that it is six times greater than all the coal fields of Great Britain,
France, and Belgium ! To illustrate this still further, we give a table of distances
from the principal towns in the Ohio Valley to the nearest workable bed of coal : —
MUes. MilM.
Vhole surface.
Coal surface.
t^q. miles.
s?q. miles.
Per cent.
120,804
12.000
10
218,838
2,000
1
10.000
600
6
8,800,000
200,000
6
283,000
99,000
42
Pittsburgh, Penn 0
Steubenville, Ohio 0
Wheeling, Va 0
Lexington, Ky 60
Louisville 120
New Albany, Ind 120
Zanesville, Ohio 0 j Indianapolis 66
Marietta..... 20jTerre Haute 10
Chillicothe 80 La Fayette 60
Columbus «. . 40 i Vincennes 40
Dayton 110 ! Springfield, IIU 50
St Louis, Mo 10
Kuoxville, Tenn 10
Nashville 20
Cincinnati 1 10
Covington, Ky 110
Newport 110
It will be noted in the above table, that no place in the Valley of the Ohio is more
than from 100 to 120 miles from coal banks. If sinking shafts were resorted to and
under ground mining, as in England, it is possible no place is more than 60 miles.
But 100 miles carriage b no objection to the consumption of coal. On the contrary,
it can be carried for five cents per bushel, and then be cheap enough.
Let us now look at what the production of coal is in the Oliio Valley, and what it
will be. The present production of coal in the Ohio Valley is, after careful investiga-
tion, supposed to be as follows : —
Consumption of Pittsburgh for all purposes bush. 22,300,000
Exportation from Pittsburgh 14,400,000
Consumption of Wheeling 2,000,000
Product of Pomeroy and vicinity 7,000,000
Received at Cleveland from Ohio mines 8,000,000
Product of Nelsonville 1,200,000
* other places in Ohio 8,000,000
•* Kentucky 2,000,000
** Indiana 1,600,000
" Illinois 1,000,000
«• Tennessee 1,000,000
Aggregate 68,400,000
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496 Journal of Mining and Manufactures.
In round numbers, we produce sixty millions of boahels of bitnminoiiB coal in the
Valley of the Ohio. But what is that in comparison with the oonsompUon in other
countries, and compared %ith what it will be ? Let or look at the consumption and
population of other countries and compare it with our own.
Consamption.
PopalftUon. Boshelv. Ratio.
Great Britain 27,000,000 826,000,000 84 to 1
France 86,000,000 105,000,000 8 to 1
Belgium 6,000,000 126,000.000 26 to 1
Pruseia 12,000,000 8,600,000 i to 1
United States 24,000,000 280,000,000 H to 1
Ohio Valley 6,000,000 60,000,000 10 to 1
This shows that the consumption of coal in the Ohio Valley now is not more than
one- third in proportion to that of France, England, cr Belgium, although the coal banks
there are not one-sixth part, in proportion, what they are here.
This is owing to the cheapness of wood, and the want of capital to develop the
mines. But these obstacles are rapidly passing away. Wood is becoming dear in
the commercial towns, and capital is fast learniog that mining is a profitable business.
It is quite obvious that the time is not far off in which the proportion of coal consumed
will be quite as high in the States of the Ohio Valley as in Belgium. Beside this, it
must increase likewise with the increase of population Combining these so as to ad-
vance the ratio in the proportion of the increased population for the next thirty years,
and we have the increase of coal consumed as follows, viz. : —
Population. Ratio. Con. of coal.
In 1860 6,000,000 10 60,000,000
In 1860 8,000,000 18 104,000,000
In 1870 10,601,000 17 180,000.000
In 1880 14,200,000 28 826,000,000
This will probably be much below the results ; for the rapid increase of manube-
ture consequent on the opening of the Central Western mines of coal, iron, copper,
ainc, and lead, will increase population at a more rapid rate than is above stated ;
and the same cause will also increase more rapidly the ratio of consumption to popu-
lation.
In fine, when we regard coal as the great motive power of all machinery, as the
principal fuel for domestic purposes, and then look at the vast, inexhaustible amounts
which are piled up in all the hills, mountains, and vales of the Central West, we most
regard it as the great element in its future growth, and as securing, in the language of
Johnson, " wealth beyond the dreams of avarice."
STATISTICS OF BREWERIES IS TflE BRITISH ISLANDS.
There are about two thousand brewers in the British Islands, and the number of
victualers who brew their own ale is set down at 28,000. In London ihem are about
one hundred wholesale brewers. In 1860, there were 21,668 tons of hops grown in
England, paying a doty of £270,000, or $1,360,000. j^/acitwooc/ sets this down ai
probably a larger quantity than is furnished by all the rest of the world together.
Of this amount only 98 tous were exported, and on the other hand 320 tons were im-
ported. The English boast of their cultivation of the hop, and extol " this branch of
farming as the most liberal, the most remarkable," and the most expensive of any in
England. In the same year (1860) the barley and here crops of Ireland stood thus:
Acres. Quarters of 8 bosbela.
Barley 268,860 1,299,835
Bere. 67,8U 208,3»1
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Journal of Mining and Manufactures. 497
V£W PROCESS OF TASSISQ LfiATflfiR.
Oq the 18th of July, 1856, a patent was granted to Boewell Baos, for taoniog sole
leather by a new process, aud from specimens of leather prodaced placed in our hands
for examination by the patentee, as well as from reading the specification, we are
convinced that the process is a good one. No new substances are employed, those
which the patentee uses having been long known to tanners ; he only employs them
in a different manner from that which has been practiced heretofore: —
** The hair is first removed from the hides in any usual manner, and the hides thor-
onghly cleansed in either pure water or in a solution of salt and water. A batch of
fifty sides are then placed in a liquor composed by steeping forty pounds of Sicily
sumac, or one hundred and iifty pounds of unground native sumac, in two hundred
and fifty gallons of water, and adding twenty-five pounds of salt thereta The sides
remain in said liquor from twelve to twenty- four hours — the length of time depending
npon the temperature of the said liquor and the condition of the sides. About blood
heat is the best temperature for the aforesaid liquor. After the sides have remained
the aforesaid length of time in the salted infusion of sumac, the liquor is strengthened
by adding thereto somewhere about two hundred gallons of strong oak or hemlock
liquor, and fifteen pounds of salt, and the sides allowed to remain in this strengthened
liquor for the space of from twelve to twenty-four hours. The sides should then be
withdrawn, and placed in about the same quantity of a strong cold oak or hemlock
liquor, containing twenty pounds of salt in solution, and allowed to remain in it for
Ayb or six days. They are then withdrawn and placed in the same quantity and qual-
ity of liquor — save that it should be of about blood- warm temperature, are allowed
to remain therein five or six days, which latter operation should be repeated for six
or seven times, when the side will generally be found to be completely tanned. While
Eassing through each stage of this said tanning process the sides should be repeatedly
andlt^ as all tanners are fully aware."
This is a description of the process. Practical tanners will perceive that neither
acids nor alkalies are used for raising the hides, but that the salt sumac liquor is em«
ployed for the preparatory, and the common tan liquor for the finishing process. The
inventor is an <dd experienced tanner, and he says: —
<* The salt suooac liquor enters at onee into the pores to the very heart of the sides,
and so acts upon them as to give them an exceedingly pliable yet firm basis, and so
prepares them that the strongest liquors of oak or hemlock, dux, may afterwards be
applied without binding or injuring the hides.**
Tanniog is a chemical process, and consists in applying such substances to the skins
of animals as will combine with them, aud form a compound firm, pliable, and insol-
uble in water, which we term " leather." It is easy to make leather, but there are aa
many qualities of it as there are of cloth. The tanning processes, to make good
leather, are tedious and expensive, requirirg months to complete all the operationa.
To shorten the time required in the process, many plans have been employed, and
numerous substances used to bloat the hides, so as to allow the tannjng to combine
rapidly with their gelatine. Some of these have, indeed, shortened the process, but
at the expense of the quality of leather, it being rendered very brittle ; hence, a gen-
eral, aud perhaps a just, prejudice exists among practical tanners against new pro*
cesses in this art No such prejudice can exist against this new process, as no new
eubetancea are used. The sole leather which we have seen made by it will bear the
most severe scrutiny. We have also been assured that the sole leather made by this
process, from sweated Buenos Ay res bides, will make sewed work equally aa well aa
the limed slaughter hides. The leather is also tough and strong. The length of tima
required for tanning a dry Buenos Ay res hide is ninety days, with 76 per cent gaia
The time required for tanning an Oronoco hide is much less, with a gain of 80 or 86
per cent. This method will tan slaughter sole leather in thirty days ; harneas or up-
per leather in the rough in twenty days, and calfskins in firom six to twalve daya.
VOL. zxxui. — NO. IV. 82
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498 Jfmmai of Mining and Matm/kehiret.
We believe the public ie more deeeived, and gein leas resl ralue for their money, ib
oommoo boots and shoes than any other article osed as parts of homan coTering'. The
Ugfater kinds of shoes especially, sold in (he stores, are a disgrace to the trade, both
as it respects the sewing and the leather. The uppers are generally made of glased
sheep-skin, about as thick and strong as old-fashioned brown paper, and the sewing,
which is now performed in many instances by machines, is so carelessly executed as
to bring into disrepute — uojustly, we think — the character of those machines. In coo-
Tersation, a few days ago, with a journeyman carpenter, in our city, who has a family
of five children, he declared it impossible for him to keep bis fiunily in such shoes as
were sold at the stores. He had, iVom necessity, been compelled to learn the art of
making boots and shoes for his children, and one pair of his own making, he assured
us, lasted four times as long as a ** market pair." This should not be, for we are coo-
▼inoed that the lighter as well as the heavier kinds of leather can be made far belter
ttian most of that which is now generally used, and we hope this new process of tan-
ning will be the means of effecting a total reformation in the character of the material
for making common boots and shoes.
THE COAL TRIDS OF PS9HSTLVA9I1:
1T8 PAST, ITS PEI8XMT, AlfD TTS FVTDEa.
The mineral wealth of Penneylvania, says the Inquirer of that State, may be esti-
mated by millions. It is one of the most invaluable resources of the State. Its history
•Dd progress are quite extraordinary. But the other day, comparatively speaking^
and the first ton of coal was sent to the Philadelphia market — now, the aggregate per
animm amounts to millions of tonsi
In the year 1920 the entire amount of coal sent to market firom the Tarkras regkne
of Pennsylvania was 866 tons. In 1864 it was 6,847,161. And the total since 1820
is 48,907,800 tons. The trade, too, is constantly increasing. Goal is almost daily be-
ing J^plied to new uses, and thus new demands are continually arising. The capital
invested in the various works, such as the Reading Railroad, the Lehigh Canal, th«
Schuylkill Canal, and the various subordinate railroads, amounts in the aggregate to
many millions of dollars. But we cannot conceive of any mode of inveaUnent more
laudable.
The coal in the mines is, comparatively speaking, valueless ; but, dug from the
bowels of the earth and sent over the various railroads and canals, and thence again
to more distant towns and cities by means of veesels, it becomes a truly important
article not only of manufacture, but of Commerce ; and while it imparts heat to the
homes of thousands and tens of thousands of the community, it afibrds employment
io the various operations of mining, transporting, and manufacturing, to a very large
dass of the children of industry.
The history of the coal trade, so far as Pennoylvania is concerned, possesses the
deepest interest to all who have paid the slightest attention to the development of
■fttional resources and the progress of human events. How many fortunes have beeo
won and lost by speculations connected with railroads I How many farms, whidi a
fow years ago were regarded as valueless in a great measure, are now considered as
precious as some of the mines in California t And yet, we repeat, the trade is in its
kifimcy.
We are only beginning to realise the true importance of this feature of the
mineral wealth of Pennsylvania. It is true, that the future may, in some degree, be
measured by the past ; and yet H is diflicult to persuade, even the most sanguine,
fhatsMbwiUbethecaae.
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THE MANUFACrURB OF WATCHES.
A watdi is do longer, as it was formerly, an object of luxury, destined exclusively
for the rich ; it has become an article of the first necessity for eyery class in society,
and as, together with the increased perfection of this article, its value has in the same
thne considerably diminished, it b evident that a common watch, which will exactly
indicate the hour of the day, is actually, by its low price, within the reach of almost
•very individual, who will likewise feel anxious to possess one.
For this reason, and in proportion as commercial and maritime relations are extended
and emancipated from the trammels in which the great central marts of Commerce
have involved them, so will distant nations become civilized ; and it may be fairly an-
ticipated that the art of watdi-making will form a part of the great current of im-
provement
The number of watches manufactured annually in Neufchatel may be calculated to
be from 100,000 to 120,000, of which about 85,000 are in gold, and the rest in silver.
Now, supposing the first, on an average, to be worth $30, and the others $4, it
would represent a capital of $1,890,000, without taking into consideration the sale of
clocks and instruments for watch making, the a^nount of which is very large.
The United States of America consume the largest quantity of those watches. With
the exception of gold and silver for the manufacture of the watchcasea, the other ma-
terials for the construction of the works or mechanism of the Neufcl^atel watches are
of little value, consisting merely of a little brass or steeL The steel is imported
from England, and is reckoned the best that can be procured ; the brass is furnished
by France.
With respect to gold and silver, the inhabitants of Neufchatel have bad for a long
time no other resource but to melt current money, until they received gold from Eng-
land, which the English merchants received from Oalifuroia.
The number of workmen tvho are employed in watch making is estimated at from
18,000 to 20,000, but it is difiicult to arrive at the exact number, as the population
employed carry on the business in their own houses.
The spirit of adventure is very strong among ih>i inhabitants of the Jura Mountams.
A great many of them have traveled into very remote countries, whence some have
returned with considerable fortunes.
COTTON MASUFACTURB Iff TH£ SOOTH.
An able writer, in a Northern periodical, says a Southern cotomporary, has taken
up this subject, and shows very conclusively that the Southern States ought to become
the manufacturers, as well as producers, of cotton for the world. From facts furnished
by this writer, it appears that the cotton manufacture makes up nearly one-half of the
external trade of the British kingdom. The United States furnish four-fifths of the
six hundred millions of pounds imported into Great Britain. The writer proves, by
statistics and figures, that the Britifih manufacturer receives five times as much for
coovertiog Ihe cotton into cloth as the farmer for producing the raw material, and
both employ the same amount of capital It appears that the same disproportion ex-
ists between the profits of the Southern planter and the Northern manufacturer. The
writer then sets forth the great advantage possessed by the Southern planter for man-
ufiicturing, and shows that the mere saving in the transportation would gy largely to
the payment of the manufacture. He urges that instead of increasing the product,
already too great, the true Southern policy is to enter largely into the manufacture,
and thus withdraw a portion of the labor engaged in the productioD, and employ it in
the more profitable mode of manufactures.
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PROGRESS OF IROI MISUFICTURES IS OHIO.
Iron manufactures haye of late years made gratifying progress in Ohio, as the hi-
lowing statistics of the interest in that State, gathered in the year 1858, will show : —
PIQ laoM.
Furnaces.
Tons of iron ore used
Tods of pig iron made. . . .
Bushels of coal consumed..
Factories
Fig metal, iron, and ore used.
Castings made
Coal consumed
Factories
Pig metal need
Blooms
Goal consumed ,
Coke and charcoal used.
86 Bushels coke and charcoal. 6,428,000
140,61 0 Operatives employed 2,415
22,658 Capital invested $1,600,000
605,000 Value of products 2,000,000
IKON CASTINGS.
188 I Coke and charcoal used.. . . 865,120
41,000 I Operatives employed 2,758
S8,000 I Capital invested $2,000,000
840,000 1 Value of products • 8,200.000
^WaOUOHT IRON.
17
Operatives employed.. . .
Wrought iron produced..
Capital invested
Value of products
708
14.416
$700,000
1,500,000
8,676
2.900
600.000
466,900
This exhibits a total of 285 establishments, producing to the value of $6,700,000,
with a capital of $4,800,000, and employing 5,881 operatives
SILT MAJVUFACTURE AT SYRACUSE.
The manufacture of salt at the salt springs in Onondaga County, New York, is da-
ried on but seven months in the year. The average annual product of solar and fine
salt is about five-and-a-half millions of bushels, though the Syracuse Journal thinks
the amount manufactured the present year will reach six million bushels. Any one
who owns a ** block," or ** vats," as the works are called, can get the salt-water from
the State for one cent a bushel of salt made, which includes cost of inspection. Cer-
tain rules are observed among those engaged in the manufacture of salt, so as to pre-
vent competition, dull prices, &c No manufacturer is allowed to make more than
20,000 bushels per annum, and the minimum price is fixed at $1 26 per barrel of five
bushels. The present price is $1 89 per barrel. A committee, chosen by the mana-
fiicturers, act as selling agents ; each party's salt is sold by turn, and the whole details
are equitably and eminently for self-interest There is more salt manufactured at
these springs than the aggregate manufacture of all other parts of the country. Some
of the salt wells are sunk directly through the fresh waters of Onondaga Lake, but
most of the sprmgs are on its borders. The salt is of a far superior quality, and gen-
erally finds a good market ; if, however, sales are small, the price never iklla below
$1 26 per barrel.
PRICES OF BOILER TUBES.
Thomas Prosser dc Son, in a circular dated June 16th, 1855, furnish the price list of
their boiler tubes and free-joint iron tubes for crow-bars, railings, awning-fhunesik lead-
ers, Ac The following is their list of prices for boiler tubes: —
Per ft.
cts.
22
26
INam.
inches.
H....
If....
2
If.
28
82
10
DIam.
inches.
2i...
2i...
2f...
8....
Per ft
cts.
86
89
48
48
Diam.
inches.
8i....
8i....
4.,...
Per ft.
CIS.
55
66
84
Diaaii.
inches.
5
6
7....
Per A.
eta.
140
200
260
FaEXJODfT ia02f TCBXS.
2i.
12
14
2i..
2f..
16
18
8..
8f.
20
2S
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Journal of Mining and Manufactures. 501
THE HAHUFICTURE OF PAPBR Iff THE UVITED STATES.
There are in the UDited States 750 paper-mills io actual operation, having 8,000
engines, and producing in the year 270,000,000 pounds of paper, which is worth, at
10 cents per pound, $27,000,000. To produce this quantity of paper, 405,000,00^
pounds of rags are required, 1^ pounds of rags being necessary to make one pound
of paper. The yalue of these rags, at 4 cents per pound, is $16,200,000. The cost of
labor is If cents upon each pound of paper manufactured, and is therefore $3,875,000.
The cost of labor and rags united is $19,575,000 a year. The cost of manufacturing,
aside from labor and rags, b $4,050,000, which makes the total cost $28,625,000 of
manufacturing paper worth $27,000,000. We import rags for this maoufiicture from
twenty-six different countries, and the amount in 1858 was 22,766,000 pounds, worth
$982,887. Italy is the greatest source of supply, being more than one-fifth of the
whole amoubt, but the supply has been gradually falling off every year. From Eng-
land we imported 2,666,005 pounds in 1858. The cost of imported rags has been as
follows:— 1850, 8.61 cents; 1851, 8.46 cenU; 1852,8.42 cents; 1858, 8.46 cents.
The consumption of paper in the United States is equal to that of England and France
together.
CARPET MANUFACTURE.
At the anniversary dinner of the Society of Arts, Mr. Orossley, M. P., the great car-
pet manufacturer, stated some circumstances of interest with regard to the effect of
the Great Exhibition on that particular trade. He mentioned that prior to 1854 his
house had been unsuccessfully competing with America in carpets, but through the
Exhibition, he said, they discovered that the excellence of American carpets arose
from their being manufactured by machinery, and his firm having spent a very large
sum in procuring machinery, they were enabled to manufS&cture for 2|d. a yard that
which formerly cost them in labor 14d., while their workmen earned better wages,
worked fewer hours, and a corresponding reduction in price was made to the con-
sumer.
The m&cbinery referred to by Mr. Crossley was invented by Mr. Bigelow, of Olinton,
Massachusetts. Many of our readers will recollect that we gave some account of the
manufacture of Brussels carpets by the machinery invented by that gentleman, and a
sketch of his life, in a former number of the MerehanU Magaxine,
WHAT IS AMONDTIUADO SHERRY 7
The author oi^Notet and Querita" thus answers the question. He says the
peculiar flavor is caused by a process of fermentation, over which the growers
have no control, and for which they cannot account Sometimes only one or two butts
in a vintage will be affected, and in other years none at all Those which some mys-
terious influence designs for Amondtillado produce a kind of vegetable weed after
having been put in the cask ; it is long and stringy, like some of our freshwater weeds,
but with very fine fibers, and bears a very minute white flower. Immediately after
shedding these flowers, the whole plant dies away, and never again appears, but it
leaves that peculiar flavor. I have bad thb desoriptioD positively stated and yerified
by those who have visited the Spanish wine districts.
FIRST WOOLEN MANUFACTURES IN AMERICA.
E. D. ExLLOGa, Esq., in a recent lecture before the woolen manufactures of Berk-
shire, Massachusetts, claimed for that county the honor of having manu&ctured the
first American broadcloth, in 1804. He was not, probably, aware that in 1794, a
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602 Jaurrud of Insurance,
woolen foctory wm baQt «t tlie Falls of Parker River, So Newburj, bj an incorporated
compaoj. The first fulliog-mill in America was erected by John Pearson, clothier, in
1648, on Mill River, in Rowley, Massachusetts. The first fine broadcloth was ondonbt-
•dly made in Pittsfield, from the fleeces of imported Meriooes, by Arthur Scbolfield
In 1808, he manufoctured a piece of thirteen yards, which was presented to President
Madison, who wore a suit made firom it when he was inaugurated.
TUB MASUFACTURES OF LOWELL
The capital ioTeeted in the manufiMtories of Lowell on the 1st of January, 18M,
amounted to over $14,000,000. There are fifty- two mills, running 871,888 spindUs,
and 11,407 looms. At these and other departments of the woolen and cotton manii-
liicture, 8,788 females and 4,642 males are employed. Tbb working force produee
weekly 2,280,000 yards of cotton cloth, 80,000 yards of woolen, 25,000 yards of car-
peting, and 60 rugs, consuming therefor 786,000 lbs. of cotton and 90,000 lbs. of wooL
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.
UW OF UF£ A88URA1ICE.
OV TBI IRTIEI8T IN TEIS LIVIS OF ONC*8 EKLATIONB OR FEIEMDS.
A father cannot insure the life of his child, or one relation or friend the life of lui-
other, unless the party has some pecuniary interest in such life, or would suffer some
pecuniary loss by the death of such relation or friend. This is the only safe rule. If
persons could insure the lives of their relations or friends, merely on the ground of
friendsbip, or the sorrow experienced on their loss, it would tend to all the evils of
wager policies, and be the more dangerous because persons, united by these ties, are
naturally thrown off their guard, and much more exposed to the fraudulent designs of
those who are inclined to take advantage of such a situation ; and the guilty party is
more likely to escape detection, for the apparent friendship tends to ward off suspi-
don. Therefore, where a father had insured the life of his son in which he had no pe-
cuniary interest, it was held that he was not entitled to recover ; and it being stated
that the offices were in the habit of taking such assurances. Lord Tenterden said that,
* if a notion prevailed that eudi assnrances were valid, the sooner it was corrected tke
Utter."
Mr. Ellis states that the offices in England are in the custom of paying upon poli-
cies, without regard to interest ; and that so general has this custom become that,io a
case where the executor of a party who bad purchased a policy, in which the interest
had or was about to expire, brought an action to recover back the purchaae money,
the court admitted evidence of such costom, and held that^ although the defendaal
had no interest, in point of law, and the payment of the policy could not be eolbroe4
yet, though the law would not enforce such payment, there may be reasonable expec-
tation that it wonld be paid ; and, therefore, if tliere was no improper coooealmeot of
fticts, or fraud, to vitiate the sale, the purchaser could not recover.
It has been held, however, that a wife insuring the life of her husband, need ooi
prove her interest in his life ; for in Reed vs. Royal Exchange Assurance Compeoy,
when the plaintiff's counsel were proceeding to prove that Reed was entitled to the
faiterest of a large sum of money, which went from him at bis death, and, tberelbra,
that the plaintiff was interested in his life. Lord Kenyon said it was not necessary, as
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Journal of Inttrntmee. 501
it most be pretomed thai eveiy will htd an iottrest in the life of her hatband. Sts
abo, a us^le woman, dependent on her brother for support and edooation, has a snfll-
cient interest in bis life to entitle her to insnre.
In New York a special statote has been passed on this subject ; thus it was enacted,
that ** it shall be lawful for any married woman by herself and b her name, or in the
name of any third person, with his assent, as her trustee, to cause to be insured, ler
her sole use, the life of her husband, for any definite period, or for the term of his
natural life ; and in case of her surviTtng her husband, the sum or net amount of the
insurance becoming due and payable, by the terms of the insurance, shall be payable
to her, to and for her own use, free from the claims of the representatives of her hut-
band, or of any of his creditors ; but such an exemption shall not apply where the
amount of premium annually paid shall exceed three hundred dollars. In case of the
death of the wife before the decease of her husband, the amount of the insurance may
be made payable, after her death, to her children, for their use, and to their guardian,
if under age.''
In Vermont, a statute has been enacted, which is a literal transcript of the one hi
New York, with an additional clause, aUowing unmarried women to insure the livee of
their fathers or brothers to the same extent A law of similar character has been
passed in Rhode Island.
These statutes, so far as regards the interest, cannot be considered as extending the
right of effecting assurances, but merely as doing away with proof of the pecuniaiy
interest in the assurances authorised by such statutes ; for an insurance by one rela-
lation or friend of the life of another, where the person for whose benefit the assur-
anoe is effected is supported by the person whose life is the subject of the assurance,
would be legal In all such cases, however, not coming under the statute, it would be
necessary to prove the pecuniary interest, L e., that they were supported by the per-
sons whose life is the subject of the assurance.
An assurance, also, in such cases, would not be valid beyond the amount of peM-
niary aid received ; whereas, in the cases provided for by statute, the assurance would
be valid to the extent allowed, although the aid received might be less than the amount
of the assurance effecte<L
or WAaaARTT IK OENXaAL AND ITS KVrEOT.
A warranty is a stipulation inserted in writiog on the face of the policy or on a
paper referred to therein, on the literal truth or fulfillment of which the validity of
the entire contract depends.
The law m regard to warranty is very strict, and the least breach of one, however
unimportant, releases the assurer from all liability, for it is a well-settled principle of
insurance law, that when a thing is warranted to be of a particular nature or descrip-
tion, it must be exactly what it is stated to be, and it makes no difference whether the
thing be material or not This principle has been followed in all the English and
American cases.
Therefore, should the assured die from some other cause not in the least connected
with the breach of the warranty, yet the assurer is none the less discharged. It there-
fore becomes of the utmost importance to both parties to know what declarationa on
the part of the assured are to be construed as warranties, so as to apply to such de-
clarations the strict construction and severe effect iucident to a warranty.
or nil OLAUsa tbat the AstoatD la '*iv good bsai.th.''
Under the clause that the assoied Is ** in good health " at the time of effecting lie
«tsurance, a party will be entitled to recover, though he may be afflicted with soMe
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504 Jowmtd of Insurance,
in&TXDxiy/if his life be in fact a good one and he be in a reasonable state of health and
Bucb as to be insured on common terms. Thus; in an action on a policy made on the
life of Sir James Ross for one year, from October, 1769, to October, 1760, warranted
in good health at the time of making the policy, the hd was that Sir James had re-
ceived a wound in his loins at the battle of La Feldt, in the year 1747, which had
•ccasioned a partial relaxation or palsy, so that he could not retain his urine or faeces,
and which was not mentioned to the iosurersb Sir James died of a malignant fever
within the time of the assurance. All the physicians and surgeons who were ex-
amined for the plaintiff swore that the wound had no sort of connection with the
fever, and that the want of retention was not a disorder which shortened life, but he
might, notwithstanditig that, have lived to the common age of man ; and the surgeon
who opened him said that his intestines were all sound. There was one phyucian
examined for the defendant who said the want of retention was paralytic; but being
asked to explain, he said it was only a local palsy arising from the wound, but did
not affect life. But, on the whole, he did not look upon him as a good life. Lord
Mansfield said : —
** The question of fraud cannot exist in this case. When a man makes insurance
upon a life generally, without any representation of the state of the life insured, the
insurer takes all the risk, unless there was some fraud in (he person insuring, either
by his suppressing some ch-cum&tance which he knew, or by alleging what was false ;
but if the person knew no more than the insurer, the latter takes the risk In this
case there is a warranty, and whenever that is the case, it must at all events be
proved that the party was a good life, which makes the question on a warranty much
larger than that on a fraud. Here it is proved that there was no representation at all
as to the state of life, nor any question asked about it, nor was it necessary. Where
an insurance is upon a representation, every material circumstance should be men-
tioned, such as age, way of life, ^c. ; but where there is a warranty, then nothing
need be told, but it roust in general be proved, if litigated, that the life was in fact a
good one, and so it may be though he have a particular infirmity. The only question
18, Whether he was in a reasonably good state of health, and such a life as ought to
be insured on common terms ?**
The jury upon this direction, without going out of court, found a verdict for the
plaintiff
Again, in an action on a policy on the life of Sir Simeon Stuart, Bart, from the Ist
of April, 1779, to the Ist of April, 1780, and during the life of Eliza Edgly Ewer ;
the policy contained a warranty that Sir Simeon was about fifty-seven years of age,
and in good health at the time the policy was underwritten. It was proved on the
trial that although the insured was troubled with spasms and crampe from violent fita
of the gout, yet he was in as good health when the policy was underwritten as he
had been for a long time before ; and also that the underwriters were told that the in-
sured was subject to the gout
Dr. Heberden and other physicians who were examined, proved that spasms and
convulsions were symptoms incident to the gout Lord liansfield said : **The imper-
fection of language is such, that we have not words for every different idea; and the
real intention of parties must be found out by the subject matter. By the present
policy the life is warranted to some of the underwriters, m health — to others, in good
health ; and yet there was no difference intended in point of fact Such a warranty
can never mean that a man has not the seeds of disorder. We are all bom with the
seeds of mortality in us. A man subject to the gout is a life capable of being in*
sored, if he has no sickness at the time to make it an unequal contract** Verdict for
the plaintiff
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StaUsHcs cf Agrieulturey etc. 505
Id an action on a policy of insurance, dated 22d November, 1802, whereby the de-
fendants, for a certain consideration, insured the life of the plaintiff's wife, then war-
ranted in good health, and of the description set forth in a certain eertiticate signed
and dated 9th Norember, 1802, it was held that declarations made by the wife, while
lying in bed apparently ill, as to the bad state of her health, and her apprehensions
that she could not live ten days longer, were admissible in evidence to show her opin-
ion, who beat knew the fact of the ill state of her health, at the time of effiecting this
policy.
STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE. &c.
5EW SCUTCHING MACfllNE FOR FLAI.
We have received from Paris, says the Belfast MereatUile Journal and Statistical
Register, a letter from Mr. 0. Merteu8,of Gheel, in Belgium, commending to our notice
a new self-acting machine for breaking and scutching flax, which he has invented and
patented He statee in his communication, which is too long for us to translate and
publish in extenso, that this machine is calculated to supply a want that has been felt
ibr a long time past, in all flax-growing districts, of a machine capable of breaking and
scutching flax straw without the assistance of skilled hands. The expense of employ-
ing trained workmen for this purpose is a serious item in the preparation of flax, and
even these have become scarce. The rapid extension of the new systems of steeping
flax, on a large scale, in retteries, renders more important than ever the introduction
of a self-acting machine, doing a large quantity of work, independent of workmen.
This new break and scutching machine accomplishes all the objects required. Being
double, it is perfectly self acting, merely requiring the flax straw to be put in on one
tide, without being broken, and the finished flax taken out at the other. From the
moment the flax enters the machine, no further attention is necessary ; the machine
does all, and delivers it out perfectly scutched. The single machine is employed with
the same economy, and does not require more hands or more proportionally than the
double machine. The only assistance necessary is one person to put in the flax, an-
other to take it out, and some children to hand the flax to and from these persons.
All clasps or holders for fastening the flax, or breaking machines, are dispensed with,
BO that the work is of the simplest possible kind, the attendants being all of the class
of ordinary laborers, and the cost of scutching b thus largely diminished. The double
machine will do, in the day of twelve hours, from forty-five to fifty-five stone, (of six-
teen pounds each,) according to the quality of the flax. The single machine does the
half of that quantity. They are adapted for all kinds of straw flax, whether hard or
soft, and can be altered in a moment to suit different qualities. Ihe flax is scutched
with perfect safety to the fiber, leaving the reed whole from end to end. It is evident
the yield of fiber from a given quantity of straw flax must be greater than in any of
the ordinary modes of scutching. Hardly any tow and no dust is produced by the
machine. The power required for driving the double machine is four-horse, and half
the power ft>r the single machine.
One of these machines is at the Industrial Exhibition in Paris, and may be seen
there at work, by any of our spinners or flax merchants who are desirous of inspecting
it It is not for us to say whether it is superior in any respect to the machmes at
present in use, but we are always glad to have the opportunity of bringing forward
any improvement calculated to advance the interests of the great staple trade upon
which the prosperity of our province is so materially dependent.
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Statistics of Population^ etc. 509
STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c.
THB IMMIGRATIOIf SIIICB 1790: A STATISTICAL ESSAY.
BY LOUIS 80HADE, ESQ., OF WASHINGTON, D. a
It will, probably, be of mach interest, iD the present political struggle, to have an
exact idea of what the immigratioo to this country has been, and what it has amount-
ed to. There have been very many opinions advanced in relation to our immigration,
and some of its statistics, although the works of men enjoying a reputation amongst
ns as statisticians, have been of such a character that they rather seemed intended to
flatter political party spirit than to diifuse knowledga and correct ideas on the subject.
The writer has, therefore, with great labor and care, attempted to redress this evil, by
a compilation of tables, made up in the only way possible to ascertain the real state
of our immig^tion sbce the first census of the United States in 1790. By compar-
ing the result obtained with ofiicial statistics of other countries, every doubt of the
correctness and reliability of this work will be removed.
In 1790, the population of the lipited States, including white and free colored per-
sons, was 8,281,980. If all increase from immigration had been cut off, the surplus of
births over deaths would have constituted the only growth in our population. If we
take, now, the census returns for 1850, we shall find the number of births to be
048,885, and the number of deaths 271,890 — confining ourselves to the white and free
colored population. The difference being 276,945, was the increase of population for
1850, from the excess of births over deaths. The whole population in 1850 of white
and free colored persons was 19,987,578. The increase, therefore, from the excess of
births over deaths, was one per cent and thirty-eight hundredths. To show that this
per centage furnished by the returns in 1850 is reliable, we give a table, carefully
made out, showing the per centage in a number of countries from which we have
official retonis. The table is as follows : —
TABLE SHOWINQ THB INCREASE OF FOFULATION BT THE 6DEPLU8 OF BIRTHS OVER DEATHS.
Increaae
Year. Country. Inbabitaota. Births. Deaths. p.oenL
1850 United States* 1 9,987,573 548,885 27 1,690 1 . 88
1850 England and Wales 17,927,609 598,422 868,986 1 . 25
1851 France 86,788,170 948,061 784,488 0.44
1886 Russia. 69,000,000 2,178,065 1,781,884 0.74
1849 Prussia 16,881.187 691,562 498,862 1.17
1850 Holland 8,056,591 105,888 67,588 1.28
1850 Belgium 4,426,202 120,107 92,820 0. 61
1849 Portugal 8,478,758 114,881 88,992 0.72
1852 Saxony 1,987,882 80,822 68,789 1.08
As might be expected, it is seen that the excess of births over deaths in the United
States b larger than in any other country, and hence we have no hesitation in adopt-
ing the per centage of annual increase of one and thirty-eight-hundredths as reliable.
This furnishes us a rule to solve the problem before stated. The population in 1790
* The United States censas of 1850 gives the birlha and deaths of the white and ftee colored pop-
nlatkm in one oolumn, without any separation. Therefore, it lias become necessary to include the
Dree colored population in all other tables hereafter given. As to the slave popolatlon, the writer
sees for his purpose no necessity to mention anything of it at all, as it has no oonnectioa whatever
with the immigration. ^ .
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510
Statistics ef Papulation^ He.
was 8,231 »930. Ezdading all immigratioD, the increase of popalatioo each year
would be at the rate of 1 .38 per cent This increase added each year to the aggre-
gate of the preceding year, down to 1850, will give us the population of the United
States in 1850, as it would have been upon the illiberal policy of excluding all immi-
gration. In the following table will be also shown what oar population in 1850 would
hare amounted to if immigration had been stopped* in 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, or
1840. The calculation is a long and tedious one, but the result is mathematically cer-
tain:—
TABLE 8B0WINQ THB INCRBABE OF TDB WHrFE AND FREE COLORED POPULATION Or THE UNITBD
STATES, IF WITHOUT IMMIQBATION, 8IN0B THB EBSPBOTIVB TEARS 1790 TO I8f>0, ArrER
THB RATIO OF IN0RBA8B IN 1850.
Tears.
1790 .
1791 .
1792 .
1798 .
1794 .
1795 .
1796 .
1797 .
1798 .
1799 .
1800 .
1801 .
1802 .
1808 .
1804 .
1805 .
1800 .
1807 .
1808 .
1809 .
1810 .
1811 .
1812 .
1818 .
1814 .
1816 .
181IS .
1817 .
1818 .
1819 .
1820 .
1821 .
1822 .
1828 .
1824 .
1825 .
1826 .
1827 .
1828 .
1829
1880 .
1881 .
1882 .
1S88 .
1884 .
1«85 .
Annuti Increase of
the white and free
colored population,
if without Immi-
gratiun since .790.
8,231,980
8,276,630
8.821,746
8,867,686
8,414,058
8,461,172
8,508,986
8,557,859
8,606.450
8,666,219
8,706.674
8,757.826
8,809,684
8,862.257
8,916,556
8,969,690
4,024,858
4,079,896
4,186,197
4,198.279
4,251,143
4,809,808
4,869,283
4.429,679
4,490,707
4,652.678
4,615.504
4,679,197
4,748,769
4,809,238
4,875,600
4,942,883
6,011,094
6,080,247
6,160,854
6.221,428
6,298,478
6,366.522
6.440,680
6,515,659
5,691,776
6,668,941
6,747.172
6,826,482
6,906,887
6,988,402
Annual increase of
the while and free
Annual
culorvd population.
ABno&l
surplus of
births.
if without Iminl-
surplua of
44,600
46,216
46,840
46,472
• • • •
47,114
47,764
48,428
49.091
49,769
60.455
4,412.834
• . • • •
61,152
4,478,781
60.897
61,858
4,686,619
61.788
62,678
4,598,109
«2<690
68,2'.»9
4,661.662
68,468
54.034
4,725,991
64,829
64,768
4,791,209
65,218
66.687
4,867,827
66,118
66,802
4,924.868
67.081
67,079
4,992,814
67.966
67.867
6,061,207
68.898
68,666
6,181,051
69,844
69,476
6,201,859
70,808
60,296
6,278.644
71,786
61,128
6,346,409
72,766
61,971
6,420,189
78,780
62.826
5,494,990
74,801
68,693
6,670,820
76,880
64,672
6,647,697
76,877
65,464
6,724,788
77.086
66,867
6.808,734
79,001
67,288
6,888,825
80,091
68,211
6,966.021
81,196
69.168
6.047,388
82,817
70.107
6,130,791
88.468
71.074
6,216,296
84.604
72.065
6.801,066
86.771
78,049
6,388.020
86.964
74,068
6.476,174
88,164
76.079
6,666.646
89^71
76,116
6,666.149
90.604
77,16*
6,748,008
91,8M
78,281
6.841,127
f8,ltt
79,810
6,986,682
94,40f
80,406
7,08 1, 24S
96,710
81,616
7,128,278
97,081
Digitized by CjOOQIC
Ymn,
1886 .
1887 .
1888 .
1889 .
1840 .
1841 .
1842 .
184B .
1844 .
1845 .
1846 .
1847 .
1848 .
1849 .
1850 .
Teara.
1810
1811
1812
1818
1814
1816
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
18S6
1827
1828
1829
1880
1881
188a
1888
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1840
1841
1842
1848
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1860
Statietks of Population, etc.
ADooal Increase of Annual Increase of
the while and free the white and free
culored pofiulatlon, Aonnal colored populatiun.
if without iinmf- uurplusof if without imnii-
grallon Hiuce 1790. hiriha. gratioo since 1800.
6,071,041 82,689 7.226,648
6,164,821 83,780 7,826,470
6,289,767 84,936 7,427,676
6,825,866 86,108 7,580,076
6.418,161 87,296 7.688,991
6,501,662 88,601 7,789,840
6,691,884 89,722 7.846,142
6,682.846 90,961 7.964,418
6,774,661 92,216 8.064,188
6,868,049 93,488 8,176,478
6,962,828 94,779 8,288,294
7,059,116 96,287 8,402,672
7,166,580 97,416 8,618,628
7,255,800 98,770 8,636,186
7,855,428 100,123 8,766,864
Annnal iocrcase of Annual Increase of
the white and tree the white and free
colored population, Annual colored population,
if wiihoui immi- surplus of If wUbout Imml-
graliun»lnc«ltilU. births. grallon since 18S0.
6.048,450
6,131,918 88,468
6,216,588 84,620
6,802.826 86,788 *"'.
6,889,298 86,972
6,477,470 88.172
6,566,859 89,389
6.657,481 90,622 .... *']
6,749,864 91,878
6,842,495 98,141 ].
6,986.921 94,426 8,100.093
7.082.650 95,729 8,211,874
7.12U,700 97,050 8,826.197
7,228,089 98,889 8,440,184
7,827.836 99,747 8,656.668
7,428,970 101,124 8,674,789
7,581.479 102,519 8,794,449
7,685.418 108,984 8,915,802
7,740,781 105,868 9,088,840
7,847,608 106,822 9,163,576
7,955,899 108,296 9,290/)82
8.065.691 109.792 9,418,284
8.176,997 1 1 1,306 9,548.206
8,404,288 114,899 9,678,970
8,620.216 116.978 9,812,589
8,687.794 117,678 9,947,952
8.766,996 119.201 10,086,288
8.877.841 120,846 10.224,409
9,000.365 122.514 10,366.506
9.124,569 124.204 10,508,548
9,250,477 125,918 10.668,665
9,878,188 127,656 10,800,684
9.607.651 129,418 10,949,682
9,688,765 131.204 11,100,727
9,771.769 188,014 11,268.917
9.906,619 184.860 11,409,221
10,048.880 186,711 11,666,668
10,182.927 188.597 11,726,288
10,828,461 140,624 11,888,110
10,466.914 142,468 12,052,166
10,610,848 144,429 12,218,484
511
Annual
surplus of
births.
98,870
99,727
101,106
102.500
108,916
105,349
106,802
108,276
109,770
111.286
112,821
114,378
115,966
117,667
119,179
Annual
surplus of
births.
111,781
118,328
114,987
116,474
118,081
119.711
121,858
128,088
124,786
126,467
128.202
129,971
130,766
188.669
185,418
187.281
189,176
141,096
148,048
145,017
147.019
149,048
151,104
158,190
155,804
157,447
159,620
161,822
164,066
166^1«
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512
Statistics of Populaticn^ etc.
Yean.
1880 .
1881 .
1832 .
1883 .
1884 .
1885 .
1836 .
1887 .
1888 .
1889 .
1840 .
1841 .
1842 .
1843 .
1844 .
1845 .
1846 .
1847 .
1848 .
1849 .
1860 .
Annoal increMe of
the white and tme
CQlored populatloot
if without immi-
gration liuce 1830.
10,866,977
11,006,808
11,158,696
11,812.686
11,468,801
11,627,070
11,787,628
11,950,190
12.116,102
12,282,290
12,461,785
12,628,619
12,797,824
12,974,888
18,158.878
18,334,874
18,518.895
18,705,456
18,896,590
14,086,886
14,280,726
Aimiial increase of
the white and free
Annual colored popolaUon, Annual
flurploa of if without immi- snrploB of
blrtha. graUon ainoe 1840. blitfaa.
149,826
151.898
153,990
156,116
158,269
160.468
162.667
164.912
167,188
169.495
171.884
174,206
176.509
179.046
181.496
184,021
186,660
189,186
191,746
194.891
14.681.998
14.788.229
14.986.287
16,192.038
16,401.683
15.614.226
16,829,701
16,048,161
16,269.615
16,494,186
16,721,674
201,281
802,008
206,796
209,660
212,643
216,476
218,449
221.464
224,620
227,539
To these are to be added the results for LouisiaDa, (1808 ;) Florida, (1821 ;) Galifor
nia, New Mexico. Texas, and Oregon. Louisiaca had. in 1808, 77,000 iohabitants, of
which 53,000 were slaves. Florida, in 1821, bad about 10,000. California and New
Mexico, at the time of their acquisition, bad about 60,000. Texas and Oregon only
brought back into the Union citizens who had emigrated thither but a short time be-
fore. If we put them down in 1850. after the above scale, with 200,000 white and
free colored persons, the writer thinks he has done them more than ample justice.
RECAPITULATION — THE UNITED STATES WOULD HAVE IM 1850.
If without immigration since 1790 .
Addition for Louisiana, Florida, ifcc.
If without immigration since 1800 .
Addition for Louisiana, Florida, &c.
If without immigraticn since 1810 .
Addition for Florida, ^
If without immigration since 1820 .
Addition for Florida, Ac ,
If without immigration since 1880
Addition for New Mexico and California .
If without immigration since 1840
Addition for New Mexico and California .
7,355.428
200.000
8,756.364
200,000
10.610,343
100.000
12.218.484
100.000
14.280.726
50.000
16.721.674
60,000
Thej have actually, however..
7,666.428
8.965.364
10.710.848
12,818,484
14,880.726
16.771,674
19.987,578
This will be to many an astonishing result, but the author is well assured of the
correctness of his statement There may be a difference of some hundreds or thous-
ands, but the millioDs cannot be altered. And in order to show how well the above
estimates correspond with the increase of other countries, and to remove any doubt of
tb^ correctness, the following table has been compiled : —
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Nautical Intelligence, 618
INCRKASB OF YARIOUB EUROPEAN NATIONS SINCE THE LAST DECENNAET Of THE 18tH CENTURY.
England and Wales in 1790 8,676,000 ) r^„^^^ . qa Der cent.
* ' 28,600,000) „ ,5.
86,614.466 f ^'^^
Austria
1792
u
1861
France
1789
i<
1861
Prussia
1797
*t
1849
Spain
1797
u
1849
Sweden
1790
t<
1849
Sardinia, (Island,)
1790
u u
1848
United States
1790
26,000,000
1861 36,783,170 7
'*•"- 8,660,000^
16,881,187
10,861,075
14.216,219 :
2,160,493 J « , g.
8,316,636) ^'^*
, 466,990
647,948 S
, 8,281,980
Witliout immigrafn, 1860 7,656,423 "
1.87
1.88
1.83
1.19
2.88
This table clearly proves the above estimates of the population of the United
States, without immigration since 1790, to be not only a correct one, but even exhib-
iting a higher increase than any other country. England, the highest among them all,
is still 27 on the hundred behind the United States.
The immigrants and theur descendants number in 1860 since —
1790.
1800.
1810.
1820.
1830.
1840.
,482,160
11,032,109
9,277,230
8,669,089
6,668,847
8,266,899
To speculate on these astounding results is not the object of the author, and he
leaves this to all those who feel an interest in these statistics, as he is coayinced, that
in the present political struggle his statements will be regarded and appreciated by
all parties. His point of view is not so much a political as a scientific one, and there-
fore he hopes that by all statisticians these calculations will be honored with a thor-
ough examination.
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
BRAZILIAN REGULATIOiVS IN RELATION TO SIGNALS.
SIGNALS FROM FLAG-STAFF NEAR LIGHT HOUSE AT POINT ATALAIA.
Departmkut or State, Washinoton* September 11, 1855.
To Freeman Hunt, Edilcr of the Merchants' Magazine : —
Sir: — The Brazilian Government having communicated to the Minister of the Uni-
ted States at Rio de Janeiro a copy of the "* Regulations in relation to signals which
will be made from the flag-sialT near the light- house at Point Atalaia, to vessels which
arrive at that point, in want of a pilot, fur the port of the city of Belem, the capital
of the Province of Para," the said copy was transmitted to this Department for gene-
ral information.
A translation of these regulations has been prepared by the Department with a
view to its official publication, but as no newspaper is of such universal circulation in
shipping circles as your own valuable magazine, I have deemed it best for parties in-
terested to place the translation at your disposal for publication.
I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. L. MARCY.
VOL. ZXZIII. — NO. IV. 33
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[tramslation.]
Regulations in relation to the signals which will be made from the flag-staff near
the light house at Point Atalaia, to vessels which arrive at that Point, in want of a
pilot for the port of the city of Belem, the capital of the Provinca of Para : —
1. A white flag, with a blae cross through it.
2. A flag, upper half red, lower half white.
8. A flag, all blue.
4. A flag, all red.
No. 2 signifies that there is a pilot, and a boat to oonvej him to the vessel wanting
him.
Nos. 1 and 2. The vessel in want of a pilot will be on the lookout for him, as he is
on the point of leaving immediately.
Kos. 1 and 8. The vessel must wait, because it is not a suitable time for the pilot
to go out
Nos. 1 and 4 The pilot requested will leave before noon.
Nos. 2 and 1. The pilot requested will leave in the afternoon.
Nos. 2 and 8. The pilot requested will leave before midnight
No& 2 and 4. The pilot requested will leave after midnight
Nos. 3 and 1. The vessel in want of a pilot is to send a l^at for him if it knows the
place.
Nos. 8 and 2. There is no pilot ready, and therefore you must be on the lookout for
the signal to be made when one arrives.
Nos. 8, 4, 8 and 4, and 4 and 8, are not included in this scheme, because they are to
be employed in the signal regulations for vessels in distress, burning, <&&, announced
on the 6th of December, 1848.
A white flag with a blue cross through it is a signal to show that the signals from
Salinas are perceived at Atalaia.
A fla^, inner half white, outer half red, is the signal which a vessel wanting a pilot
must hoist at the head of the prow.
A flag, red and white chequered is the signal which the pilot must make to the ves-
sel that wants him.
Regulations for the signals which are to be made from the town of Salinas towards
Atalaia, where the flag-staff is placed : —
1. A flag, all white.
2. A flag, inner half white, outer half red.
No. 1 signifies that there is a pilot and a boat to take him on board the vesaeL
No. 2. There is a pilot, but no boat to take him on board.
Nos. 1 and 2. There is no pilot
Regulations for the signals which are to be made by night from Salinas to Atalaia :
SHIPS* LANTERNS WrTH UNOOLOaSD GLASSES.
Two lights placed diagonally signifies there is a pilot
Two lights placed one above the other signifies tnere is a pilot, but no boat.
Two lights placed on a line signifies there is no pilot.
Night signals to be made at Atalaia to a vessel wanting a pilot : —
SHIPS* LANTERNS WITH EBD GLASSES.
Two lights placed diagonally signifies there is a pilot.
Two lights placed one above the other signifies there is a pilot, but no boat
Two lights placed on a line signifies there is no pilot at present.
One red light is the manner in which to acknowledge at Atalaia a signal made to it
from Salinas by night
One white light is the signal by night which a vessel arriving at Atalaia, and want-
ing a pilot, must hoist at the head of the prow.
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Nautical Intelligence, 515
Int. Those vessels which arriye at Atalaia Point, io quest of a pilot for the port of
the city of Belem, the capital of the Province of Para, shall hoist at the head of the
prow the flag which has been designed, and ordered to be used for that purpose by
the proclamation of the 18th of January, 1850.
Sd. When the signal is made from Atalaia that it is not a suitable time for the pilot
to go out, the vessel in want of him shall endeavor to bring to, (never attempting to
cast anchor within six and seven fathoms of water,) leaving the light-house to the
S. E., sailing off and on, when the water is at high tide, and keeping from the land
when the tide is low.
Sd. The vessel desiring a pilot, in order to obtain him as speedily as possible, will
endeavor to keep itself N. W. and S. E. from the light-house.
4 th. Masters of vessels who want a pilot are to understand that it is the custom of
the pilots to leave the interior of the harbor of the town of Salinas at high tide, which
occurs, according to the lunar days, on shore at half past seven — and at the place where
they are accustomed to anchor at fifteen minutes past eight.
5th. The same masters of vessels must be careful to look out for the signals which
may be made to them from Atalaia, and not those which are made from the town of
Salinas for that place, keeping well in mind that the night signals from Atalaia are of
a red light, and those of Salinas are uncolored.
6th. The master of a vessel to whom signals are made from Atalaia ought to be
provided with a yard, because in calm and fair weather signal flags are most conspic-
uous therefrom.
7th. When a vessel, in stormy or foggy weather, (day or night,) arrives at a place
which she suspects or knows from some indications or other to be in front of Salinas
or Atalaia, in order to call a pilot she will fire a gun, which will be answered at Ata-
laia by another discharge. This response will be understood to mean that the vessel
which fired the gun will wait until an opportunity offers to send her a pilot.
A true copy, FRAN. X. BOMTEMPO.
IRON UOHT.HOUSES FOR THE FLORIDA COAST.
An iron lighthouse to be put up on Coffin's Patches, on the Florida coast, has been
constructed io Philadelphia, under the superintendence of Lieut. George C. Mead, of
the United States Topographical Corps, who has charge of the light-house operations
upon that dangerous coast This lighthouse is one of the chain projected which
when complete, will greatly improve the navigation of the Florida coast, as the navi-
gator will have a succession of lights to guide him, so located that one will always be
in sight
The entire height of this structure is about 150 feet. The light-house is en-
tirely of iron, and consists of eight posts surrounding a central post The lower
sections of these posts are twelve inches in diameter, and each weighs about four
tons. They are pointed at the ends, and will be driven by means of a pile-driver into
the coral reef for eight or ten feet, affording a substantial foundation. The light-
keepei^s house is located within the third section, and from that to the lantern, which
is above the seventh section, a spiral staircase winds around the center post, the whole
being inclosed with boiler plate iron. The stairway is lit by windows in each sectioa
The lantern ia to contain a Fresnel light of the first order, and the structure, when
complete, will be the largest iron light house in the world.
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Bailroad, Canal^ and Steamboat Statistics,
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
RAILROADS IJI 6ERMA5T.
The following table, exhibiting the names of roads, time of their completion, length
in German miles, diyidenda in 1850 and 1851, and gross receipts in 1852, was com-
piled from official sources for the Department of State : —
When Length in Divideoda. Reoeipto
Names of railroads. completed. German mis. 1850. 1851. in IH52.
Ttialen.
Berlin Potodam August 7,1846 19.6 8 3^ 868,280
Berlin Anbalt Sept 10,1841 80.8 5 6 963,902
Berlin Hamburg Dec 15,1846 89.5 4^ 4i 1,498,000
Berlin Stettin August 15, 1848 14.8 5 1-5 7f 766,848
Breslau Schwednitz Freiburg. . October 29, 1 843 8.8 3^ 8f 21 9.581
Bonn Cologne Feb. 16,1844 8.9 6 5 118,000
Bergish-Markische Dec 29,1848 7.7 .. 1 276,092
DusseldorfElberfield August 8, 1841 8.5 4^ 3 280,579
Cologne Minden October 15, 1847 86.8 5^ 5 7-12 2,376,482
Magdeburg Leipsic August 18, 1840 15.7 16 16 760,042
Magdeburg Halberstadt July 16, 1848 7.7 8 9 348,158
MuDsterHamm May 26,1848 4.6 8^ 2 87.936
Magdeburg Wittenberge August 5,1849 14.2 .. 4 240.492
Lower Silesia line Sept. 1,1846 51.7 8^ 4 2,026,565
Lower Silesia branch' line.... August 8,1846 9.5 .. 88,916
Neisse Brieg Noy. 26,1848 6.8 2 MO 2f 71,638
Upper Silesia line October 8,1846 26.3 7 8 1,802,347
Prince Wilhelm's line October 1,1847 4.8 .. . 98,184
Rhenischline October 16, 1843 114 2i 8i 780,646
Ruhrort Crefeld October 6,1849 5.6 .. . 87.708
Stargard Posen August 10, 1848 22.6 8i 3^ 277,144
Thuringian Ime June 20, 1 846 26.1 8 8 903,500
Wilhelm's line Jan. 1,1847 7.1 4 6 1-6 223,684
Florins.
Emperor Ferdinand's N. line.. Jan. 6,1838 55.8 7 10^ 6,968,678
Vienna-Gloggnitz May 29,1841 11.8 7 8 1,972,921
Vienna-Bruck Sept 13,1846 5.6 7 8 162.417
Taunusline Sept 11,1889 6.8 5 5 2-6 497,118
Palatine LudwigB line August 1,1849 16.7 .. .. 716,821
Tbalefv*
Westphalian line October 1,1860 10.1 .. .. 166,160
Leipsic Dresden April 7,1839 15.6 6 8 756.652
Frederick Wilbem's N. line. . .March 30, 1848 19.2 . . . . 803,407
Mecklenberg May 1,1847 19.3 .. .. 278,646
AltonaKiel Sept 9,1844 14 6 5^ 842,864
Gluckstadt-ElmshoinL. July 19,1846 2.2 .. .. 86.886
Rendsburg Neumunster Sept 18,1846 4.4 .. .. 114,846
LubeckBuch October 16, 1861 6 .. .. 109.646
For the year ending the 80th of November, 1862, the traffic and receipts on the
Vienna-Gloggnitz line have been, passengers, 1,601,668; centimes of goods, 5,613,744 ;
and receipts, 2,089,610 florins. On the Vienna-Gloggnitz line for the year ending
80th November, 1851— passengers, 1,437,653; centimes of goods, 5,360,620 ; receipts,
1,918,666 florins.
On the Vienna-Bruck line for the year ending 80th November, 1862 — passengen^
146,066; centimes of goods, 691,849 ; receipts, 166,124 florins. On the Vienna-
Bruck line for the year ending November 30th, 1861— passengers, 180,444 ; centimes
of goods, 623,104 ; receipts, 166,799 florins.
A German mUe is equal to 4 . 60 English miles ; a thaler is equal to 69 cents ; and
a florin is equal to 46 cents.
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Railroad^ Canal, and Steamboat Statistics, 517
DISCIPLINE ON BOARD STEAMERS AND SHIPS.
Taking oar accustomed ease one morning some weeks ago, says a correspondent^ in
our barber's shop, we overheard the following, as it fell from the lips of one of our
most distinguished American poets : —
** I am of the firm opinion that if there had been on board the Arctic — as I con-
tend should be the case on every steamship that crosses the Atlantic — the discipline
of a man-of-war, that dreadful calamity, at least in part, might have been avoided.
** It was the lack of authoritative concert between the captain and his officers, and
the officers and the crew, which at the outset led to the deplorable event
" When the steamer Princeton, Captain Stockton, had made a portion of a pleasure
excursion down the Potomac, you will remember that in firing a salute with the ' big
gun,' it burst, and destroyed several precious lives, among others that of the then
Secretary of the Navy. Now, I have it from the very best authority — that of Oom-
modore Stockton himself— that when the gunners had fired the piece and witnessed
its terrible effects, they resumed their position amidst the carnage it had created, nor
did they move from it until ordered to do so by their commander. Can it be doubted
that obedience and discipline such as this might have saved our unfortunate oceao
steamer f '
** But," interposed the hearer, " is it certain that any discipline could have saved all
the passengers T
" I don't know what others may think, but for myself I have not the slightest doubt
of it. Let me mentiou a circumstance which once occurred on Lake Champlain, and
of which I myself was an eye-witness: —
** I was on board the steamer Burlington — this was some twenty-five or thirty
years ago— commanded by Capt Sherman, one of the most careful, the most method-
ical, the most exact captains that ever trod a steamer's deck. Everybody knows,
who ever traveled with him, that there never was seen a speck of dirt about his boat
as big as a pea; that his directions were given in a tone so low that they were seldom
heard save by those to whom they were especially addressed ; and generally they
were indicated by a merely subdued hiss or whistle.
"On the occasion of which I speak, the steamboat had approached the middle of
the widest part of the lake, somewhere, if I recx>llect rightly^ in the neighborhood of
Plattsburg, when a circle of smoke was seen issuing from around the smoke-pipe.
The alarm instantly arose : ' The boat is on fire I the boat is on fire 1'
** I rushed to the saloon, where several ladies who were of the pleasure party to
which I myself was attached, were assembled in a state of great fear. Ladies, I said,
don't be alarmed ; I know Capt. Sherman, and his prudence, energy, and determina-
tion so well, that although it is certain that the boat has caught fire, yet I consider
your lives as safe as if you were in your own parlors.
** Meantime there was no bustle, no loud orders, no shouting or disorder upon the
deck; and when I returned to it, I found two lines of men, all of the crew, passing
full, and receiving empty buckets in return, and in fifteen minutes the fire, which had
reached considerable headway, was entirely extinguished. An hour or two after,
when all excitement in relation to the fire had subsided, as I met ihe captain on deck
I ventured to ask him : Captain Sherman, will you tell me how it was that you were
enabled to preserve such perfect order among your crew, and to put out a fire bo
speedily which had gained such headway f"
" Oh, yes !'* replied the captain ; " the whole thing is very simple and easily ex-
plained. It all consists in being prepared for such an emergency. Now, I have re-
hearsed the very scene which you have witnessed to-day more than fifty times with
my men, on the deck of thb boa^"
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518 Mailroad, Canal j and Steamboat Statistics,
" And there," said Mr. H , •* was seen the benefit of discipline. Suppose that
the men on board the Burlington had been running hither and thither, without con-
cert and without confidence, frightening others and only anxious to save themselves*
what would have been the result ? The boat would have been destroyed to a cer-
tainty."
Is not this worthy of imitation ?
STATISTICS OF THE RAILROADS OF MAIVE.
We are indebted to John A. Poor, Esq., editor of the State of Maine, one of the
best commercial journals in the country, for the following tables showing the opera-
tions of the railroads of Maine in 1850, 1858, and 1854 : —
18§0.
No. of Receipts for Receipti
Length. Cost paseenRere. passengers, forfrelgbt
Atlantic and St. Lawrer.ce... 47 |2,244,814 151,100 $88,528 $54,062
Androscoggin and Kennebec. 56 1,621,878 79,492 58,208 84,05S
Kennebec and Portland 84 1,000,000 96,964 60,424 19,562
Portland,Saco,& Portsmouth 51 1,818,000 188,564 192,448 86,598
Bangor and Piscataquis ... . 18 850,000 85,000 14,000 4,800
Buckfield Branch 12 120,000 6,882 2,653 4,620
Calais and Baring 6 120,000
York and Cumberland 9 860,000 5,000 1,250 800
227 $7,129,692 507,002 $412,501 $154,010
18S3.
No. of Receipts for Receipts for Other
Length. Cost pas^ogers. pat^seogers. freight sums.
Atlantic and St. Lawrence .. . 149 $5,806,720 161,854 $180,475 $167,733 $17,869
Androscoggin and Kennebec . 55 2,030,140 110,784 79,305 68,170 6,594
Androscoggin 20 315,865 20,747 9,168 9,556 428
Bangor and Piscataquis 18 188,918 72,178 28,269 18,911 1,957
Calais and Baring 6 217,255 14,554 1,861 25,675 1,001
Kennebec and Portland 72^ 2,520,981 241,67 1 134,482 84,628 7,941
Machiasport 7^ 100,000 9,715 100
Portland, Saco, «fe Portsmouth. 51 1,803,895 297,818 187,808 68,197 16,061
York and Cumberland 18 748,609 85,170 18,906 284
Buckfield Branch 12
404 12,681,878 919,106 600,988 411,496 62,236
Atlantic and St Lawrence .. . 149 $6,019,929 185.105 $168,616 $296,890 $20,141
Androscoggin and Kennebec«. 56 2,196,334 129,045 97,615 78,646 2,091
Androscoggin 20 343,817 22,285 13,916 15,146 834
Ban«or and Piscataquis 13 178,238 76,980 26,344 18,867 177
Calais and Baring 6 277,770 16,720 1,420 29,060 1,160
Kennebec and Portland 72i 2,613,410 268,992 160,631 46,716 10,100
Machiasport 7i 100,000 7,000 200
Portland, Saco, A Portsmouth. 61 1,315.976 284,635 202,592 62,838 6,904
York and Cumberland 18 765,018 82,640 16,348 14,864
Buckfield Branch 12
404 18,759,988 1,066,862 672,392 687,388 41,017
It will be seen by the above that in 1860 Maine had 227 miles of railway in opera-
tion, costing $7,119,692, carrying 695,721 ftassengers, for which it received $412,501,
and 181,916 tons of freight, receiving therefor $154,010. The total receipts of the
railways of Maine for 1850 was $566,511.
In 1854 the railways of Maine had cost $15,000,000. They carried 1,066,852 pa*-
sengers, and the total receipts for 1854 $1,280,812.
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AMBRICAV STEiBIBOATS.
[rmOX MADAMS POMTKHAT's TBAVIL8 ih amieica.]
" If the first and moet constant need of an Englishman is to exalt his country ; of a
Frenchman to boast of his person ; of an Italian to boast of his singing ; of a Spaniard
to be jealous ; of a Rnssian to swagger — -the first and most constant need of an Ameri-
can is assuredly to act, or better, to transport himself from one extremity to the other
of his vast country. In fact there is not a people in the world who travel as much
and with as little preparation as the Americans. They start on a journey of four
thousand kilometers as we do from Paris to Rouen. I should say more : they do not
even take the trouble to cat ry a trunk on their longest voyages. The clothing which
they have on their backs the day of departure suffices them, save stopping at the first
city, and at the first store on the way replacing the cast-off clothing which they throw
to winds on the road, giving thus to their peregrinations the lively impulsion charac-
terized by these words, * Go ahead V — en avant !
" The life aboard the steamboats, although not so varied, has none the less real
charms. Who has not heard of those magnificent boats navigating Lake Erie, the
Hudson, the Ohio, the Mississippi, or the St. Lawrence ! Boats which cost sometimes
a million of firancs, and which earn in a season of six months as high as two hundred
and fifty thousand francs of profit for their owners. The Eclipse, which plies between
Louisville and New Orleans, is nearly three hundred feet long. The interior is of a
magnificence incredible in France ; the ladies' saloon, also that of the gentlemen, sur-
passes in richness and elegance the moet splendid boats of England. The Eclipse eon-
tains about two hundred chambers and five hundred beds. On the panels of Uie door
of each chamber is painted with care, and sometimes with art, a view taken on the
borders of the Ohio or Missouri. The decorations, sculpture, and tapestry, have ming-
led their marvels of beauty and painting. Around the steamboat, which resembles a
floating palace, there is an exterior gallery, from which the traveler may admire the
plantations which border the river.
** The table and the service are in unison with all this splendor. It is not rare to see
the inhabitants of Kentucky, of Indiana, and Missouri, embark at Louisville, Cairo, or
St. Louis, destined to New Orleans, where they stop some days, and afterward re-
mount to the point of departure, having thus remained three weeks on the rivers, sole-
ly for the pleasure of being some time away from home, and to change constantly the
perspective, without leaving their comfortable temporary home. The distractions
which are enconntered on board these steamboats, are all that Americans demand
To smoke, to drink, to talk, to gamble, that is the life of the men ; as for the women,
they read, embroider, or play on the piano of their saloon unpublished airs. Nowhere
but in France have I encountered women who know how to do nothing.**
THE « GREAT EASTERN »> STEAMSHIP.
A gentleman of New Bedford, who recently visited the ship yard of Messrs. Scott,
Ku«fell &, Co., in London, has furnished the following memoranda of the dimeneions of
the stupendous iron steamship now building in that place for the Australian trade,
and which is expected to be launched about next Christmas: —
The hull measures in length 675 feet, greatest breadth of beam 88 feet; depth of
hold 63 feet. The hull, even with the upper deck, is to be iron plate ; and from the
keel to eight feet above the water line, she will be double, or two hulls one within the
other, leaving thirty-six inches space within the walls. The hull is built in ten water-
tight compartments, sixty feet each, all of iron an inch in thickness, with two longitu-
dinal iron walls extending the whole length of the ship. Her bottom is flat, four-
teen feet on either side of the keel. Her capacity by measurement is 25,000 tons ;
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draft twenty feet, and when loaded thirty feet She has four decks, and saloons to
accommodate 600 first-class, and 1,800 second class passengers, and 10,000 troops.
Her engine will be of three thousand horse power, with four cylinders, each of which
will require 35 tons of melted metal, and when clean will weigh about SO tons each;
20 flue boilers 6 by SO feet in length. Her engines are low pressure, and will gira
motion to side wheels or pa<idle?, and screw propeller. The engine, when put toge-
ther, will be 64 feet in height The weight of her machinery will be about 3,000 tons,
hull 10,000; making an aggregate of about 18,000 tons of iron employed in her con-
struction.
The *' Great Eastern " will be rigeed with six masts with fore-and-aft sails, and it is
expected will be capable of a speed of from eighteen to twenty knots — enabling her
to make the passage from London to Australia in thirty days, and to return by way
of Cape Horn in an equal time. She is building by a company at an estimated cost
of £400,000, or $2,000,000; and when completed will be launched broadside to the
water. H<»r architect is I. K. Brunei, and about 500 men are now employed upon
her in various departments.
MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
THE RELATIOX OF MERCHANTS TO NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE.
The eloquent and appropriate remarks below were published in the ** Philadelphia
Merchant" a few days before the seventy ninth anniversary of our American indepen-
dence— X festival which in the highest sense, is associated with the establishment of
great principles and the performance of great deeds. In these remarks we trace the
mind and style of an able and eloquent divine, Rev. Hsnrt Baoon, of Philadelphia.
** The vast variety of journals in our country, representing every phase of the Amer-
ican mind, will present, each from its own point of view, the meaning of this festival;
for 60 grand were the purposes and so far-reaching the principles for which our fathers
contended, that whatever may be the social, political, moral, or religious standpoint
which we take, American Independence assumes a commanding importance. Brought
AS we are, by the purposes of our paper, into constant contact with mercantile life, it
is natural for us to look on the commercial view of this great matter. American In-
dependence was a great piece of Business, as well as a mighty War ; and the first and
most difiBu^ult work to be accomplished was, the culture of self-denial, which, in the
«pirit of a noble patriotism, could lay all the interests of trade, all the revenues of
commerce, all the accumulations of fortune, on the altar of freedouL Merchants rule
the cities ; from the cities goes out into the rural towns the awakening power of patri-
otism ; and when the first stroke is given to the * thunder-drum ' yet to be * heard
round the world,' it is in obedience to the key-note of Liberty given in the city, where
the sacrifices involved in the War are most clearly seen and most speedily felt
^Military skill and undaunted courage had their place in the stupendous achieve-
ment of our national Independence. Withered be the hand that would pluck a single
laurel from the warrior's brow — that would tarnish the honor due Washington and his
unparalleled companions in the bloody field. They were men who did a Divine work
in a providential era, and did it well — so well that the very instinct of the American
now is, that he was bom to lead in the best achievements possible to our race. But
while giving unlimited honor to the heroes of the camp and the battle-field, we ask
that due consideration he given to the Business that lay behind all this — the mercan-
tUe macbisery, so to apeak, which mightily aided the transcendent achievement that
enabled Washington to resign his command under skies of victory and in paths of
laurels. That was a stem battle which was fought where supplies were to be secured^
and crippled And confused finances were to be managed. The mighty deeds of Robert
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Mercantile Miscellanies, 521
Morris were less apparent as great yictories than a startling battle, and yet what
stupendous issues were made dependent on his wonderful art in almost creating
money at many a fearful crisis 1 Mercantile tact had its part in the splendid achieve-
ment of American Independence as truly as military ekUl and unshaken bravery, and
this will yet be exhibited in clearer lines than history has been wont to record it.
Admirably has one of our own merchants, in hi^ late report as president of the Mer-
chant Fund Society, said of the Merchant — ^ His pecidiarity is, that he is the repre-
seniatiw and exponent of credit in this and every commercial country. His business,
his fortune, his capital, must suffer, when from any cause, or combination of causes,
the monetary condition of the country is disturbed. It is the commercial profession
which first feels, and must chiefly bear the shock. Against this, as a breakwater, every
wave beats and expends its force ; while behind this barrier many a bark, which other-
wise would be wrecked, may lie at safe and peaceful anchorage.*
"* How important it is that this fact should be duly appreciated I The credit, the
honor, the influence, of the merchants of our Revolutionary era, threw up many a
barricade behind which the brave military fought with hopeful valor. When the pres-
ent was chaotic and the future was darkness, mercantile power touched springs of
hope and a new sun seemed bom in the heavens ; and to those who may need to look
first beyond American history, in order to see how vital are the monetary concerns of
a nation, before they can see what honor is due beyond the camp, have only to open
Allison's Introduction to his continuation of his History of Modem Europe, in connec-
tion with his Essays, and study his working of the great problem of Money and An-
cient Home. But such need only to look into the records of the English Parliament
for a few months past, and read in the revelations of the * Roebuck Commiltee,' what
is the necessity for Business accomplishments — tact, energy, promptitude — in union
with the forces in the field, to give success to arms that won Waterloo. The Merchant
in his plain dress — with no train of attendants or attractive show— going quietly, yet
with energy, about his business of finance and supplies, in the time of war, can never
expect to win the applause which waits on the victorious general, yet he holds as
many of the essentials to success as the warrior.
" As were the relations of the Merchant to the final achievement of American In-
dependence, such are they now to the maintenance of our national success, our accu-
mulating superiority. In the forthcoming volume of ' Mercantile Biographies,* by the
accomplished editor of the Merchants* Magazine, a memoir of the Hon. James Oore
King will doubtless have a prominent place. Let that biography be read, and see
there the relations of the merchant to the real independence of the country — the stim-
ulus to industry, to inventive achievement — the support of education, and the promo-
tion of religion, the dispensing of large-handed charity : we mean the healthy condi-
tion of the monetary aifiurs of the country.
** But not only upon the few foremost merchants, but upon the many less prominent,
does the real independence of the country rest — men who, amid the noise and bustle
of trade, confessing by their labor to the necessity for effort, are
* Richer than dolog nothing for t bauble ;
Prouder than rustling In unpaid-Tor allk.*
The greatest need just now is to turn the tide of feeling away from aspiration for po-
litical office, to the essential toil of real business life. The most fatal thing in the
present aspect of our nation is, the vastness of the number of men who are eager to
live on the public treasury — who deem all methods of drawing means therefrom per-
fectly justifiable, and whose conscience? seem to be of an exceedingly spongy nature
Such are no helps to the great work of America. They may talk of * the plodding
man of trade* in derision, bat they scorn the hand that feeds them, and are blind to
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the real greatness to which this * plodding * may lead. So far as real manhood is con-
cerned— the real progress -which the genius of our nation demands of each of her sons,
these would be mere leeches, are but as a gate that moves only as its hinges are
moved by an independent hand.
" The coming of the * glorious Fourth * should be hailed with moral admiration of
the self-denial, toil, and suffering, which glorified the spirits who achieved our inde-
pendence, and with a resolute purpose to do each his part in the work of n'>tional
progress. Mercantile life has as truly its manifold relations to this great work as
statesmanship, and by indolence and craft in the counting-room or store, national in'
terests may be imperilled, as by bad diplomacy or wicked legislation."
FABRICATED TRAD£ MARKS.
[prom the MBRCAKTILK JOURNAL AKD STATISTICAL RKOISTKR, BKLPaBT.]
Our readers will recollect that we have frequently called their attention to the se-
rious falling off which has taken place of late years in the character of American
flour, owing either to carelesf^ness or fraud in the inspection, inferior qualities having
been systematically branded and sold as extra superfine, to the great loss of the pur-
chaser, and the character of the country in which such unprincipled transactions oc-
curred. In our last remarks on this subject we strongly recommended our American
friends to endeavor to get rid of the system of " inspection ** altogether, in which case
every miller would be obliged to pay proper attention to the character of bis manu-
facture, as upon it, and upon it alone, would his reputation and success as a miller de-
pend. To furnish a case in point, as we have then showed, we have only to call the
recollection of our friends to the period when all the flaxseed imported here had to
pass through an Inspector's hands before being offered for sale, but which system was
abolished about twenty-eight or thirty years ago, owing to its being found not to an-
swer the purpose for which ii was intended, that of securing to the farmer sound and
pure sowing seed ; not from any fault on the part of the inspector, but from its being
found that the same casks were frequently used, besides other modes adopted, even of
a worse description, to evade the vigilance of the inspecting officer.
We are sorry to find that there are as yet no syraptons of improvement on the part
of our American friends, a circumstance which we regret exceedingly, as a persever-
ance in such a questionable mode of doing business will be the means of forcing
us to seek for flour in other quarters, where the first principles of Commerce are bet-
ter appreciated. We extract the following excellent remarks, taking a more extended
and general view of the system of trade marks, from the London Journal of Com-
merce : —
" Among the many dishonest trade practices and systems of fraud which prevail,
there U, perhaps, none which is carried out on a more extensive scale than the imita-
tion of popular articles of consumption and manufacture, both for home and foreign
consumption. It is, however, to foreign markets that these are mostly shipped, and
trade marks on goods for export are forged to a most unheard-of extent. It is only
lately that steps have been taken to put a stop, in America and the colonies, to this
dishonest practice. The rigid enforcement of the law against counterfeiting trade
marks is essential not only to the pecuniary interests of merchants, and the character
of our traders, but also, in some degree, to the sanitary interests of the public In
London, it may be remembered, there was recently seized a large quantity of spuri-
ous ale. It contained very vile ingredients, and the bottles were fraudulently labeled
* Alsopp's Ale,' being intended for export to New York. The guilty parties were
prosecuted for counterfeiting the labels and trade marks, and sentenced to twelve
months' imprisonment to hard labor. This is a severer penalty than that prescribed
by the law of the State of New York, enacted in 1860, oy which knowingly forging
or counterfeiting, or causing to be forged or counterfeited, trade marks of any kind is
punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceedbg six months.
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There is also a clause in that act, (session law, I860, pp. 197-98,) malting the party
baying * in his poeeession any die, plate, eDgraving, or printed label, stamp, or wrapper
representation, likeness, similitude, copy, or imitation of the private stamp, wrapper,
or label, for the purpose of assisting in the sale of imitated goods,' Ac, equally guilty
with the manufacturer and vendor, and subject to the Bame punishment It is well
known that almost every article of merchandise possessing a high reputation in this
country is eztensifely imitated in America. Being apt and cunning, the universal
Yankee nation, we are told by one of their own trade organs, tries its band at decep-
tion, and hence imitative Champagne, Shtrffield cutlery, Rowland's macassar, Cognac
brandy, Worcestershire sauce, Belgium cloths, Burton ales, Irish linens, French silks,
Scotch shawls, and a thousand other things, are manufactured there, and sold as the
'real originals.'
** The law on this subject, and the cases bearing upon it, have occasionally been al-
luded to ; but some recent decisions which have been given may be adverted to here
for the benefit of traders and merchants. In the Court of Common Pleas, in the case
of Allcroft vs. Culverwell, the plaintififd, the successors of Dent <fe Co., the celebrated
glove manufacturers, recovered £200 damages for an infringement of their trade
mark, inferior gloves having been spuriously stamped with their distinguishing mark.
Mr. Holloway obtained an injunction in the Rolls Court in November, 1860, against
his brother for fraudulently copying the labels, direction papers, Ac, of his pots and
boxes of pills and ointment In November, 1864, Mr. Lent, the great Staley Bridge
manufacturer, obtained a perpetual injunction, with costs, in the Supreme Court of
Calcutta, restraining two native houses from using a fabricated mark for stamping
grey shirtings of an inferior character, so as to lead persons to believe they were gen-
uine. It was given in evidence, that by means of this practice second class goods
were constantly sold for those of a superior quality. This decision is stated to have
an astonishing effect upon the bazaar dealers in India. A case or two of this nature,
prosecuted with effect, does wonders in stopping the wholesale system of fraudulent
imitations. So general had the practice become in India that it was common, when
wines were bottled by native coopers, for the question to be put, whether the bottles
should be sealed with the seal of Burdon «fe Gray, White, or Shaw, Ac. The Amoe-
kea^ Manufacturing Company obtained an injunction in the New York Court, in 1849,
against Spear A Ripley, to restrain them from using their trade marks on tickings.
The mark was an oval, with the letters * A. C. A.' below the center, and surrounded
by a vignette in red. A motion to dissolve the injunction was subsequently argued
and denied ; the judge, however, reserving the question of the right of the company
to the letters 'A. C. A.,' unless united with the vignette. A decree has since oeen
made, establishing the right of the company to the whole trade mark, and also to the
letters * A. C. A.,' whether in combination or by themselves. The courts, both of this
country and of the United States, will now issue injunctions, not only against copying
trade marks, but also against what was formerly often done — imitating them with a
slight difference. A case was decided in 1864, where an action was brought in the
Superior Court of Connecticut by Messrs. J. A P. Coats, of Paisley, Scotland, against
the Wellington Thread Company, of Tolland County, Connecticut, for an infringement
of the labels used on the spools. They were in the habit of using a label m black
and gilt, with the following, amongst other words and figures, printed thereon — * J. A
P. Coats, best six cord, 200 yards.' The Wellington Company imitated this mark by
making it appear as * Coats' best six cord, 200 yards.' An injunction was granted by
the Superior Court against the Wellington Company, to prevent the further use of the
* false and simulated wrappers on the thread,' under the penalty of £2,000, and the
defendants had to pay the costs of the suit
" The more generally and universally this subject of fraudulent imitations of trade
marks is discussed, the more likely is the practice to be put an end to, and private
and public interests protected thereby. A jury of business men will almost invariably
convict for such an offense, and it is but right that ingenuity, skill, and outlay should
be protected. The names of firms become, in the course of time, popular and cele-
brated from their identification with peculiar articles, and the forgerjr of these, the
trading on another man's credit, the filching of his good name by some unprincipled
adventurer, in order to deceive the public and enrich himself, is base and criminal in
the extreme, and demands tlie rigorou<) application of the law. Almost all commercial
nations have now joined in reprobating such proceedings, and legislating for the re-
dress of the wrong by inflicting damages and levying penalties of various kinds ; and
the good sense of the public, and of all honest-minded traders, agree in the necessity
for carefully guarding private interests of this kind."
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524 Mercantile Miscellanies,
FIRST BOOKS Iff AflfERICi.
It is a remarkable fact that in a year after the first priDting press was established
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or in 1640, an American book was issued from it, (be-
ing the first published in what are now the United States,) which was soon after re-
printed in England, where it passed through no less than eighteen editions, the last
being issued in 1764 ; thus maintaining a hold on English popularity for one hundred
and fourteen years. This was the " Bay Psalm Book.** It passed through twenty-
two editions in Scotland, where it was extensively known, the last bearing date 1759;
and as it was reprinted without the compiler enjoying pecuniary benefit from its
sale, we hare irrefutable proof that England pirated the first American book, being in
reality the original aggressor in this line.
This first American work enjoyed a more lasting reputation, and had a wider cir-
culation than any volume since, of American origin, having passed in all through
seventy editions — a very remarkable number for the age in which it flourished. Suc-
cess attended the colonial press, and in 1663 the first Bible printed in America waa
published at Oambridge. It was unlawful to print an English version of the Scrip-
tures— that right being a monopoly enjoyed by privilege and patent in England. The
one printed in Massachusetts was Elliott's famous Indian Bible ; and although fifteen
hundred copies were struck off, they are now quite rare and " sealed books,** as the
tongue in which they are written is literally a " dead language,** the tribe and all
who had a knowledge of the dialect being long extinct. Elliott's work is unique, be-
ing at once a monument to his piety, perseverance, and learning. Its literary suc-
cessor was Newman's Concordance of the Scriptures. This was compiled by the light
of pine knots in a log cabin, in one of the frontier settlements of Massachusetts. It
was the first of its kind, and for more than a century was admitted to be the most
perfect, holding its place in public esteem until superseded by OrudeD*e, which it
suggested.
PARIS FUEL SHOPS.
The fuel with which to cook a dinner in Paris costs nearly as much as the dinner
itself. Fuel is very scarce, and the American is surprised to find shops all over the
city, fitted up with shelves like those in shoe stores, upon which is stored wood, split
up in pieces about the size of a man*8 finger, and done up in bundles, as matches were
in the days of the tinder-box, steel, and flint : they are about the size of a bunch of
asparagus. These littld bundles sell at from two to six sous. Larger sticks are bun-
dled up in the same way, and sell at a frightful price. Charcoal is sold by the weight,
and hard coal being nearly as expensive as wood, can be bought in tlie smallest quan-
tity at any of these fuel shops. The windows of these shops are often decorated with
a curtain or inside shutter, upon which split wood and round wood are printed to
represent the bundles sold within.
HOW TO MAKE JUJUBE PASTE.
Hie jujube plant has been recently introduced mto this country. The following re-
cipe for making jujube paste is furnished by the United States Patent Office: —
** Take jujubes, one pound, and water, two quarts ; boil half an hoar, strain with ex-
pression, settle, decant the clear, and clarify with white of eggs ; add a strained solu-
tion of gumarabic, six pounds in four quarts of water, and to the mixture six pounds
of white sugar; gently evaporate, at first constantly stirring, and afterwards without
stirring, till reduced to the consistence of soft extract; add orange-flower water, six
ounces, and place the pan in a yessel of boiling water. In twelve hoars earefollj re-
move the scorn, pour tne matter into slightly-oiled tin molds."
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THE BOOK TRADE.
1. — Theitm : the Witnees of Reason and Nature to do All-wise and Beneficent
Creator. By John Tullock, D. D., Principal and Priroariua Profepsor of Theology
St Mary's College, St Andrew's. 12mo., pp. 431. New York : Robert Carter «fe
Brothers.
Mr. Bamett, a benerolent merchant of Aberdeen, Scotland, among other acts of
liberality, bequeathed certain sums to be expended at intervals of forty years, in the
shape of two premiums, inciting to the discussion of the evidences of religious truth,
and especially to the consideration and confirmation of the attributes of Divine Wis-
dom and Goodness. The writer of this essay received the second premium of £500,
the judges who decided on its merits having been Mr. Isaac Taylor, Henry Royles,
and the Rev. Padre Powell. The writer, it seems, kept very prominently in view the
anti-theistic tendencies of our time, especially as manifested in the form of Positivcism,
Materialistic Pantheism, in the shape of Positive Philosophy, has assumed a dignity
and importance which invest it with a new character, and require a new and more
comprehensive mode of treatment Miss Martineau's recent translation of Oomte's
great work, and Mr. G. H. Lewis* popular exposition of Positiveism, give additional
significance to the purpose of Dr. TuUock's prize essay.
2. — A Memoir of the Rev. Sydney Smith. By his Daughter, Lady Holland. With
a Selection from his Letters, Edited bv Mrs. Austen. In two volumes. 12mo., pp.
871 and 611. New York : Harper ^'Brothers.
It is ten years since the decease of this talented and independent preacher. The
public have had hut brief sketches and small recollections of his noble and Christian
life. His biography and letters will therefore be welcomed by all who love a record
of the truly good. The memoir in the first volume by his daughter beautifully por-
trays his domestic life, and a large portion of the book is filled with his witty and
brilliant sayings. The other volume contains a l.^rge collection from his correspond-
ence, edited by Mrs. Austen. Both books are exceedingly interesting. The London
Leader lias said mof t truly, " that a more lovely picture has seldom been presented to
the world than that of this brave and bright creature, so rich in wit, humor, high
animal spirits, inexhaustible kindliness, manly independence, sagacious good sense.
To read this book is a moral tonic. It is a lesson in life. It makes us happier and
better."
S.--~Pen Pictures of the Bible. By the Rev. Charles Bxeoher. With an Introduc-
tion by Harriet Beecher Stowe. First Series. 18mo., pp. 315. New York : J. C.
Derby. Boston : Phillips, Sampson & Co.
The fir^t of a series of books designed to interest young readers in the study of the
Old Tebtameut Mrs. Stowe does not look upon the books of the Old Testament as
mere literary fragments of a rude and barbarous age, of no more value than any
other literary writings of ancient time, but regards them as the electric principle to
the germs of liberty. The author has paraphrased some of the most interesting
stories of the Bible, and rendered them attractive to children.
4. — Disapline of Sorrow. By Rev. William G. Eliot, D. D., of St Louis. Boston :
American Unitarian Association.
Under this title, one of the most aflfectionate of pastors and best-beloved of preach-
ers has issued a little book in four chapters — "Preparation, Trial, Weakness and
Strength, Compensation.'* Its recommendations are, that it is written from a full
heart, in a cheering tone, and with a child-like trust; so small that it can easily be
slipped into one's pocket, it offers all the suggestions that Christian sympathy can
prompt and the struggling heart can crave.
6.— The Illustrated Manners Book, A Manual of Good Behavior and Polite Ac-
complishments. ISmo., pp. 502. New York : Leland, Clay <k Co. Stringer &
Townsend.
A book that will amuse the reader, if it does not reform or improve his manners.
The numerous illustrations are rather comical caricatures of the manners of " polbhed
Bociety.'*
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6. — Leeturea, delivered before the Young Men*fl OhristiaD AsBociation in Exeter Hall,
London, from November, 1864, to February, 1866. 12mo^ pp. 600. New York :
Carter ^ Brothers.
"We noticed some months since the publication of the series of lectures delivered
before the same association for 1868-4. That was the ninth annual series that has
been delivered before the Young Men*s Christian Association, but the first republished
in this country. The present volume contains thirteen lectures. Some idea of their
character may be gathered from the titles of the topics discussed, and the names of
their eminent authors, as follows: — 1. On the Origin of Civilisation, by the Archbishop
of Dublin. 2. Labor, Rest, and Recreation, by Rev. John Oumming, D. D. 8. Popu-
lar Fallacies, by Rev. William Landels, 4. The Glory of the Old Testament, by Rev.
Hugh Stowell, M. A. 6. Philosophy of the Atonement, by Rev. Thomas Archer. 6.
Man and his Maker. 7. The Intelligent Study of the Holy Scriptures, by Henry Al-
ford, B, D. 8. Constantinople and Greek Christianity, by Rev. Richard Burgess, R D^
Prebendary of St Paul. 9. Agents in the Revival of the Last Century. 10. God's
Heroes and the World's Heroes, by Rev. J. H. Gurney, M. A., Rector of St. Mary's,
Marylebone. 11. The Dignity of Labor, by Rev. Newman Hall, B. A„ Surrey Chapel
12. Ragged Schools, bv Rev. Thomas Guthrie, D. D. 18. Oppositiou to Great Inven-
tions and Discoveries, by Rev. Samuel Martiu, Westminster Chapel. The lectures, it
will be seen, are well calculated to promote moral thoughtfulness and living earnest-
ness in young men.
7. — The Iroquois; or the Bright Side of Indian Character. By Minnie Mtetle.
12mo., pp. 818. New Yoris: Appleton A Brothers.
This work has evidently been prepared with much research and care. The writer
has consulted the various works of the antiquarian, the historian, and the scholar ; but
not there alone, she has become acquainted and resided with portions of the race she
describes, and if she has not told the whole truth, what she has " written is truth, in
its minutest details." There is scarcely a topic connected with the character, manners,
habits, religion, government, ^^ <&c., of the Iroquois that is not described and dis-
cussed, and on the whole it contains the most comprehensive view of " the bright side
of Indian character," it has been our fortune to meet with in our varied reading.
8. — America Vindicated from European Theologico- Political and Infidel Aspersion*.
By Thomas J. Vaiden, M. D. In the 79th year of American Constitutional Lib-
erty. 12mo., pp. 812. New York : Morgan A Co.
A singularly written book which, besides other matters, purports to embrace in its
review Compte, in his " Positive Philosophy," and the Baron D' Holback, in his " Good
Sense and System of Nature." The author lays down a position which few will com-
prehend, viz.: that *'the American code of Morality or Infidelity is only extinguish-
able by Monotheist Normal principles." Dr. Vaiden, the author, bails from St. Paul,
Minnesota Territory.
9.— 7%4? British Poets. Boston : Little, Brown & Ca New York: James S. Dick-
erson.
The enterprising publishers continue to issue their series of the British Poets in
the same uniform and beautiful style. We have now before us the poetical works of
.Percy Bysshe Shelley, edited by 'Mrs. Shelley, with a memoir, in three volumes ; and
the poetical works of George Herbert, with a memoir of the author and notes, by Rev.
Robert Aris Willmott, incumbent of Beor Wood. We regard this edition of the
British Poets as the most desirable for libraries that has yet been produced in this
country.
10.— 0/t>; or the Old West Room. Tlie Weary at Work and the Weary at Rept
By L. M. N. 12mo., pp. 626. New York: Mason <& Brothers.
We find this story full of characters and adventures of all kinds. The plot is not
very skillfully wrought, yet there is some merit in the work Olie. The orphan is the
principal character — her fortune the reader follows with considerable interest The
morality of the book is good.
W.-^Xew Hope ; or the Rescue. A Tale of the Great Kanawha. 1 2roo., pp. 891.
New York : Bunco <& Brothers.
This work is a reprint, having formerly appeared under the title of ** Our Kate."
The story is an animated and graphic description of Western life in all its phases.
The reader will find much entertainment in its various characters and spirited s-cenes.
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12. — New Hampfhire Ai It Is, In Three Parts. Compiled from Numerous Authen-
tic Sources. By Edwin Charlton. Claremont, N. H. : Tracy 4 Sandford. Bos
ton : James French.
This Tolume, covering some six hundred pages, furnishes a pretty full historical
sketch of New Hampshire from its first settlement to the adoption of the Federal
Constitution. The second part is devoted to a Gazetteer of the State, embracing de-
scriptions of the towns, cities, villages, remarkable curiosities, minerals, <tc., and a
general view of the counties, both historical and topographical. In the third and last
part we have a very good general view of New Hampshire, including a description of
Its soil, productions, climate, its geological and mineralogical features, mountains, lakes,
and rivers, educational and religious institutions, banks, railroads, <Sec. The work is
interspersed with a number of portraits of the diftinguished men who have emanated
from that State, with comprehensive biographical sketches. To the sons and daugh-
ters of New Hampshire, scattered over every State and Territory of our wide-spread
Union, the work will have a peculiar interest, and as a contribution to the historical,
statistical, and other valuable information of a portion of the " Great Republic," it
will be regarded with favor by the American public generally.
18. — MathematiccU Dictionary and Cyclopedia of Mathematiccd Science^ comprising
Definitions of all the Terms employed in Mathematics ; an Analysis of each Branch,
and of the Whole, as forming a single Science. By Charles Davies, LL. D., author
of a ** Complete Course of Mathematics," and Wiluam G. Peck, A. M., Assihtant
Professor of Mathematics, United States Military Academy. Svo., pp. 592. New
York : A. S. Barnes <& Co.
A valuable dictionary, not only for the student in mathematics, but for the general
reader, who will find it to contain all he needs on the subject He can learn trom it
the signification and use of every technical term, and trace such term, in its connec-
tions, through the entire science. It is emphatically what it purports to be — " A Dic-
tionary and Cyclopedia of Mathematical Science." The success which has marked
the mathematical manuals of Dr. Davies, and the industry and learning of Mr. Peck,
the accomplished Professor in the United States Military Academy, presage for the
present work a wide circulation among a large circle of scholars and students.
14. — The Turkish Empire^ embracing the Religion, Manners, and Customs of the Peo-
ple. With a Memoir of the Reigning Sultan and Omer Pacha. By Edward Joy
Morris, author of "Travels in the East" 12mo., pp. 216. Philadelphia : Lindsay
<& BlakistoD.
The present struggle, in which Turkey is deeply involved, gives to the present ac-
count of the history, political and religious condition, and physical resources of the
people of that nation particular interest. Mr. Morris has presented, in a concise form,
a general view of the past and present condition of the Ottoman people and empire.
It is chiefly a translation, rendered more complete by the incorporation of portions of
the French writings on Turkey and Constantinople, by Jouannin, Van Gover, and La-
croix, intermingled with a considerable amount of matter suggested by Mr. Morris's
travels in Turkey and the East
16. — The Creed of Christendom; its Foundations and Superstructure. By William
Rathbone Greg. 12mo., pp. 867. New York : Calvin Blanchard.
Whatever may be the opinion entertained by different minds under varied infitf-
ences, few will dispute the logical acumen of the author. The conclusions which he
has endeavored to make clear, to quote from his own summary, are these : — " That
the tenet of the Inspiration of the Scriptures is baseless and untenable under any
form or modification which leaves it to a dogmatic value ; that the gospels are not
textually records of the sayings and actions of Jesus, but ascribe to him words which
he never uttered, and deeds which he never did ; and that the apostles only partially
comprehended, and imperfectly transmitted, the teaching of their Great Master."
The work will be read with interest by the free inquirer after religious truth.
16. — First Book in Composition, ioT the use of Schools. By J. Brookfield. New
York : A. S. Barnes <fe Co.
This little work seems well adapted for the aid of beginners in the difficult task of
composition. From examination we should judge that it would be very useful as a
suggestive of thought and expression to the youthful mind, and would meet the want
which children feel in attempting that branch of education.
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17. — My Bofidage and My Freedom. Part 1. Life as a Slave. Part 2. Life as a Free-
man. By FaEDK&iOK Douglas. With au introduction by Dr. James McCubs
Smith. 12mo., pp. 464. New York : Miller, Orton <& Mulligaa
More than two-thirds of the four hundred and sixty-four pages of this book is de-
voted to the author^s life as a slave, and we are assured that the details are facts, that
there is not a fictitious name or place in the whole volume. In a letter to Dr.McCuDe
Smith, a gentleman of African descent, who has written a preface to the work, Mr.
Douglas gays : — '* It is not to illustrate any heroic achievements of a man, but to vin-
dicate a just and beneficii 1 principle, by letting in the light of truth upon a system,
esteemed by some as a blessing, and by others as a curse and a crime." The work is
interesting in several particulars, and displays a power of description and delineaticii
that would do credit to men whose lives had been blessed with the advantages of a
higher literary culture.
18. — The Hidden Path. By Marion Harland, author of "Alone." 12ma, pp. 4S4.
New York : J. 0. Derby.
Miss Harland has laid the plot of this work in her own State, (Virginia,) where slie
is familiar with the scenes and characters which are described with so much natural-
ness. The heroine of the story is happily drawn and sustained. It is the picture of
a young girl who, by the reverses and vicissitudes of life, is thrown upon her own re-
sources, but through noble endurance, perseverance, and patience, is enabled to pass
through trials, encounter difficulties, and at last triumph by steadfast adherence to
duty." Many other characters are very life-like, and exhibit lessons which may be in-
structive to the reader. We commend the work for the truth it is meant to convey —
that peace and happiness can only be secured by stern persistence in well doing, what-
ever temporary sacrifice it may cost
19. — T/ie Romance of the Revolution^ being a History of the Personal Adventures,
Ht^roic Exploits, and Romantic Incidents, as enacted in the War of Independence,
Edited by Ouver B. Buxck. 12mo., pp. 434. New York: Bunce <fe Brothers.
In the present volume we have a collection of the strange and romantic events of
our revolutioDury history which have appeared in various forms during the last fifty
or sixty years. Few, if any, of these pas?ages have heretofore been collected in a
permanent form. This work is designed to perpetuate and preserve these legendary
pictures. Tlie collection of Mr. Bunce is made with discrimmation, and illustrates in
a remarkable degree the old and ttite adage that truth is stranger than fiction.
20. — Cotton is King ; or the Culture of Cotton, and its Relation to Agriculture, Man-
ufactures, and Commerce; to the Free Colored People; and to tliose who hold that
Slavery is in itself Sinful. By an American. 12mo., pp. 210 Cincinnati : Moore,
Wilstack, Keys & Co.
A more interesting work upon the subject cannot be conceived. In the details of
the influence of the growth of our principal Southern product upon the slave popoU-
tion, the author has fortified himself with facts and figures, which bear the closest
scrutiny. The tabular statements are also new and interesting, and are alone wortb
more than the price of the book. It is printed in a beautiful style, and worthy tbft
imprint of a Pickering or a Moxon.
21. — Light and Darkness ; or the Shadow of Fate. A Story of Fashionable lalie.
12mo., pp. 319. New York: D. Appleton <t Co.
This btory is intended to depict life as it is ; its purpose is to prove that, to the m-
governed pafisiona and foibles of the many, rather than to the hateful crimes of th«
few, we owe the miseries which darken social life. The melancholy results of those
who are slaves of impulse, and are not actuated by true principles, are also truly de-
picted. There is a healthy moral tone pervading the whole story, the scenes and ch«-
acters lively and truthful
22. — A Manual of Denial Economy ; or Practical Instruction on the Physiology audi
Treatment of the Teeth, in order to check their Diseases, repair their Injuries, sod
insure their Preservation. By Dr. Charles S. Rowell, Surgeon Dentist New
York : Chai les Scribner.
A very ut-eful manual, giving much information regarding the teeth, both lor
adults and cbiliiren, the knowledge of which would prevent much suffering and «(-
pense, by giving timely attention to the preservation of the teeth. The advtoe to
parents is sound and practical, the author himself being a practical dentist
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HUNT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE.
EsUiblUlied JTnly^ 18889
BY FREEMAN HUNT. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
VOLUME XXXIIL NOVEMBER. 186 6. NUMBER V
CONTENTS OF NO. V., VOL. XXXIII.
ARTICLES.
1. FINANCE, FOOD, AND FUTUBE OF FRANCE. By Diztbr F. Parker, of MaMb^*"*
chiuetts 531
IL MONEY AND BANK NG. Bj Richard Sul lit, of TndiaDa. 541
III. COMMERCE AND THE MERCHANT. Commerce, wh&t it is— NatanU to Man— DiTor»-
ity of EmpIoymeDt— Biblical Uoinmeree — Acquisition an Instinct from Divinltj — What
the Tbirel Tor tiold has Accompllsbed— Commerce brings Wealth And Power — A Com-
mercial People— An lllaHratii'n o( the Beneficence of Commerce — The HUrher Datlea of
the Merchant— His Exalted Station— In Bnstneas he must Combine Wisdom and Inno-
cence—The Merchant obeys the l^irs of hia rk>untry— The Merchant shoold be Rapid in
Decision and Action, etc. By Hun. Grorob W. CLiirroRf of New York 558
lY. COMMERCE OP THE UNITED STATES.- No. xix. French and Spanish War~8ao-
cesses of England— Vast Extension of Colonial Empire — Trade during and after the War
—Enforcement of the old Sugar Act—** Writs of Assistance"— New Tariff Acta— Ruin
of the Foreign West India Trade— Effects on the Colonies, on the West Indies, and on
England— PropoS' I Ion of a Stamp Duty. By Emoch Ualb, Jr., Esq., of New York 559
V. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CITIES OP THE UNITED STATES.— No. xti.
THE CITY OP LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS. By E. H. Dbrbt, Esq., of Moisaachuaetta. 5M
VI. PRIZE LAW— FREE SHIPS MAKE FREE GOODS 573
Vn. THE LAW MERCHANT.-No.i. THE APPLICATION OP VOLUNTARY PAYMENTS.
By Abbott Buothbrs, Counselors at Law, of New York 579
VIII. THE BANK OF E.^GLAND IN 1854 581
JODKNAL OF MERCiNTILB LAW.
Lawof Common Carriers— Bank-bill as Freight 585
Law of Salea—Fiand— Factor's Lien 586
BUI of Exchange before Acceptance— Rights of Attaching Creditor of Drawer and Payee 588
Steamboats Liable lor Robbery 590
COfflMEKCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW:
BMBRAOnrO A FIWANOIAL AXD COMSCERCIAL &KYIKW OP THS UNITKD BTATB8, ITO., ILLUSTEA.
TED WITH TABLK8, ITO., AS FOLLOWS :
Indications of Commercial and Financial Prosperity — Causes of Disquiet — Connection with Fi-
nancial Dlfllcultiea Abroud- Effect ui' tbe War upon the Cotton Trade— Foreign Capital in
American Enterprise— Foreign Exchanue, and the Supply of Gold— The Canal across the lath-
mua of Darieo— Keveuue for the laol Quarter at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Charleston, New Orleans, and St. LoHi»— Thu Bunk Morement— Receipts of Gold at New
York Assay Ofllce and at the New Orleans Mint — Importa at New York for September and
from January Est- Imports of Dry Goods— Cash Duties received at New York— Exporta from
New York for September and from January 1st— Exporta of Domestic Produce-The Food
Question— Struggle for Specie between England and France, etc., etc 50S-OO1
VOL. xxxin. — NO. V, 84
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530 CONTENTS OF NO. V., VOL. XXXIH.
rAOEi
COMMEKCIAL STATISTICS.
Trade and CommeroeofNew Orleans in 1854-55 601
Export Trade or Charleston, Souib Carolina 9H
CouBumpUon of Sardines in the United States.— NayigaUon of the Port of New Orleans 606
Export Trade of Savannah, Georgia 607
Commerce of the Brazilian Empire 608
The Fur Trade 609
JOURNAL OF BANKING, CUBKENCT, AND FINANCE.
Relative Value of Real and Personal Estate in the City and County of New York 610
Condition or the New Orleans Banlts 611
Finances of the aty of New York 6l«
Revenue and Expenditures of the Brazilian Empire 613
Coinage ot the World from J 848 to 1854 614
Costoms Revenue of the Principal Ports of the United States.— Constitutional Liability of Bank
Btociiholdera 616
COHHERCIAL REGULATIONS.
The Mexican Tariff of 1855 617
Free Ships Make Free Coods 618
Hie New Salvage Law of Louisiana.— Accounts and Returns of Merchandise 619
Application to Bond Warehouses, etc— Act of Louisiana relative to Personal Property Pledged. 6^
Regulaiions lor the Inspection of Flour in New Orleans 631
Purchase of Belligerent Ships by N eutrals.r-4iow Bonds for Duties must be Signed 621
JOURNAL OP INSURANCE.
Legal Opinion on nitnois Insurance Law 693
Actof New York relative to Dividends of Insurance Companies 6i4
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
Of Piloto appointed by the Pilot Oomml!«lone« In New York 634
Princess Channel — Eutrance to the Thames 625
Coast of Spain : Straitof Gibraltar -Alteration of Tarifa Light 6;tf
POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
Complete statistics ofthe United states Post-Office* 6^
Progress of ttie Irish PostOfflce 637
StatUttiGs of the British Po6t-Offlce.-Post-Offlce Management eS
STiTISTICS OF POPULATION, be.
Deaths Doings with the Population of Massaohnsetts.— Marriages In the State of Kentucky .... 639
Native and Foreign PopuUuion of the United 8uies 63U
Population of Boston at Diflbrenl Periods. — Progress of Population in the London Oiatricta. 63U
Populauon of Jersey City inl85Uand It^ 631
STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, &c.
Culture of Cotton and Tobacco in Algeria 631
The Histor> of Butter.— Effects of Free Labor in the South 633
Tobacco: the Popular Plant In the World 634
Broom-Corn: the Method and Cost of Cultivation 635
Land dales m the United Stales in 1854-55.— Beet Sugar of Fianoe 636
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
Steamboat Disastere on the Western Waters 637
Canals and Railroads. -Cost of Fuel to Railroads 63S
Tratncufthe Erie and Central Railroads In 1854 and 1855 639
Morrises Method of Steering Iron Ships by Compass.— Brooklyn City Railroad Company 639
JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
Origin of Wire Rope : its Qualities and Economy M9
Whlieuing Pins and Needles made of Iron and Steel <M9
Superiority of American Iron $41
The Essence ofCoala Sub»tituie for Oil of Turpi>nilne.— New York HaU 643
Alcohol from Beet-Root — Uow Lager Bier is made 643
Wetting Bricks lor Buildiugs 644
MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
Hnni^s Biography of A merican Merchants 644
The Names of Ships a National Characteristic -Chocolate Trade of Beaton 646
Magneusm in Tradtf.— Bu>iiig Wine by Sample 647
Stick to Some One Pureult.— Facts about Cuba Tobacco and Cigara 648
New York Cotton Market. By Uluorn 4c FRanaaicKsoii, Brokers, New York. ^ 649
THE BOOR TRADE.
Nottoesof33 new Books or new Edlttona «...« 651 69i
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HUNT'S
MEECHANTS' MAGAZINE
AKD
COMMERCIAL REVIEW,
NOVEMBEK, 1855.
Art. L— FWANCB, FOOD, AND FnTOBE OF FRANCB.
Perhaps the mercantile reader may wonder at our linking together
three such uncongenial words as the headinff of an article wnich is to
treat of the causes of those revolutions that nave visited France for the
last three-quarters of a century, and rendered her government vacillating
and unstable ; but if he will read us attentively, we believe that we shaU
evidence to him conclusively that Finance and Food have been the mighty
agents that five times, in the course of sixty years, have revolutionized
France, and hurled from their seat of power despots, kings, and republi-
cans ; and also that her Future can be read with unmisUiable certainty
by these lights of past experience — lights which have ever guided the feet
of statesmen, and made them able to judge of the destinies of republics,
nations, and empires.
At present we see seated upon the throne of France one whose power
seems to be gradually strengthening, and the stability of whose govern-
ment is ascribed to the magic power of a name, instead of admitting it to
be the result of the sound policy he has pursued, as the dispenser of a
nation's wealth, and as the guardian of her pecuniary and economical in-
terest When he ascended 3ie throne as Napoleon III., he was the jibe
and jeer of every government in Europe ; but to-day he is looked upon as
one of the ablest sovereigns upon the continent, and the stability and per-
petuity of his government seems to be almost beyond doubt, and grim,
bloody revolution appears to have fled the soil that so long has nour^
ished it, and relinquished to despotism the field it has battl^ for since
1789. France's present condition seems almost an anomaly, and its durar
tion seems generally to be admitted. But in order that we may see
clearly the slight foundations upon which her present government rests^
we will examine her past and present financial conditijon,* and show the
cause that produced the revolutions of 1789, 1802, 1830, 1848, and 1861.
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532
Finance, Food, and Future, of France.
Prom the very earliest periods of French history we find traces of the
restlessness of her citizens under any oppressive systems of taxation. As
early as 1461 Guienne rose in arms against Charles VIL solely on account
of the arbitrary taxes he levied upon her ; and even in the eighth century
her nobles demanded exemption from all taxation whatever. M. A.
Genevais, in his "Recherches Statistique sur les Finance du Royaume de
France," says that most of the revenues of the early kings of France were
drawn from their feudal and tributary subjects ; and he cites the follow-
ing remarks of Rochfort, Chancellor to Charles VIII., as indicative of the
then financial policy of the king : " It is not, said he, the intention of the
king to draw upon the purses of his subjects ; he begins his reiffn by con-
secrating the revenues of his domains to the expenses of his throne and
discharging the liabilities of the State, and he will demand only the con-
tributions that are necessary and indispensable to the defense of his king-
dom."
In accordance with this policy he began his reign, and as Genevais
dates his financial history from this period, we give ube reader the annual
sums levied upon France from the days of Charles VIL, in 1461 (the
amount levied under this king and Louis XI. is given by Philip de Co-
mines) to 1781 : —
Revenue.
Year. Francs.
1461 1,800,000
1471 4,700,000
1483 24,600,000
1661 141.000,000
1610 80,000,000
1648 89,000,000
Deficit.
Franca.
66,000,000
BeTeDae.
Year. FVancs.
1661 90,000.000
1690 112,000,000
1700 119,000.000
1769 189,000,000
1769. .••••• ••••. •••
17ol .•••••• ••■••.•••
1649 92,000,000 74,000.000
Defldt
Fraoea.
62,000,000
217,000,000
100.000,000
218,000,000
Year.
1662.
1689.
1696.
1660.
DEBT OP FBANOB PBIOB TO 1782.
France. Year.
17,000,000 I 1698
888,649,700 | 1710
96,900,000 1726
788,400,000 I 1781 ,
1,201,690,000
4,886,818,760
2,000,000,000
269,750,000
Such was the financial condition of France at the beginning of 1 783,
and at the close of our revolutionary war, in which she was our ally. One-
half of her soil belonged to the clergy ; most of her nobility were free
from any heavy taxation, while her agriculturalists, who owned about one-
third of the empire, and were generally small proprietors, were forced to
pay the government seven parts out of every twelve they produced — and
if the produce of the laud amounted to 3/. 2*. 7fl?., the king received for
his proportion 1/. 18^. 4e/., and 18«. 5d, went to the cultivation of the
soil — and if he cultivated his own land, the king took I/. I8s. 4d.j and the
little proprietor, 1/. 4«. 3d,
The taxes upon consumption amounted to 260,000,000 francs ; and the
peasants of France were 76 per cent poorer than the same class of labor-
ers in England. Add to this, the fact that the clergy exacted from the
people 130,000,000 francs in addition to the government levy, and you
have some idea of the causes that drove France to a bloody and relentless
revolution — one that sapped the very foundations of its society, and bid
fair at one time to overtiu-n even every existing good institution in her
midst
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Fmanee^ Foody and Future^ of France. 588
What at this time was the condition of the finances of France ? Below
we g^ve a table showing her income, expenditure, and deficits ; also her
debt in 1789:—*
Rerenoe. ^ Bxpeosea. Deficit
Tear. FraDOS. Franoa. Francs.
1784 286,888,000 288,162.000 46,829,000
1786 474,047.64» 689.184,996 116.187,846
1787 474.048,289 699,1 86,796 125,087,667
1788 472,416.649 627,256,089 • 160,000,000
1789 469,988,246 659,000,000 1 89.000,000
Such was the condition of the finances of France at this period ; and al-
though in 1775 and some succeeding years she was an exporter of food,
yet from 1784 to 1789 she was an importer; and the second agent of
revolutions was in those years slowly raising its head amongst the over-
taxed and gradually starving population of France.
In July, 1788, a fearful storm destroyed the entire harvest of that coun-
try, and men, goaded on by want and maddened by hunger, hurled from
the throne the monarch that had robbed the people by taxation, and de-
S rived them of the means of subsistence by taxes upon the land that pro-
uced their food.
Of the twelve years of anarchy and disaster that followed we can say
but little, for the finances of the State were made up of enormous confis-
cations, 2,565,133,000 francs of private property being applied to the ex-
igencies of the State, and yet its annual deficits were 100,000,000 francs;
its land and window tax was 265,000,000 ; while 16 per cent of the in-
come of the people went to a relentless and bloody revolutionary govern-
ment
In 1802 Napoleon was elected Consul for an additional ten years, and
as at this nenod France was almost convulsed with another revolution,
we will look for a moment at the condition of her then regulated finances.
The direct contributions levied upon her soil at this time amounted to
273,600,000 francs, while, to use the language of the Due de Gaeta,
" there were some of the land proprietors who were paying the fourth,
third, and even the half of their incomes to the government The con-
sular government was besieged with petitions upon the burdensome nature
of the tax, and Napoleon paved his way to the throne of France by re-
modeling her entire system of taxation, remarking in the Council of State
in regard to it, * Your system of land tax is the worst in Europe. The re-
sult of it is that there is no such thing as property or civil liberty in the
country ; for what is freedom without security of property ? A man who
has 3,000 francs of rent a year cannot calculate upon having enough next
year to exist upon — everything may be swept away by direct taxation.
Nothing,* says he, * has ever been done in France to give security to prop-
erty. The man who shall devise an equal law on the subject of the
cadastre (survey of lands) will deserve a statue of gold.' "
In 1804 Napoleon changed this plan of direct taxation to indirect con-
tribution, by levyilig small imposts upon articles of consumption. By
this means he diminished the taxes upon the land to the amount of
10,200,000 francs. By 1807 he had reduced the debt of the nation from
5,587,000,000— at which it was in 1790 — to 1,912,000 francs. Below we
give his budgets for certain years up to 181 2 : —
* The goreromeiit kad borrowed, from 178] to 1786, 1,646,000,000 fhmes ; annnAl deficit in the
Mine time, 140,000,000 (huice ; and in 1789 U was 180,000,000 franca ; and Ita debt was 5,587,000,000
francs.
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5S4
Finance, Food, and Future, of France.
Year.
1801....
ReTenue.
Franos.
450,000,000
670,000,000
688,062,000
688,998,705
682,823.740
664.879,901
728,514,020
ExpendUare.
Franca.
Year.
1.810. . . .
1811....
1812*...
1818....
1814....
1815....
Bovsmta.
Franca.
744,892,027
907,296,657
876,266.180
824.278,749
1,176,800,000
520,000,000
Franca.
1803*....
1804
666,155,789
1805*-..
1807*
780,000,000
1808
827,416,000
1809....
Such was the general financial condition of the empire in 1814, though
the year previous the agent that dethroned Louis XVI. had began to
work. The disastrous result of the Russian campaign had embarrassed
the state of the finances, and in November, 1813, Ni^oleon gave orders
to add 30 centimes, or nearly a third, to the land and window tax, to
double the personal tax, and add three-fifths to the excise duties and salt
tax, which measure affected every inhabitant of France, and made them
weary even of Napoleon le Grand,
In January, 1814, the land tax was increased fifty per cent, and the du-
ties on doors and windows, as well as duties upon personal and assessed
taxes, were doubled. The effect of this last financial act upon the waning
popularity of Napoleon is shown by the fact that in France, at that time,
but 17,000 propnetors possessed above 200/. a year, while 8,000,000 of its
inhabitants were so poor as to be only taxed 16«. 10c?. per head, and yet
the land tax bore directly upon them and extorted from them the follow-
ing sums in the years given below : —
1808. 1807. 1808. 18U.
Franca. Francs. Franca. Franca.
188,000,000 172,227,000 181,458,491 282,985.928
To show who these taxes fell upon, we subjoin the following table, com-
piled by the Due de Gaeta, Napoleon's Minister of Finance : —
Taxed at—
1,000
600 to 1,000
101
to
600
61
to
100
81
to
60
21
to
80
Below
21
Franca..
No. taxed.
Amount of tax.
17,746
81.649.468
40,748
27.668.016
469,937
90.411.706
694,648
41.181.486
6i»9,637
27,229,618
704,871
17,682.088
7,897.110
47,178.649
10,414,721
282.985,928
In addition to this burdensome tax, provisions began to foil, and famine,
the ally of finance in revolutions, began to play its part in dethroning
one who once had the strongest hold upon the French nation that any
man ever possessed over a people, either in ancient or modem times. In
1802 and 1803 France was forced to be an importer of grain; but from
1804 to 1810 she was an exporter; while in 1811, 1812, and 1813, she
ajg^ain became an importer of the food that was necessary to furnish sub-
sistence to her people. This fact filled Napoleon with the deepest alarm,
and even when anticipating it, he addressed the following letter to Mob-
talivet. Minister of the Interior : —
* In 1803 the contribnttona from Italy were SSjOOO,000 ; and In 1905 there were lerled npoo c;eBoa,
Italy, and Holland 130,000,000. In 1807 Germany, Italy, t^paln, Portugal, and Auntria paid tnto Um
Imperial treasury of Prance 772,226.023 fmncs, which sum supported Napoleon's Orand jSrwu$ at
200,000. and lefl htm a aorpiua uf 543.226,9^ fVancs. In six yesra Napoleon exacted from bla cob-
qnered enemies $155,0004)00. In twelve years (iSOO-lSlSj he expended upon pabUe worka bi tb«
empire 1,030,000,000 francs, or •300,000,000.
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Fmemee, Food, and Future, ofFrtme$. W^
<* MoHsifeXTR LE CoHTE : — ^I send yon a very important ncyte from the Council-
lor of State, Maret, on the question of corn. Come to the Council on Monday
supplied with all the information which you can procure on this important affuir.
I have given orders to that Councillor of State to attend with all the documents
which are in his hands. You will see that this Councillor of State believes that
all the wheat of 1808 and 1809 will have been consumed by the end of the year.
I have forbidden the exportation of rye from what he says of its dearness. I
have doubled the export duty on wheat. Those two decrees shall be dispatched
during the night Bring with you on Monday all that the good of my service
shall suggest to vou as useful and suitable for remedying t£e present state of
things. Bring likewise returns of the exports since the month of August This
question is the most important of all, and I cannot delay beyond Monday taking
a definite resolution on the subject I request you to verify the fact, and to take
measures that the reserve stores shall be fully supplied. You have inspectors
who are charged with that verification. The existence of that supply is con-
fided to your zeal for my service. I have sacrificed a million a year during eight
years for that purpose. It would be truly unfortunate were those eight millions
and those eight years of anxiety lost at the moment when the fruit should be
collected, f cannot sleep tranquilly on the subject until I am completely reas-
sured. On your part, make it your particular care to verify that a sufficient sup-
ply for Paris exists. There is no government measure more susceptible of pro-
ducing an influence on the happiness of the people and on the tranquillity of the
»lmini3tration than the certainty of the existence of that supply. It is not be-
yond your attributes to demand a statement of the supplies which are at the dis-
posal of the War Department See that the Invalides and the hospitals have
their supplies, and that they are not taken unawares. It would be terrific if it
were true, as I am assured it is, that 40 millions' worth of grain have been ex-
ported to England since the month of August last I have imposed a double
duty on the export of wheat Give me an account of the exporU, and tell me if
it be possible to increase it still more. I would further desire to increase the
snpply of Paris still more out of the million-and-a-half which 1 receive from the
eustoms duties. I pray to God that he may keep you under his holy protection.
" NAPOLEON."
These sad forebodings of Napoleon were but too true, for in 1811,
1,400,000 quintals of grain were obliged to be imported into France.
Two hundred thousand rations were daily distributed among the people, and
20,000,000 francs were required from the imperial treasury to pay the ex-
tra charges upon the government and keep the people in a state of
quietude ; and no language of ours could so well express the effect of this
scarcity, and its relation to the stability of government, as does that let-
ter of Napoleon to Mantalivet, written when he was anticipating that
even he might be driven from France by the forces of finance and food.
At last he became the victim of his own suicidal policy ; for he ex-
hausted the finances of France, deprived her people of the means of sub-
sistence by his vast drains upon her producing population, and, as a
penalty for his oppressions, finance and food revolutionized the sentiment
of the empire, and made its people glad to receive as a ruler and king a
descendant of the hated dynasty of the Bourbons.
This new dynasty commenced their reign under the most inauspicious
circumstances. Though Napoleon, as we are informed by the minister of
Louis XVIIL, left a debt of only 126,000,000 francs, yet when he was
obliged, by his reverses in Austria, to give up his favorite policy of making
war pay for war, instead of resorting to credits he had recourse to exorbi-
tant taxations, and thus exhausted France at a single stroke, instead of
eking out her substance by paying interest upon enormous loans. France
was unable to bear even ordinary taxation, and the deficits of 1814, 1815,
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Hererae.
ExpeoM.
Franc*.
Teara.
Franca.
Franca.
1,487,000.000
1825 ....
946,098,000
Surplus.
1,221,000,000
I826t ...
942,618,000
f 19,000.000
1,040,000,000
1827 ....
98«.627,000
§5,000.000
t26,000,000
1828 ....
989,848,000
Deficit
,
1829 ....
976,708,000
Deficit
6M I^mame^Fooi^amdl^Umre^I^rmMO.
and 1816, amomitod to 89,051,115 franca, wbfle in 1817 it rose to
349,000,000, which resulted in part from the enonnons contributions levied
upon her by the Aliiea, (viz. : 1,550,000,000 francs,) in retaliation of the
policy of Napoleon, who had extorted from his enemies 1350,000,000.
Add to this the fact that famine was staring France in the face, and that
76,000 francs was paid daily in Paris to keep down the price of breads
and we have some idea of the financial diflBculties that beset that country,
imd the extent of which forced Bignot to declare " that France was at the
mercy of the Allies, and unless they were generous to her another revo-
lution must add to her already ruinous and disastrous condition.'* The
Allies 3rielded to these appeals, cut down their demands from 1,500,000,000
francs to 360,000,000, and thus gave France an opportunity to regain her
position among the powers of Europe. The Spanish and Algeria war in
a few years followed these events, and we give the budgets of France from
1815 to 1830 in the columns below : —
RevMiae.
Tettin Fraim.
1817 ... 1,088,294.967
1818 993.244,022
1819»... 1,085,000.000
1820 889.209,000
1823 .... 1,123,466,892
1824 992,888.968
Such was the condition of the finances under Charles X., each year ex-
hibiting a deficit, and making it necessary to ask for new loans to carry
out the measures of the government Under his and the preceding ad-
ministration 6,434,000,000 francs had been added to the debt of France,
and the various surpluses noted above were but the result of enormous
loans. In addition to these financial embarrassments, famine, that had al-
ready dethroned Louis XVI. and Napoleon, began to battle against him
also, and in 1828 and 1829, riot and disorder pervaded every part of
France — bread rose in value a third — 28,000,000 bushels were imported
to supply the demand of the people, who, urged on by hunger and exas-
perated by taxations too grievous to be borne, openly rebelled, and placed
upon the throne the Citizen King, Louis Philippe.
Thus the third change of rulers and of government since 1789 was
caused by disordered finances and lack of food. The accession of Louis
Philippe to the throne of France seemed to betoken an auspicious day for
that country, but the first year of his reign was marked by a deficit in the
budget to the amount of 530,000,000 francs, while in 1832 the indirect
contributions decreased 59,000,000 francs. If we examine in detail his
reign, we shall see it disgraced by riots and internal disorders at home,
war abroad, and lack of confidence everywhere. To his credit, though,
be it said, that he introduced in his reign good post-roads for France, and
also other useful internal improvements, but almost every year that he
sat upon the throne was marked with a deficit, partly the result of his for-
eign relations, and partly the fruit of his own housenold expenditure. Be-
low will be found the state of Francois finances from 1830 to the revolu-
tion of 1848, which drove him from France : —
* The deficits from 1814 to 1819 ware replaced by loans, which amounted In oil to 1,030,000,000
tnnes, Thesarplus In 1810 was 44,500,000 francs. In 1821, Uie taxes were reduced 17,000^000
ftranes; In 1823, 9S,0OOg00O francs.
♦ ttuirplns.
% In 1826, war with Spain. In 1837. a loan of 800,000,000 franca was neffotiated br Um ^orertt-
meat. Algeria war began In 18S8, and In 18S0 tbe army was raised A-om 180^ to 420,000 men.
I Oefldt.
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Finanee, Food, and Future qfJ^anee^
58f
BATeane.
Defldt
Years.
Fraocs.
Francs.
Years.
1880»...
.. 981,610,000
680,000,000
1842
1881....
.. 1,172,000,000
Deficit
1848
1M2....
.. 1,097,000,000
Deficit
1846
1838....
966,870,000
Deficit
1846
1884....
924,000,000
Deficit
1847
BeTeana. Deficit
Fraocs. Francs.
1,162,000,000 Deficit
1,847,000,000 t988,640,886
1,864,489,406 170,000,000
1,361 ,000,000 J4 1 ,000,000
It will be seen above that nature, as though she was the sworn enemy
of kings, armed her children against that sovereign who was but the toy
of a wild and sudden revolution, for famine had, in 1847, made France
one field of riot, while its disordered finance forced the king to raise its
land tax, so that every land holder in France paid 30 per cent of his in-
come to the government, and 280,000,000 francs were levied upon the
small yet poor tillers of that country's soil. The people were goaded al-
most to frenzy ; redress was demanded from the throne, and fearing that
it might not come, the people demanded a revolution, and the fourth king of
France was driven from his throne by the coalition of finance and famine.
The ruler chosen by a revolution became himself at last its victim, because
the people demanded food for their nourishment and exemption from bur-
densome taxations, in order that they might enjoy the fruits of their
labor.
He left, as a legacy to the revolutionary government that followed his,
a floating debt of 630,000,000 francs, and they aggravated this embarrass-
ment still farther by increasing the array, enrolling the Guard Mobile, and
by an ill-timed reduction of the impost in the sum of 160,000,000 francs.
To remedy this, recourse was had to a loan of 250,000,000, but each year
only added to the embarrassment of the government, and the seizure of
its administration by Napoleon was acquiesced in by the people because it
promised some dimmution in taxation, and unlike the two revolutions that
preceded it, it added nothing to the embarrassment of the finances, but by
the dissolution of the National Guard it promised a reduction in the ex-
penses of government, and was gladly acquiesced in by the people. We
will now give the budget of the revolutionary government : —
Revenue. Defldt
Years. Francs. Francs. Tears.
1848§ 1,629,000,000 76,000,000 I 1860 . . .
1849 1,492,000,000 455,614,978 | 1851 1 . .
Revenoe. Deflclt
Francs. Francs.
1,488.000.000 66,000,000
1,448,000,000 101,000,000
Each year, as seen above, shows a fearful deficit in the budget of the
government, but this time nature saved France from another disorganizing
revolution, for from 1848 to 1852 the crops were so abundant that she ex-
ported 30,000,000 bushels of grain, by means of which $19,000,000 was
added to her national wealth. Taxation was therefore, in 1852, her only
grievance; 16,000,000 landed proprietors demanded relief from its bur-
dens, and the coup d'etat of Napoleon was hailed with delight, for it prom-
ised stability of government, and, as a necessary eflfect of it, increase in
the " indirect contributions " of the empire, and consequently diminution
* Charles X. deposed and Ix>als Philippe made kin?. In 1833, a loan of 70,000,000 was effected.
In 1833, the debt of Prance was 5,417,595,0]7 francs. In 1S43, there was snuther loan of 150.000,000
francs. The cost of the Algerine war was 200,000,000 francs. The fortlflcations aronnd Paris that
were bailt hj this monarch cost 647,610,000 franca. Id 1847, France imported 270.000,000 francs'
worth of food, and it acn^in borrowed, by means of loans, 350,000,000 fraocs. lu debt bad now
raached the enormons sum of 0,450,000,000 franca.
t Deflcit from 1840 to 1844.
i Deficit.
I Increase in exppndituraa In 1848, 876,000,000 francs, which was met by a loan of 350,000,000.
The indirect coninbulions in the same year decreased 142,000,000 francs.
I Coup tCetat of Nupoleon,
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5S8 Finance, Food, €ind Future of Fttmce,
in direct taxations, thus giving labor greater chances of support, and capi-
tal greater security in its investments in manufactures, Commerce, and
trade.
The remarkable success that thus far has attended his reign, the quietude
of France under it, and the regard of the nation for him have been as-
cribed to all causes save, as we shall show, the true one, for finance and
food have been his allies instead of his enemies. During the sixteen years
of Louis Philippe's reign the indirect contributions to the revenue increased
yearly at the rate of 19,000,000 francs, but under Napoleon III. they have
increased at the rate of 44,000,000 francs a year. By diminishing the
army he has reduced the land tax down to 161,000,000 francs, the lowest
point ever attained since the revolution. This reduction alone amounted
to 27,000,000 francs, and pressed almost entirely upon the laborers in the
rural districts. He has also relinquished the octroi duties, consisting of a
tenth levied upon certain taxes, and yielding 7,000,000 francs, and he has
abolished other taxes, (including the reduction of two-thirds of the duty
upon salt,) making in all the sum of 40,000,000 francs, that he has taken
since 1852 from 3ie burdens of the poor. To compensate for these re-
ductions no recourse has been had to new loans, but France's prosperity
has so increased the " indirect contributions " that her treasury, as we shall
soon see, has for two years had a surplus. The items of expenditure for
1864 are—for War, 315,897,791 francs; for Marine, 127,602,402 francs;
for Instruction and Public Worship, 66,719,722 francs ; for Public Worki,
156,785,242 francs; Minister of Finance, 711,964,619 francs. We will
now give Napoleon lll.'s budgets from 1851 to 1855 : —
Revenae. DeflcUs. ReYenue. Deficit
Ye«™. Francs. Francs. Years. Prance. Francs.
1862* 1,422;000,000 24,000,000 I ISfiif 1,614,26M48 18,467.630
1868 1,460,000,000 4,000,000 | 1866 1,666,012,218 t8,981,M«
Such are the budgets of Napoleon to June, 1855, and upon them Bineau,
Minister of Finance, thus remarks : — " The Council of State is at this mo-
ment examining the budget of 1865. It presents an equilibrium. The
budget of 1851, that which preceded your accession, left a deficit of
101,000,000 francs. The deficit of 1 852 has only amounted to 26,000,000
francs; that of 1853 will be only about 4,000,000 francs. This progress
will, I hope, continue ; and, except in the case of extraordinary wants for
1854, the equilibrium will become customary in our finances, as it should
be the rule- of them.
" I have concluded. Sire, the account of the financial situation of the
empire. This statement is not less satisfactory than that which, at a sim-
ilar period last year, I had the honor to submit to you; 1862 and 1853,
two memorable years in the political history of France, will be also re-
markable in her financial history. During these two years, at the same
time that the emperor re-established order and authority, he has re-estab-
lished the public and the private prosperity ; without new taxes or a new
charge for the country, the emperor has maintained the reduction of the
salt tax and lessened the land tax ; without a loan, your Majesty has exe-
cuted in two years extraordinary public works to the amount of 160,000,000
francs — the expense of which works might, however, have been cast on
the future, which will enjoy the fruits of them ; and, instead of borrowing,
• Valae of breadelnSiB exported $10,790,000; Tmlneof tbe same imported in 1852, $13,400,000.
f Loan of 250,000,000 lyanos, necesfcitated by the war lb the Elit. Increased expt^ditimt f
1855,-40,156,565 Cnuica; alM> a new loan of 400,000,000 franca.
X tSiirplua.
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FhMnee, Food^ and Future, of France. 639
jovtr MtijeRty has, by the conversion and paying off of the 6 per cents, re-
duced by 21,600,000 francs the annual interest of the public debt"
Such is the language of Bineau, and he might have added that even na-
ture herself was upon his side, for while in 1853 France imported bread-
stuffs to the value of $13,400,000, still in 1851 and 1852 she exported
ihe same material to the value of 129,330,000, thus showing that nnance
and food are still the friends of Napoleon IE., and by their power and by
their influence he sits firmly upon the throne of France. Once famine
shook at him her heavy fingers, but he paid from the public tr^ury, as
did Louis XVIIL before him, sums large enough to compensate the bakers
for not raising the price of bread, and Paris was tranquil, as the result of
his policy, and to-day he seems to sit fast upon the throne of France, and
tranquillity upon her soil has taken the place of riot and revolution.
But what is her future ? We may almost say with truth that we have
already answered the question. Every revolution that has overthrown the
rulers of France has been preceded by a war. Thus a costly war preceded
the dethronement of Louis XVI., the election of Napoleon in 1 802, (as
Consul, thus paving his way for becoming Emperor^ nis dethronement in
1816, the revolution of July that ejected Charles X. from his throne, and
the revolution of February, 1848, that drove Louis Philippe from his king-
dom, while the increase of the army under the Republic that followed him,
so embarrassed the finance, that the people rejoiced at the change that
made Napoleon emperor of France. Let us look, therefore, for a moment
at the effect of the present war upon the future tranquillity of this coun-
try.
In the budget for 1856, that we have already laid before the reader,
nothing but ordinary peace expenses are included, and in commenting
upon it as regards the war the Constitutionnel observes : — " It is from pub-
lic credit that the resources required for carrying it on will be demanded.
Nothing is more just in principle, for if.it is true that in fighting for the
maintenance of the European equilibrium we protect the interests of the
future, it is for that very reason most just that future generations should
aid us to support the burden of it. Nothing is more wise, in fact, for it is
good policy to show consideration to a country which has only just issued
from a revolutionary crisis, and, above all, to take money where it can be
procured — an immense advantage which the recourse to public credit pre^
sents."
In pursuance of this policy a loan of 250,000,000 was effected in March,
1864, before the campaign was fairly opened, and the following additional
sums were voted in the budget that was based upon a peace footing : —
Interest upon the loan above mentioned francs 16,407,988
Increase fur army and navy 16.938,146
For Minister of Finance 20,684,261
Other soma 2,24 1 ,966
Making in all, (after deducting 6,400,000 taken from the Poblie ) ^q .hq qqq
Works,) an increase of ) ' '
Since this peace estimate was made, 80,000 soldiers have been added to
the army, 50,000 sent to the Crimea, part of which expense was paid, no
doubt, by Great Britain ; but still the government, even at the present
time, have effected a new loan of 450,000,000 francs, which will add
61,000,000 francs to the yearly expenses of France. Add to this fact the
one that the floating debt at the present time is 760,000,000 francs, that
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540 If^nance, Food, and Fuiurt^ of France,
the sinking fund is suspended, and that 1 10,000,000 francs will have to be
added to me budget of 1 856, and we have an idea of the slender thread
upon which hangs the tranquillity of France, for she is approaching toward
financial embarrassments that are inevitable, and which a year <? famine
will accelerate, and aid in producing and causing another revolution. In
a single month war has reduced the bullion in her bank $8,000,000, and
already commercial revulsions are beginning to occur in all parts of the
empire. One year of scarcity now would be but the precursor to another
revolution. Let us here remark that it is not the fickleness of the people
that produces these changes, but it results from the peculiar position of
the nation, owing to the subdivision of its landed property.
We have already alluded to the extent of these divisions in 1815, and
judging from that date there are at present in France 17,000,000 landed
proprietors, most of whom are too poor to ever taste of meat, and who
eke out but a miserable subsistance. The result of this svstem is that
France has no " extraordinary resources " on which to draw m case of war,
for if she were to levy upon land a tax of $26,000,000 to support a war,
it would bear directly upon 17,000,000 of her people, while in £ngland it
would only affect 70,000 owners of the soil. Thus England doubles her
land tax of $31,000,000 in a single year, and yet it produces only wordy
debates, but if France were to increase hers $6,000,000, it would almost
insure a revolution, for in the last case it would take bread from the mouths
of 10,000,000 people, while in the first it would reach the pocketa of 2,000
English farmers, who own 2,000,000 acres, and 67,000 more who own the
same extent. The difference in the nation's resources explains the stability
of the one and changes of the other, and while England in sixteen years
has taken off taxes from her people to the amount of $90,000,000, France
has diminished hers only $3,000,000. The one has exhausted her capa-
bilities of great taxation upon land by its subdiinsions, the other has in-
creased hers by preventing even a political division of the soil. Such is
France's position in regard to taxation and war.
Let us look at her supply of food. So inadequate, even in years of
plenty, is her means of supplying food* for her people that 400,000 chests
nut trees are depended on as one means of furnishing subsistence to her
citizens, and as our tables will show, she has now no longer the means of
furnishing constantly an mlequato supply of food for her inhabitants. A
frost destroys her chestnut crop, and annihilates in a single night 8,000,000
bushels of food, while a week's storm, as in 1788 and 1847, destroys a
whole harvest, and incites her people to revolution. She is reaching the
acme in her financial affairs,f and beyond which she cannot pass, and each
day widens the gap between her own demand and home supply of food.
Revolutions upon her soil need no human propagandists. They come
with hail, frost, and blight, deficits in budgets, new taxes upon land, and
new drains upon labor. Quietude to France is an impossibility — nature her-
self wars against it. Uer rulers also prevent it, and five governments have
been overturned upon her soil, because war embarrassed the finances and
nature destroyed her food. The same mighty, invincible agents are now
at work in her capital ; war is creating deficits in her treasury and taxes
for her people, and her future, like her past, is to be marked with succes-
sive revolutions, and the active unceasing agents that will surely produce
them will be Finance and Famine.
* In 185S the demands 14,OuO,000 butbetodT foralgn mla for booM ooostuapUoo.
t Un in 1855 borrowed 750,0U0,000 francs.
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MoMy cmd Banking, 541
Art. n.— HONET AND BANKING.
Ik recurring again to the subject of money we do not intend to enter
into an erudite history of the process of its adoption, nor into an exposi-
tion of the economical diflSculties of that phase of society antenor to ita
use. ' imatters little for the present whether a yoke of oxen was ever the
medium of exchange or the measure of the value of other commodities,
or how long it is since the necessities of man prompted him to invent so
obvious a convenience as metallic money. Commerce appears to be so
natural and necessary to man, that it is difficult to suppose that he could
exist upon the earth for any material length of time without its develop-
ment— and this conclusion appears to agree with the most ancient records.
It is difficult to believe, therefore, that those writers are correct who, while
they admit that metallic money was extant in Palestine, Egypt, and the
surrounding countries for two thousand years before Christ, are right in
supposing that the Greeks could possibly be without it in the time of Ho-
mer. Gold and silver must always have been desirable commodities, and
no doubt early attracted the attention of man. Plutarch remarks, in his
Kfe of Theseus, the founder of the Athenian Republic, that he stamped
his coin with the figure of a bull, which was probably two hundred years
before the time of Homer, and may serve to elucidate the cause of val-
uing a set of armor by a certain number of oxen.
But let us turn to our subject. It is not our object to show that money
is useful, but rather, notwithstanding its antiquity, that its true principles
are not yet understood. It was several years since asserted in the Mer-
chanW Magazine^ that for the interest of society money ought only to in-
crease in the same ratio as other capital, and there can be little doubt but
thift axiom is true. But we have lately been told that " money is to society
what fuel is to the locomotive and food to man — the cause of motion,
whence results power." Now if this axiom were true, and the inference
of the writer, the former axiom laid down would be fallacious. Accord-
ing to the inference drawn an increase of money must not only be an in-
crease of capital, but also the foundation upon which all profit is built
But let us apply the operating principle of this axiom, and see how far it
will carry the inference which has been drawn from it
In the first place, fuel is to the locomotive the primary and absolute
cause of motion and power, for for the rest of the capital would be entirely
useless without it. On the other hand, when society is formed money is
the effect of power and motion, a mere convenience arising out of experi-
ence, which increases power by making motion easier than before. In
other words, it increases the power of labor in the aggregate by rendering
a division possible, and setting aside a small portion of society as mer-
chants instead of the two characters, of laborer and merchant, being re-
tained by every individual in the community. Beyond this money has no
egitimate influence — it ought never to be exclusively the cause of the in-
creased or the decreased motion of other capital, and when it is, it results
in a general speculation. We cannot, therefore, admit that this is a cor-
rect definition, either of the principle or the functions of money, but think
it is entirely inapplicable. But notwithstanding the simile is bad in its
ncepUon and principle, it may be perfectly parallel in some of its details.
money be increased unnaturally, or out of due proportion to other cap-
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M2 Money and Banhkiff.
ital, it will cause evil and' loss to society, just as the application of an un-
due proportion of fuel to the loQomotive will cause explosion and destruc-
tion. Thus the premises adopted will not support the inference, but if
rigidly adhered to would bring us to an opposite conclusion. We may
further remark that the idea that profit depends, per se^ upon the quick-
ness of motion, which the writer seems to infer, is perfectly ridiculoua.
But it was not our intention to pursue the subject, but rather to be content
to show the evils consequent upon the present system, and also to point
out, if possible, a system that shall be more in accordance with political
science.
It was quite natural that when society had progressed so far that an ex-
change of commodities became indispensable, that it should adopt as a
medium the most desirable commodity which could be found for the pur-
pose, and which would, of course, in time, become the general standaixi or
measure of value, notwithstanding the evils and inconveniences which
might arise out of such a regulation in the future. Commerce is now the
paramount interest of the world — the great mover and civilizer — and so-
ciety can no longer aflford " to spend its labor for that which is not breads
Commerce is of that vast importance at present that it requires more than
ever a correct and unvarying standard of value, and a medium of exchange
which shall expand only in the natural or necessary ratio of other capital,
and would therefore preclude the evils of fluctuation. As a matter of ne-
cessity, coin must always have reference to weight, as that is the only cor-
rect method of ascertaining a quantity of metal. The evil arises from the
quantity being fixed which shall be the standard of value for all other
commodities, notwithstanding the supply of the metals may vary, or may
increase beyond the supply of all other commodities.
In recurring to Adam Smith, we find that since the middle of the six-
teenth century, up to the time in which he wrote, a period of about two
hundred years, the metallic currency of Europe (silver) had increased be-
yond the rate of other capital at least 200 per cent. This shows at once
the practical working of the present monetary system. It will readily be
perceived that the admission of this extra production of silver placed Dr.
Smith upon one of the horns of a dilemma — he had either to give up his
well-reasoned theory of production, or to believe that silver would at that
time be had for the mere cost of carriage ; so ie chose to attribute this
overplus to the extra fertility of the mines, but appears to have had no
idea that its position as money had perverted its relation to the principle
which regulated the production of other commodities. It will be admitted
by all political economists that a common rate of profit upon capital is
the result of the operations of society, with the exception of that part of
it which is engaged in hazardous enterprises and/unpleasant callings — con-
sequently, as a general rule, production must tend to an equilibrium. Let
us inquire, then, how the present system of money works to produce such
an anomalous efiect as that admitted by Dr. Smith.
To elucidate our principle we will take, for example, the number of
commodities to be a tnousand, and the rate of increase to be 10 per cent;
then let us suppose that the increase of one commodity should be sudden-
ly raised to 15 per cent What would be the consequence? The price
must fall, and one of two circumstances must ensue. Either an extra con-
sumption must take place, or some of the producers of that particular
conmiodity must seek employment in other pursuits, until the production
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JtfbiMy and BwMng. 543
was again brou^t bad: to the effectual demancl. And this must always
be the case where the principle of production is left free from legal enact-
ment or artificial stimulus. But how is it with the production of the
precious metals under present circumstances ?
Let us carry forward our supposition of a thousand commodities, and
make one the medium of exchange and the general measure of value for
the rest, and then inquire what will result from an increase of that com-
modity ? We shall find that instead of its production being checked by
the first extra increase, it must of necessity go on until the prices of all
other commodities are increased sufficiently to react upon its productiom,
before it could be restrained or even retarded. Thus it would be necessa-
ry to increase this particular commodity Jive thousand per cent before the
same eflfect would take place in checking its production^ as in the case of
Uie extra increase of 5 per cent in any other commodity ; and then the
serious question arises — Will this point ever be reached under such cir-
cumstances ! Will not the present system of money continue to cause an
effectual demand for the precious metals to an indefinite extent, until we
may increase our money-capital to five, ten, or even twenty times its pres-
ent nominal amount, without adding a fraction to the real capital of the
community, and therefore to its manifest detriment, and loss of the whole
amount of the labor involved in this extra production ? This is a question
which ought to be solved without delay ; experience teaches that there has
been no cessation to the increase of prices.
As I have said in a former article, " it is of the nature of money to de-
velop its own employment" In other words, it may be increased, under
the present system, without limit, or without reference to the quantity of
other conmiodities. According to Dr. Smith, prices had increased 200
per cent in about two hundred years, and if that had taken place in Eng-
land, it must also have taken place all over the world. Need we wonder,
then, at the decline in the wealth, power, and prosperity of Spain, who had
gratuitously furnished the world with all this extra amount of gold and
silver ? This may be a startling conclusion, but it is none the less true,
and perhaps, as Dr. Smith intimates, her protective system might, to some
extent, accelerate her downfall. But if the peculiar commercial system of
Spain kept her currency of gold and silver full to repletion, we have a sys-
tem of currency equally vicious in that particular, and much more vicious
in principle.
Our banking system, founded upon the fictitious representation of the
metals, keeps our currency continually full, and in addition to the evil of
forcing all the precious metals into foreign countries, has a tendency to
collect the rest into the hands of a few individuals, who obtain them from
the community without giving any equivalent in return. We may say at
a rough calculation that we have added, within the last five years, three
hundred millions of dollars to the currency of the world, the whole of
which has been a tax upon the people of the United States, at least as far
as they have been producers ; and yet this production of gold goes on
without abatement or intermission. It used formerly to be an apology for
the circulation of paper that sufficient gold and silver could not be ob-
tained for the legitimate demands of currency, but in the short period
named it is probable we have doubled the amount in circulation, and
therefore this apology will not serve the friends of banking any longer.
The present system of banking must be vicioiis under any circumstances,
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544 Money and Banking,
but it must be doubly so in a gold-producing country. T^e system of in-
convertible paper has been almost universally condemned, not because its
abuse has really been greater than that of the opposite system, but because
it has been more palpable, and yet it is the more honest system of the
two. The invention of paper- money appears to have originated as eariy
as the twelfth century, in the Republic of Venice, though apparently with-
out any intention of fraud. The government, in a case of emergency,
took a forced loan from the merchants of the republic, allowing tnem 4
per cent interest, which was duly paid, and therefore the stock was still,
to some extent, profitable, and the merchants continued to use it as money,
by transferring it on the books of the bank from one to another, to liqui-
date balances between them. The Bank of Amsterdam came next, as a
bank of deposit, in the seventeenth century, and while it was honestly
managed it was a great convenience to the public, but like many other in-
stitutions it abused the confidence placed in it, and lent out those deposits
which had been placed in its possession for safe keeping and convenience.
In this instance paper was issued, called bank-money^ but when it became
redundent, from the surreptitious loans of the specie which it represented,
the bankers were too cunning to allow a panic to supervene, and therefore
kept agents in the market to buy up bank-money whenever it fell to a dis-
count. By this means the bank constantly absorbed and applied to its
own use all the money deposited with it by its customers, and was enabled
continually to increase the amount of bank-money as the wealth of the
community increased.
This famous bank of deposit was therefore little else but a swindling in-
stitution to ease the community of the care of their hard money for the
gain of the bank. But this is the true operation of all banks as the valut,
of a currency can never be increased, however its amount may be aug-
mented. But the world is slow to acknowledge truth, for this has be€ai
stated long ago, though not logically carried out by the writer. But no
one ought to be deceived in this but an idiot — all bank paper is praeticai-
ly inconvertible, as ten or twelve dollars in specie can never pay in full a
hundred dollar bill, 10 or 12 per cent being the usual amount ostensibly
kept for the purpose by the banks. Thus the mere sham of convertibility
ought no longer to deceive the public. In fact, all the profit arising from
the issue of paper springs from its inconvertibility. From this it is plain
that no paper-money ought to be circulated, but such as may be issued by
the government, the value of which would always be guarantied by its re-
ceipt for taxes and other necessary uses. This paper could not depreciate
if Kept within the certain limits of utility ; and as the profits arising from
its use belong to the whole people, they ought 'to go into the public treas-
ury.
Probably nine-tenths of the paper of the Bank of Amsterdam was at
all times inconvertible, as if the receipt (according to bank regulation) was
suffered to run beyond six months without a renewal,* the specie or bul-
lion was the property of the bank. This regulation was devised foT the
purpose of securing the bank from any extraordinary reaction which might
occur from any unforeseen circumstance ; but, as I have stated, they dsaed
not trust entirely to this regulation. From the operation of this bank we
may easily see the difference between the action of monopoly and free
* If reoewed ml ttie ead of six moatki, tbe depoaiior had to iMjr a qaarter oT one vmremi fer
aafe keeping.
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tiadd in banking, which has been so much lauded by many writers upon
the subject The Bank of Amsterdam being a unit, having only its own
interest to provide for, could at ail times secure the public from the effects
of fluctuation, and itself from discredit, by simply keeping its paper at par
in the market ; but this is a matter of impossibility where there are so
many interests, and every one wishing and striving to over-ride its neigh-
bor. But where is the necessity for the issues of bank paper ? It is now
well understood by all parties, and experience has proved beyond a doubt,
that paper-money cannot be increased beyond a certain relation to coin.
In other words, you cannot push prices beyond a certain limit, unless you
are prepared to pay the balances in the precious metals. From the very
principle of our present monetary system you cannot augment the valtie
of the currency, either by additions of paper or gold. Therefore the daily
receipts of gold from California are only so much capital and labor thrown
away, as they will be presented gratuitously to the rest of the world. But
it may be said that England is, to some extent, in the same position, but
her currency is better guarded from fluctuation and artificial increase than
that of the United States, and much less gold is likely to seek direct in*
vestment in England from Australia than will be the case in the United
States from California. However the amount of gold may increase in the
English currency, bank issues cannot be increased, but will continue to di-
minish as they have done for the last ten years, unless the banking law be
altered.
But with regard to the currency of the States, it has been increased at
a rapid rate. Within five or six years 60 per cent has been added, or one-
third of its present amount, while the specie upon which it is based has
increased little more than 30 per cent, and small as this basis is, in relation
to the liabilities of the bank, it may be lessened almost at any moment by
unforeseen circumstances, which may cause new panics and revulsions. In
the mean time our population has increased at the rate of 17 per cent,
showing a discrepancy in favor of the currency of 33 per cent. What,
then, is the inference ? That money has increased three times as fast as
otber movable capital, and we are content to take our share in bank notes,
said to be convertible. From these premises may be drawn the following
conclusions : —
Supposing California, within the last five years, to have produced three
hundred millions of gold, and we had had no expansion of the paper cur-
rency, two hundred millions only would have been exported, while the
other hundred would have remained in the hands of the community in-
stead of being exported, and its value absorbed by the banks by an in-
creased issue of paper ; and in addition to this conservation of the public
interests, we should also have escaped the evils of the late panic It is
unnecessary to say much upon former panics, or the past history of bank-
ing— it is familiarly known, or may be easily ascertained by intelligent
men — it is a history of the meanest frauds, the grossest subterfuges, and
the most gigantic swindles that have cursed and afflicted mankind through-
out all time. It is a cruel, base, and wicked system, and as we have proved,
without the least benefit to balance the evil it inflicts — it therefore ought
to be inmiediately abolished. It is in vain to talk of progress, civilization,
morality, or religion, it continually retards the one, while it has sapped the
foundation of the other. Under its operation the greatest we^th and
splendor is made to be compatlUe with the most abject and squalid pov-
VOL. xxxin,— KO. V. 35
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Bi^ Money and Bankia^.
erty in the same counfry — the most eminent and talented men become
yicious, honesty is a bye-word, and oonmiercial honor a thing ceaaed to he
expected. No one prates of the honor of banks and bankers. It is a uni-
versal axiom, that they will be honest just as long as it is their interest to
be so, and no longer. There are exceptions of coarse to all rules, but this
is the rule.
But perhaps no one ou^ht to be blamed more than another — ^the fault
is in the system — it would corrupt an angel, and therefore men cannot
reasonably be expected to resist such enormous temptations. By every
expansion of the currency the banks continue to amass wealth at the ex-
pense of the community, and instead of making money cheaper, or more
plentiful, they necessarily make it scarcer and dearer, 24 per cent being
only a common rate of interest in times of pressure. These are both ne-
cessary incidents of the system — money can only be increased in nominal
amount, but not in value. Thus, a community will be as rich with half
the sum in circulation as with the whole, the only thing in which all are
interested is the permanence of its relative amount ; therefore, the com-
mon idea of increasing money by increasing bank capital is perfectly ri-
diculous, as well as grossly injurious. Dr. Smith was never more mistaken
in his life than when he penned the following sentence : — " When paper
is substituted in the room of gold and silver money, the quantity of ma-
terials, tools, and maintenance, which the whole circulating capital can
supply, may be increased by the whole value of the gold and silver which
used to be employed in purchasing them."
This, as we have proved, is an unmitigated fallacy, and upon this falla-
cy is the whole paper money system is built The usual deep and keen
penetration of the Dr. appears to have been put to sleep upon this point;
ne was no doubt struck, as he seems to intimate, with the sudden prosper-
ity of Scotland, immediately after the banks were established, believing
that a great part of that prosperity was to be attributed to the increase <^
capital by the issues of the banks, so easy is it to be deceived by outside
appearances. And yet there would be nothing very wonderful in the ap-
parent prosperity of a nation, even ruled by a despot, who had the inge-
nuity not only to tax his people without their knowledge, but at the same
time to inculcate the belief that the operation by wWch this efiect was
produced was entirely for their benefit, and thereby to stimulate their ex-
ertions, to build and beautify his palaces and country*seats, and to contrib-
ute in every possible way to his luxuries. A traveler passing through such
A country, would certainly form a very high opinion of its material pro*-
•perity, but if he went a little below the surface, he would find the serfis or
laborers worse off than in those countries which were subject to no such
fictitious operations.
We have only, then, to substitute the bankers and favored mercantile
classes of Scotland for the despot, and remember at the same time that
labor was, at the period spoken of, just half the price in Scotland that it
-was in England. We may, however, also take into consideration the pro-
verbial prudence of the Scotch character, which had its influence upon
the management of these banks, and is also the secret of thdr proverbial
success, and the problem is solved which Dr. Smith failed to penetrate.
The same material prosperity is to be seen in England, and yet her
working classes are trodden in the dust And this is the legitimate result
of the system, even when carried on with some kind of prudence and ar-
rangement ; but how much greater evils will take place, in making Uie
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Money and Banhvng. 547
' rich richer and the poor poorer, where it is carried on without rule or or-
der. A free trade in banking is a free trade in private taxation to the ut-
most possible extent.
We have seen that within the period of a few years the banks have in-
creased their issues one hundred millions, which, added to two hundred,
which they had previously absorbed, makes the sum of three hundred
millions, upon which they are enabled to tax the people, for interest and
exchange, about forty-five millions of dollars a year, for the greater part
of which the people receive not the slightest compensation. And we may
still go on piling up this mountain of paper to all eternity, for there can
be no cessation to the demand for money under the present system. We
may go on increasing our bank capital, but to what will it amount ? — a
mere mass of credits founded upon credits — the money cannot exist in the
country where it is issued to redeem a tenth part of it without severe panic
and revulsion.
But let us illustrate the effects of the system as manifested a few months
ago. We will take a short paragraph from the Tribune^ (semi-weekly,)
July 18, 1864: — "The natural effect of an increase in the facility of pro-
ducing any commodity is a reduction in its price. Gold is now obtained
with a facility heretofore unknown, little less than four hundred millions
having been yielded by California and Australia since midsummer, 1 840,
a period of five years only, and yet the price of money (meaning interest)
has remained steadily at from 10tol5tol8 per cent per annum for more
than a year past, and so continues with small nope for a decline in future.
The rich are thus being made richer, while the poor are being made poorer.
The millionaire doubles his fortune, while the poor shopkeeper finds him-
self eaten up^— his family driven from house and home, because his profits
are all, and more than all, absorbed by the usurious interest he is required
to pay ; and all this is taking place under circumstances that would war-
rant the expectation of a steady decline in interest"
This paragraph goes far to illustrate the working of our banking sys-
tem and some of our positions, though the writer did not apparently per-
ceive that the issues of bank paper had entirely vitiated the commercial
relations of money as a commodity, to the law of supply and demand,
producing the paradox of a decrease in price and an increase in profit
But the truth of the matter is, that all the discount charged above the
common rate of interest, beyond a little for extra risk, must be set down to
the depreciation of paper. We come, then, to the conclusion that under
our free banking system we have suffered a depreciation of 8 or 10 per
cent upon all bank currency for more than a year, up to July, 1864 ; and
at a later period in some of the commercial cities of the South and West,
the rate of discount was said to be from 30 to 36 per cent. So true is it,
as Dr. McCulloch said, " whatever bank notes may be in law, they are
practically and in fact a legal tender." If the Dr. came to this conclusion
in England, where discount seldom rises above 6 per cent, and the banks
fto much easier of access, may we not fairly take the same position on
this side of the Atlantic, where the denomination of bank notes is so much
amaller, and their proportion to specie so much larger than in England.
Convertibility, therefore, is a mere hypothesis, which ou^ht no longer to
deceive ; and it is not wonderful that some of the banks, who lay their
plans cunningly, should be able to divide large profits, and to sustain
themselves through the severest panics.
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548 Mcmy and BmMng.
But there is jet another «de of the question — ^% losses and reTands
of condition which must take place at every explosion or revulsion of the
system. We can best show some of these evils by quoting a short para-
graph from the New York H^ald, (November 11, 1864.) It will be
found under the head of '^ Speculation, Revulsion, and Eascality in Trade."
The editor remarks : — " We have realized, as was shown the other day in
these columns, an average depreciation <^ 30 per cent in our railroad se-
curities, and of 75 per cent on all other speculative stocks during the last
twelve months. Resd estate has fallen 25 per cent Improved property
has fallen more than this, but taking the whole together, this is a safe av-
erage. Merchants will bear us out in the assertion, that the regular, im-
port trade has not been profitable during the year ; we presume an average
JOSS of 20 per cent upon investments would not be far out of the way. Of
our two staple exports, com has paid well, chiefly to the foreign consignee ;
cotton has been a source of cruel loss^^
Now, without taking into consideration the loss of liie labor of the
hundreds of thousands of workmen thrown out of employment during
many months of the year, and the consequent misery of their families,
here is a picture presented which, if we could dive into its details, would
be truly horrible. Was ever a commercial system so fraught wiUi evil !
The true principle of honorable plodding Commerce, which used to look
to honest persevering industry for a competency in old age, has become
extinct, and left nothing in its stead but a demoralizing system of gam-
bhng and swindling, which often sets at naught the most persevering ex-
ertions, and makes honest men dependent upon others, when they ought
to live comfortably and happily upon their own earnings. The individual
who could willingly leave such a system as a heir-loom to his family or
his country, can certainly be neither patriotic nor wise — ^it ought to be im-
mediately abolished at all hazards. But we have said that the principle of
the monetary system itself is wrong, contradistin^shed from that of
banking, and not according to the true principles oi science. It is a rule
which may be laid down without fear of successful contradiction, that un-
der ordinary circumstances one commodity can be freely exchanged for
another requiring an equal amount <^ labor to produce it ; and also, that
circumstances are c(mtinually varying and changing these amounts in re-
lation to each other. Therefore, no commodity can be made permanently
the standard of value for the rest without doing violence to natural prin-
ciples, and violence and antagonism must always create evil Our present
monetary system has grown out of ignorance of scientific principles. It
was only natural, as I have before intimated, that when tne metals first
came into use as a medium of exchange, that they should pass from hand
to hand by weight, and that the value of every other commoditj diooki
be finally referred to them. The consequences may be easily traoed. All
c<mtractB and dealings being had and made througn the medium of a cer-
tain quantity of these metius, it would naturally cause a constant and uni-
yersal demand for them ; and, notwithstanding they would daily and hourly
become cheaper, all persons would be forced to receive them, and it would
be to the interest of all persons to pay them. Thus, no cessation in the
demand for them could posubly take place^ and Uierefore no slackening in
their production.
History shows Uiat we have gone on piling up this mass of gold and
silrer, and increasing prices ever since the commencement of theoommer-
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Mcfney and Banking, 549
cial era, and we shall onlj stop when the present ahsnrd ^tem is abol-
ished. As has been before stated, the quantity of money in existence is
not of the least consequence, as no profit is derived from it as such beyond
the saving of labor in the exchange of other commodities ; therefore, when
enough of the metals have been obtained to allow of the coins being made
of convenieut size, no more is required than an increase proportionate to
the increase of other capital — all beyond is an unnecessary waste of ci^i-
tal and labor, and must fall as a tax upon the community producing it.
Therefore, if we continue our present monetary system we must be con-
tent, in spite of our protective tariff, or any we can erect, finally to become
a mere agricultural power. We have the example of Spain to warn us of
our fate, and yet she bad no banking system to nK)re than double the evil,
and accelerate her fall.
Having now exposed the evils of the monetary system we should recom-
mend, preparatory to an entire change, that all notes of a less denomina-
tion tiian twenty-five dollars be withdrawn from circulation as early as
convenient. But to make our ideas practicable, it will be necessary that
we should develop some other system of money by which the evils of the
present can be obviated. In illustration, we propose to quote a short par-
agraph from Raguet on " Currency and Banking," (chapter on the impol-
icy of adhering to our present mint proportions between gold and silver.)
He says : — " Let the standard of gold coin be restored to its former high
grade, corresponding with those of Great Britain, Portugal, and Brazil —
mat is eleven parts of pure gold and one part of alloy ; and let there be
no coins struck at the mint but ounces, half-ounces, and quarter-ounces,
without any Jixed legal proportions to silver, but left to find their way into
circulation at their fair market equivalency, as gold coins do in France and
other countries of Europe. By having coins of familiar and well-known
weights, the people would form right conceptions of the true nature of
money, and as the bullion dealers and brokers in the cities would quote
the prices of ounces of gold as they do of sovereigns, they would be at
all times current at their market value, and could never be driven from the
country by our own legislation, nor that of other States."
There is much truth in the above quotation, and much more than ap-
pears upon the surface. The common idea which the public have of mo-
ney is, that its value is fixed and immovable, and that it is only the price
and value of other commodities that vary. But nothing can be more fal-
lacious. No law nor regulation can affix the price or value of any com-
modity, for it will vary according to the circumstances of its production.
Gold and silver are continually varying in value towards each other, which
makes it imposible to keep a double standard correct for any length of
time. If the federal government had adopted the policy recommended by
Mr. Raeuet at the time, gold would now have been sold at so many dol-
lars and cents per ounce, and its price paid in other commodities ; or it
jnight have been sold in like manner in liquidation of debts which had
been contracted according to the common standard, (the silver dollar,) but
it would have made no difference in the case if a silver dollar had never
existed ; it would have been paid and received just in the same manner,
being measured like other commodities, according to the comparative
amount of labor required to produce it. Thus, there is no necessity for a
fixed price of the metals — it is a clumsy expedient, which has grown out
of ignorance, and has caused more expense and confusion in society than
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550 Money cmd Banking,
any other commercial regulation, and is at the foundation of the erib of
the currency.
, If the law relating to the amount of gold and silver contained in a dol-
lar were repealed, the dollar would become a mere nominal unit instead
of a silver one — a decimal scale to measure the relative amount of labor
in each commodity, and gold and silver among the rest Gold and silver
would still continue, as heretofore, to be the medium of exchange, but
would be sold by weight instead of by tale as at present Commercial
transactions would then cease to have reference to a certain weight of the
precious metals, and would be paid in dollars' worths, according to their
price in the market It would then be of no consequence to society what
amount of gold and silver might be produced, it would make no difference
to previous engagements nor outstanding debts. In fact, it would be a
matter about which society would cease to be interested, and we should
not even take the trouble to read the newspaper accounts of the produc-
tion of gold, because it would fluctuate less than any other commodity,
and therefore would be of less interest to the community. And as there
would be then no premium upon its production over that of any other
commodity, we should obtain no more gold from California than what
would furnish the necessary amount of increase according to the increase
of other capital, and if any were exported, it must be paid for by Uie im-
portation of some other commodity.
We should, therefore, immediately begin to save the expense of gold-
getting in California beyond the amount specified, because it would not be
profitable to produce it beyond that ratio. All that would be neceeaary
to effect this would be the mere rescinding of the law relating to the
amount of gold and silver to be contained in a dollar, and would also pre-
vent the further increase of bank paper. After the withdrawal of the link
paper under the denomination of twenty-five dollars, and due notice being
given of the time when the law would become operative, there would not
be much danger incurred by the alteration ; of course, not so much danger
as in the continuance of the system, which some time or other must be
altered. By this means the bankers would be forced to give up a portion
of their ill-gotten wealth, and trade and Commerce would begin to flow in
a natural channel. Manufactures would flourish, and whatever fiicilities of
production the country possessed would be put in the best possible pod-
tion, and great prosperity would ensue. The manner in which this reform
should be achieved ought to be gradual. Let the various denominations
of notes specified be withdrawn from circulation within three years after
a certain date, when the other law relating to gold and silver, to be coined
in ounces, half-ounces, <fec., should come into operation. It is presumed
that no great inconvenience would take place fi-om the withdrawal of the
small notes, as we are in the habit of obtaining so much gold from Cali-
fornia, and it would only have to be kept at home instead of its being
forced abroad as at present
But after this is achieved, still another reform would be necessary to
perfect the currency, and to place it upon a permanent and scientific basis.
All experience shows, and it will not be denied by any one acquainted with
the subject, that a certain proportion of paper to specie is necessary, and
will circulate without depreciation, and this circumstance ought to be takea
advantage of for the public benefit, and not be allowed to be abused, and
the profits pocketed by private individuals. We propose, thai, that ia
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Money and Banking. 551
two yeaiB after the withdrawal of the small notes from circulation, that
the remaining notes be withdrawn, and let them be replaced in the mean-
time by seventj-five or one hundred millions of treasury notes of like de-
nominations, payable and receivable for all federal dnes and taxes. These
notes would circulate throughout the Union, not only without discount,
but would probably rise to a small premium, as they could be used to liqui-
date balances without the intervention of bank drafts, and thereby save
much inconvenience and expense.
No doubt great objections will be raised about inconvertible paper, but
that is sheer nonsense at this time of day, as the bank paper, if allowed
to remain in circulation under the circumstances, would be much more in-
convertible practically than the government paper could be. As we have
said all paper nM)ney is practically inconvertible, and there is no reason
why it should be otherwise, if its quantity be adjusted so as to leave a
sufficient margin of coin to cover any demand for the precious metals
which may arise from the variableness of the seasons, or of the falling off
of any particular crop, as no other causes for such demand would remain,
nor could arise, under such a sjrstem of currency.
The evil which the framers of the Constitution ought to have guarded
, against was depreciation, and that was what they intended, no one doubts ;
and therefore the present currency is highly unconstitutional — quite as
much so, practically, as making anything but gold and silver a legal tender
for debts. The latter is of no consequence, providing the instrument em-
ployed is for the interest of all, and nas a real value for the time being.
Of course the greatest caution ought to be observed in issuing the govem-
onent paper money. It should be done by act of Congress, and no discre-
tionary power should be allowed to exist in any other body. By this
means its quantity could be regulated and increased to any desirable extent
without danger of abuse, and the expense of any unnecessary increase of
the metals avoided.
It seems hardly possible to suppose that any material opposition can be
made to such an important and necessary reform, except from interested
motives. But if this should be the case, or the movement in the several
States should only be partially successful, the federal legislature might
still proceed without any fear of doing half as much mischief, or injury to
the community, as has been done by the banks in any single panic they
have produced since their inception up to the present time ; or perhaps
without doing any perceptible injury to any legitimate interest. In the
ease supposed, the treasury notes might be paid out as circumstances re-
quired, and if the currency became for a short time redundent, and that is
nothing new, it would not last long, as the weakest must go to the wall.
The government paper being reauired to pay federal dues, it would have
an effectual demand, which the bank paper would lack, and therefore must
depreciate, and in consequence return to the banks. Several other advan-
tages would also accrue to the community, besides those enumerated, from
the adoption of this truly economical currency. The balances of foreign
exchange would be liquidated with lees trouble and calculation ; industry
would become more productive from the constant steadiness of employ-
ment, and labor would obtain its due reward — besides the American peo-
ple would have the honor of being first to adopt the system of currency
which must finally become universal. The protectionist may advocate
this reform as the only true protectionist j^licy. b. b.
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sn Comment tend ike MerAeaU.
Art. III.— CQKHERCE ANB THE HBKCHANT.*
OOXMSRCt, WBAT IT It— NATURAL TO MAN— DlTKRaiTT OF BMPLpTJIKNT— BUUOAL OOmXBaOB—
ACQUUITION AN INSTINCT FROM DIVINITT— WHAT TUB THIRST FOR OOLD HAS AGOOMPUSBBO—
COMMBRCB BRINOB WBALTH AND POWBR — A COMMERCIAL PKOPLB — AN ILLUSTRATION OF THB BB-
MBHCBNCB OF COMMBRCB— THB HIOHBR DUTIES OF THB MERCHANT — BIS EXALTBD STATION— IN
rBDflNBSB HE MUST COMBINE WISDOM AND INNOCENCE— THB MERCHANT OBEYS THB LAWS OF HIS
OOUNTRT-THB MBRCHANT SHOULD BB RAPID IN DECISION AND ACTION, BTO.
Commerce, perhaps, by derivation, simply means exchange. HencAi
Milton speaks of ^* looks commercing with the skies." It is more usually
taken to mean an exchange of movable articles, and implies mutual ben-
efit to the actors. Money, as the common representative of value, is ita
ordinary medium, though, with barbarous nations, the exchange is ordi-
narily direct, or barter. It is foreign or domestic Trade is usually em-
ployed with the same meaning, though it is also applicable to the hcxne
or retail dealings of the shop-keeper. Commerce, or trade in its noore
extensive use, supposes travel, a conveyance of merchandise or the subject
of exchange, and the place of exchange is the market.
A disposition to Commerce is implanted in humanity ; and, like a thirst
for ornament, distinguishes men from brutes. Man possesses, indeed, &r
nobler characteristics, but, in an age when philosopners gravely seek to
show that men are not an immediate creation of the divinity, but a slowly-
evolved improvement of the brute, it may be well to allude to one of the
most remarkable of the many minor traits of our nature which is not in-
herent in any other of God's terrestrial creatures. It is common to all
the varieties of our race. I am not aware of any tribe, however imbruted,
from the root-digger of the Rocky Mountains to the men of the interior
of Africa, who have, or are supposed to have, tails three inches long, who
have not a propensity to exchange or trade.
Commerce, like war, springs from a desire of acquisition ; but^ unlike
war, it is consonant with the divine law of love. Like mercy, it is ^* twice
blessed. It blesseth him that gives and him that takes." It gives birth
to invention, stimulates production, entices laggards to labor, and confirms
halting industry. Man finds happiness in lalK>r, and he labors to produce
materials for the acquisition, bv exchange, of things which he desires, but
which nature denies him, and he cannot produce. Imagine, if you caiif a
world whose people do not interchange goods with each other. Each oiaa
would be for himself, and his hand would be against every oUier man.
There indeed would man be identical with the brute — isolated, unintelli-
gent, and predacious. Such a condition of humanity is impossible.
Indeed, from the earliest times, men have traded with each other. I
love to recur to the most ancient and holiest of all books for examples of
the immediate development of this instinct of humanity. It is bo lucid^
so perfectly free from the monstrous fictions and palpable absurdities which
disgrace the earliest productions of profane history, and so consistent with
scientific truth ; and then its historic truth is so corroborated by the inter-
nal evidences of its divine origin, its God is so God-like, its ethics are so
* The following triiole wm delirered rs rh Rddreat before Uie MeroRntlle College of BoflOo by
Ibe Hon. Georob W. Clinton. We hRve tRkeu tbe Ubertj to omii the Introdnctory pRngnpbi*
which sre of R IocrI eharaoter.-£^ Mtr, Mag,
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CftmmtreB tmd ike Merthmnt 66d
dirine, so perfect, so expansiTe, adapted to and covering man in every age,
in every ctioEie, whatever his pursuits or intellectual attainments — that I
cannot but feel that there, and there only, is embalmed the true history of
our race.
In Paradise, Adam dressed the garden and subsisted on its fruits. Light
was his labor, if it were au^ht beyond mere exercise ; but when he was
driven forth, it was to " till the ground from which he was taken ;** and he
was condemned " in the sweat of his fooe to eat bread." ' Diversity of em-
ployment was manifested so soon as the two first bom of Eve began to
toiL ^ Abel was a keeper of sheep ; but Cain was a tiller of the ground ;"
and with them, probably, commenced the interchange of the fruits of la-
bor. But these primitive pursuits were soon diversified ; and in the sev-
enih generation from Adam, Jabal " was the father of such as dwell in
tents and have cattle ;" Jubal ^* was the father of all such as handle the
harp and organ ;" and Tubalcain was " an instructor in every artificer in
toiss and iron."
Here, in this early age of the world, we have proof that the earth was
tenanted by the stationary cultivator of the soil, by the shepherd, by the
wandering dweller in tents, whose wealth was in his herds, by the smith,
who worked in brass and in iron, by men who could construct, and by men
who oonld draw music fix>m the harp and from the organ. Such a divers-
ity of employments could exist only in a trading world. The construction
of the ark before, and of the Tower of Babel after, the deluge, are alike
0(^nt proofs of the existence of a systematic division of labor, and of the
exchange of its products. Job declares of wisdom, " it cannot be gotten
for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot
be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, nor the sapphire.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; and the exchange of it shall not
be for jewels of fine gold."
But Job lived long before Abraham, and his allusions to the gold of
Ophir would seem to favor the idea that, even in his day, caravans tra-
versed, for the purposes of trade, the deserts of Eastern Asia to its south-
em coast If Ophir was, as some have supposed, the island of Ceylon,
then navigation had become already an aid to Commerce. In the history
of Joseph we have a direct proof of a land trade carried on through the
slow, unwearying ships of the desert, by that indomitable race which
^rang from Hagar. Joseph was drawn forth from the pit into which his
brothers had cast him, and was sold for twenty pieces of silver to a com-
pany of Ishmaelites, who ^ came from Gilead with their camels, bearing
spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt ;" and
"Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an li^ptian,
bought him of ^e hands of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down
to %ypt"
I cannot comprehend the philosophy which pronounces money the root
of all evil. The love of acquisition is an instinct implanted by divinity,
and though it may be perverted, is the animating principle of the world.
It is the great incentive to industry, to Commerce, and to intercourse.
Truly did tne poet designate it as ^''auri sacra famesP The Creator fos-
ters it by the differences of climate which he has impressed upon the
earth, and by scattering the infinite variety of goods which all men crave
the wide world through. May we not reverenuy say that his penal visita-
tions— war, pestilence, and famine — ^have in them an element of meri-.y,
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and were designed to elicit sympathy and foror interoonise, as well as to
chastise stiff-necked and rebellious nations. Famine drove the inhabitants
of Canaan to Egypt to purchase com, and re-united the family of Jacob.
It was this sacred thirst for gold which awoke the spirit of discorery,
and induced the Tyrian to tempt in his frail bark the dangers of the mid-
dle and southern seas. It sent the fleets of Solomon and of Iliram from
Tarshish unto Ophir, and they brought back gold and silver, ivory, and
apes, and peacocks, and great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
This emboldened the Garthagenians to pass the pillars of Hercnles, and
brave the terrors of the broad Atlantic ; made dimly known to the Roman
his Ultima Thule ; carried De Gama round the stormy Cape of Good
Hope into the Indian Seas ; sustained Columbus on his dreary way across
the wide Atlantic to the New World ; and sent Cook forth to ciroamnavi-
gate the globe.
I do not mean that the heroic actors in these great achievements were
impelled by the vulgar thirst for gold. An exalted ambition, a pure love
of glory, and the humble hope of extending the benefits of religion and
the dominions of the church may have been their chief incentives ; hot,
as far-seeing men, they looked to the renown which the augmented Com-
merce of their countries would bring with it Commerce sustained is
power. But for Commerce few would be the keels that would part the
blue billows of the ocean ; and navigation would be but the means of ra-
pine for new sea-kings — men full of cruel lusts, mad for battie, and drink-
mg mead from the skulls of their slain foes. Now, in this age, when Com-
merce so intertwines the interests of the chief nations of the world that
war seems madness — who, apart from trade, would imperil himself on the
still mysterious sea, save to extend it, or to guard its safety ? No expense
or danger is too great to prevent strict search for a rock or shoal, suspect-
ed to exist in or near the track of trade — that its position may be aacw-
tained and marked upon the charts. But no one ever gained or sought
fame by the mere discovery of lands uninviting to the niordiant, and use-
less as auxiliaries to Commerce, save where the discovery put limits to
desperate exploration, as in the case of the Antarctic Continent and the
impracticable north-west passage. Let some closed country (Japan, for
instance ) open hospitable ports, and our ships dart forth in rivalry. Start
but a rumor that a group of rodts, capped with guano, has been dimly
seen somewhere in the midst of the Pacific, and, ere nuiny months, navies
will be crossing and recrossing it in all directions.
Commerce brings wealth and power. It may not bring freedom, and
may carry chains and d^radation to subjected countries. But it height*
ens luxury, fosters the fine arts, embellishes great cities, and makes a na-
tion strong. For centuries small nations, as monopolists <^ the trade of
the East Indies, assumed and were able to maintain a commanding atti-
tude in Europe. Witness Venice, Genoa, and Holland. Now, but for its
Commerce and dependencies, enabling it to disperse its manufactures the
world over. Great Britain could not rank as a first rate power of Europe.
What well-directed industry, aided by policy, has gained, may, perchance,
be hazarded and lost in a daring but injudicious war. Commerce should
court peace : when it allies itself to conquest it embraces danger. Better
fiir is it for a great country that another land should be a free and friendly
ally, than a doubtful dependency. Commerce will draw &r more riches
from a vigorous nation than from a curbed and feeble colony. The trade
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of one year with Great Britain is of more service to her than would have
been a twenty years' monopoly of the trade of what the thirteen colonies
would now be, had they remained subject to the British crown.
From the very outset we have been a commercial people, and, Heaven
favoring us, we must with our two ocean fronts, and our vast country and
energetic population, furnish the most wondrous spectacle of commercial
growth and strength the worid ever witnessed, provided we cultivate and
maintain amity with the outer world and break not ourselves asunder. I
do not think that we are, as the feet of the great image Daniel saw, com-
pounded of iron and clay. Understand me not as undervaluing agricul-
ture, manufactures, or the arts. Without them there can be, in this age,
no Commerce. They all act in unison to create prosperity. They must
co-exist or languish. Commerce is the creature and stimulant of industry
in all its forms. Never again will the world see the time when a nation
can make itself the sole mart of particular commodities, and grow rich
from a monopoly of silks and spices. In substance trade is now free to
general competition, though, in detail, it is everywhere, whether wisely or
unwisely, hampered by imposts, and subject to exaction. It is strongest
and roost beneficent where freest It is not a ferocious animal which
must be muzzled and chained down to labor, but a strong implanted im«
pulse which will break forth, and needs but the regulation of justice and
humanity to exert the happiest influence on the whole family of man.
Of our present greatness and future hopes we owe much to the energiz-
ing spirit of Commerce. It has prompted to negotiations, and sustained
our government in struggles, which have expanded our country to its pres-
ent amplitude. It acquired the debouchure of the Mississippi ; it carried
the flag of our Union across the Rocky Mountains, and planted it at the
mouth of the Columbia, and upon the golden hills of California. It must
E reserve what it has acquired, for we have, and can have, no other assured
ope of continued union. Heaven has, so far, bidden discovery and en-
terprise to keep pace with and consolidate our growth. The canal, the
railroad, the application of steam to ocean navigation, and the magnetic
telegraph, have sufficed to preserve intact the holy bond of union. Would
that I could see perfected some plan of swift communication and inter-
course over the vast steppes and mountains that intervene between the
eastern and western sides of this broad continent I
Perhaps I can bring home to you a sense of the marvelous beneficence
of Commerce by a familiar illustration. I remember indistinctly a petty
village which, thirty years ago, had been wakened into dull life some ten
years before by the hope of the construction to it of a channel of trade.
It stood at the extremity of a large lake, and its puny trade consisted
chiefly in shipping salt, and conveying a scant rill of emigration West-
ward, to a vast region which was mainly wild, inhospitable, and danger-
ous, and had no hope of greatness. That channel of Commerce was fin-
ished at last, and connect^ the lake with tide-waters, and the feeble stream
•welled to a torrent of human beings, rolling into the wilderness, and
making the desert places glad with the hum of active industry. That
wilderness is now severed into powerful States, glorying in freedom,
adorned, with thriving villages and great marts, and gathering strength
and beauty in this their adolescence. That petty village is now our city
— a city with which I do so identify myself and love so much, that to
•peak with my estimation of it might seem like boasting. Alas, that the
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avenue of intercourse whicli has worked ^k great good, and done so
much to commingle otherwise discordant portions of onr country, should
have been so misused by selfish politicians, who look to the meanest in-
fluences to aid their elevation I
It created the wealth, the Commerce which gave birth to the railroads,
which are extended over the land like an iron net Like all great im-
provements, it called for further improvements. It cannot be strangled
by its children. It is in no danger from their envy or their competiticMi.
I cannot approve the policy which would pronounce them rivals, and in-
voke State pride and policy to impose checks upon the free current of
Commerce in aid of our canal. It has paid for itself in wealth, if that is
the test of utility to our own State, a thousand times its cost. I honor
the canal as a monument of the far-seeing wisdom and the calm intrepid-
ity of a great mind, to which I claim near kin ; but I would maintain it
only for its uses.
The prosperity of Buffalo is based upon Commerce, and not upon any
particular means of commercial intercourse. It is founded upon a rock.
Were I satisfied that, in utility to Commerce, the canal had been super-
seded by railroads, I would not hesitate an instant to say,- " Pill it up, and
foster these new and better conduits of trade !" I would not use the
windmill because — if such be the fact — ^it preceded the watermill ; nor de-
nounce the steamboat because it is a later invention. We must move for-
ward and upward, and notibing effete can be so sacred as to be permitted
to stay us in our course.
I have neither time nor disposition to dilate upon the ordinary duties
and qualifications of the thriving merchant With-him, indeed, honesty
is the best policy ; and he must remember that it is "• the liberal hand
which maketh rich." He may be economical to the verge of closeness,
but he must " lend unto the Lord," or he will not prosper. Liberal deal-
ing with the needy is but justice. He may give strict weight to the rich,
and serve him with the strict measure, but he should give liberal weight
and heaped measure to the poor. He should be above the petty cheats,
and scorn the customary frauds of trade. He should sell things by thear
right names, without deceitful intermixture or adulteration ; he should re-
member his manhood, and keep his lips frcwn lies, and render his own
unto every man with courtesv.
The great merchant occupies a high, a truly exalted station. He stands
alone in the same sense as does the commander of an army. He cannot
personally supervise all the details of his enormous business, but he regu-
lates them all, appoints to each counselor his place, prescribes his duty,
and limits his responsibility, and directs the vast machine. He under-
stands the nature and connection of every part of the complicated system
of which he is the animating principle ; and upon the first appearance of
disorder, can and will trace it to its source, however deeply hidden. His
eye takes in the general working and results, and, in time of need, sweeps
like a falcon's through every cranny and recess of the business engine he
has constructed, till it rests upon tiie defective portion. His spirit per-
vades, sustains, and gives activity to the else formal and inactive mass,
and makes it fruitful.
In the conduct of his business, he must combine the wisdom of the ser-
pent with the harmlessness of the dove. He navigates his richly-fraught
vessel through a most treacherous sea, however smiling, and must move
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with oaatioiL He must be conversant with the general principles of com-
mercial law, and familiar with all the forms and requisites of commercial
contracts ; and yet prefer to act, where the occasion calls for it, upon pro-
fessional advice. He is careful to see that his bargains are binding in the
law ; that what the law requires to be in writing is written ; and that the
true intention of his contract is clearly, fully, and validly expressed. But
^UB knowledge and conformity to law is a shield to him in his ordinary
dealings, and not a sword. He is a soul of honor, and his word is indeed
hJB bond among his fellows. Small praise, indeed, for honor is a necessity
of his noble occupation. The great mass of commercial bargains are
purely honorary contracts, and the merchant who breaks his word in the
exchange, loses caste at once, and irretrievably becomes the scorn of the
high-minded, and is justly driven forth with shame.
In his business he obeys the laws of the country which protects him.
He incurs not the hazard of illicit trade, and pockets no profits filched
from the revenue of the nation by false oaths or papers. He seeks gains
which conscience can ^prove.
I would fwn believe that the slave-trade has been always conducted in
a Christian age by a distinct class of men who were abhorred by all fair
traders. I would fain attribute not to mercantile greed, but to the errors
of the British government alone, that damning stain upon the fair fame
of our mother country, the Opium War. In his ordinary business he is
content with the legitimate profits of the market, and will not resort to
artifu^al means to inflate or depress it to the injury of the public. He is
not a speculator, nor has he any faith in fortune, however firmly he may
believe in an overruling Providence. Sheer folly has, indeed, made some
men rich. It would seem that heaven sometimes delights to shower
wealth on the simple to confound the wise, and turns to gold all things
they touch. Of such was the man who blundered into wealth by sending
warming-pans to the West Indies. It turned out that the pans and cov-
era, when separated, were most useful to the sugar boilers as dippers and
strainers, and so he reaped a mighty profit where he deserved but shame
aod loss.
But the true merchant hazards nothing upon a bare hope, a naked trust
in fortune. His ventures are the result of calculations into which he
brings every element at his command from which the future can be fore-
seen. He bargains, provides, and purchases and sells, with reference to a
change ; but he prognosticates that change from present facta and old ex-
perience. He is, in fact, in part at least, a statesman ; for the trade of a
country is the chief care of its rulers, and the merchant must, in his for-
eign dealings, watch the statesmen of his day, and be conversant with the
policy and political condition of foreign countries, as well as with the
present state of their markets, or he may not reach them at their height
So near akin is statesmanship to mercantile accomplishments, that no man
is worthy to hold the reins of government who seeks not counsel from the
enlightened votaries of Commerce.
The merchant should be rapid in decision and instantaneous in action ;
the precursor rather than the companion or follower of others. When the
discovery of gold in California caused such an influx of unprovided popu-
lation into that land of promise, the race for mercantile profit was to the
for^nost only, as we now see clearly. The sagacious few foresaw vast
eanuB^ though they should lose their ships from the desertion of the
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558 ComiMTce and the Merchant,
seamen, if they could but be first in that new market — and they were the
first. The tardy sent rich cargoes to a glutted market, and sufifered loss
from nearly all their ventures ; while the abandoned ships lay rotting idle
within the golden gate.
But, alas, the merchant has not the gift of perfect prescience ! He may
suffer from villainy; or the habitual caution of a lifetime may foil him in a
fatal moment, and bring him down to ruin. This fortune is too often "in
ventures snuandered abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men.
There be land rats and water rats ; water thieves and land thieves ; and
then there is the perils of water, winds, and rocks." The perils which en-
viron the wealth embarked in Commerce are innumerable ; but of the land
perils, I know none more imminent or mortal than that which flows firom
a system of baseless credit.
But be that as it may, merchants must occasionally fail, and it is a
pitiable sight, that of the honest, long-established merchant fallen from
his palmy state, and deserted, like the hunted deer, by his companions.
Where such a man is prostrated by mere misfortune, and his associates
step not forward to bind up his wounds and to sustain him, it argues ill
for them — it indicates that they possess not that delight in honorable com-
petition which unites rather than dissevers generous minds, and that
esprit du cmys so bene6cial to the public in large commercial cities.
In this connection I must be permitted to anticipate a sound rule of
commercial ethics which will, I doubt not, be most fully stated and co-
gently enforced by the gentlemen who will hereafter lecture before you on
that subject A nigh-minded merchant may be sustained by credit, but he
can have no concealment of the state of his affairs from those whose capi-
tal he uses. If misfortune sweeps away or seriously impairs his means of
payment, he will not use or stretch a trust which he knows is falsely
founded, and endeavor by some great, rash stroke, which hazards all, to
retrieve his losses. He is not misled by the too common expression, ** in-
volving himself in further difficulties." He knows that by usinff his ground-
less credit, he would involve the property, perchance the happiness of
others, in his selfish schemes ; and he yields to the promptings of justice,
and stops at one, or preliminarily submits the question wheuer he shall
stop, to those whose wealth makes up his seeming capital.
The true exemplar of a merchant is a noble spectacle. He has borne
up bravely amid vicissitudes which no sagacity could foresee or avert, and
has often presented the spectacle the gods, it is said, delight in — that of a
good man contending vainly with fate. But though often defeated, he has
at last conquered, and has placed his banner upon a commanding emi-
nence. He is devoid of ostentation, and looks to substance rather than to
show, and moves in the world with a dignified simplicity which renders
him indeed a man of mark, where the idle pageantry of wealth would be
ridiculous. Perhaps he finds enjoyment in rural, scientific, or literary
Eursuits, for which business before allowed him but scant leisure ; and his
onorable career insures him the appropriate solaces of old age, such as
"honor, love, obedience, troops of friends." He proves, too, that the
economy which pervaded every department of his business, and forbade
the waste of even a scrap of paper, was wisely conscientious, by adorning
his native or adopted city with the useful monuments of his philanthropy.
Look our country over, and you will find not only that th« merchant has
a heart " open as day to melting charity," but a hand that has beai moat
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CommeM of the United States. 669
active in promoting every scheme of public enterprise. Churches, hospi-
tals, public libraries, seminaries of learning, have been founded by the
hoards of the successful merchant
A prudent liberality is so common in all classes of my countrymen, that
it may well be regarded as a characteristio of the nation. But when I
think of the massive and enduring monuments, fraught in the perennial
good to man and to their country, our great merchants have erected, I am
compelled to say that, were I capable of envy, I would envy rather such
men as Touro, Girard, or Astor, than some, at least, of the so-called
orators and statesmen who have achieved for their names high places in
history.
And now that I have closed the brief course of remark which at the
outset I have proposed unto myself, I feel that I cannot so part with you,
and yet cannot express how ardently I yearn for your success, and for the
extension and permanent foundation of this institution. Under Provi-
dence, your future is in your own keeping, and must be colored and deci-
ded by yourselves. In this college we behold a manly and most praise-
worthy effort to assert practically a principle which seems a truism, but it
in general disregarded. I will not think it possible that it can be permit-
ted to languish ; and in its success, I see a long line of princely merchants
insured to Buffalo, and a safe omen that the city will be distinguished
among its sisters for industry and morality, for wealth and its embellish-
ments, and as a seat of learning and a favorite haunt of science and the
arta.
Art. IT.— COHMBRCE OF THE UNITED STATES.
mritBBE xiz.
PRBHCH AMD fPAMIBH WAR— SnOCBBBCI OP BROLAMD— VAST BXTKNflOH OP COLONIAL BMPIRB—
TRADB DURINO AND APTBR THB WAR-BNPORCBMBNT OP TUB OLD SUGAR ACT— ^ WRITS OP
A8SISTANCB **~NBW TARIPP ACTS-RUIN OP THB PORBION WBST INDIA TRADB— BPPBCTB ON TBB
OOLONIBS, OH THB WBBT INDIBB, AND ON BNOLAND— PROPOBITION OP A STAMP DUTY.
1761-1764. The French being expelled from Canada in 1761, the
continental provinces of England returned to a state of peace, the war,
however, raging in Europe, on the ocean, and among the West Indies, un-
til 1763. Prance was quite ready to come to an arrangement upon the loss
of Canada and the West, and actually proposed an accommodation on the
basis of the uti possedeiis, to which England was perfectly willing to assent ;
but Spain having become now jealous of England's power in America,
and being ready to join France in an effort to restore the fortune of the
latter, the French withdrew from the negotiation, and entered upon the
contest with renewed vigor. In the winter of 1761-2, Spain broke off
her friendly relations wim England, who declared war against her in con-
sequence in January, 1762. The allies endeavored to force Portugal to
come into the combination against England, but that now reduced king-
dom preferred to continue her ancient friendship with Britain, and was
effectively sustained by the latter in her position against the arms of her
two neighbors.
The English were almost invariably successful during the remainder of
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560 Oommeree of the United Stat^.
the war, which was consequently brief. During the year Aey took from
the French neariy all of their West India possessions, including Mar-
tinique, Grenada and the Grenadines, St Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominic^
and the Carribbees. Guadaloupe had been before captured. The Uade
of these islands was very important — that of Martinique alone with Eng-
land during this very year exceeded the Commerce of England with Den-
mark and Norway, with Sweden, qr with Spain. The contmental colonies,
of course, endeavored to share in the profits of these valuable acquisitions.
New England was considerably alarmed by the French gaining possession
of a part of the Island of Newfoundland in June, and threatening the
extinguishment of the English fishery ; but in September they were ex-
pelled.
A war upon Spain was always as popular in the colonies as in Eng-
land, and they were therefore quite ready to assist in the effort to reduce
the Spanish possessions in the West Indies. New England furnished a
considerable body of troops to the expedition under Lord Albemarle and
Lord Bococke, which in August succeeded in an attempt upon Havana.
The spoil taken here was so enormous as to enrich even the petty officers.
Over 3,000,000/. was seized of money and merchandise, the property of
the king of Spain. During the brief time in which England held the isl-
and a brisk trade was carried on with it. This loss, more than all other
events, hastened the peace, striking as it did at the very vitals of the Com-
merce and revenue of Spain.
In the East Indies England took from Spain the city of Manilla, the
capital of fourteen valuable and important islands — the Philippines — and
the entrepot of a lucrative though limited Commerce with Spanish Amer-
ica, India, China, and Japan. Spain stipulated the payment of I,000,OOOL
for the immediate restoration of the Philippines, but never paid it The
English captured also a galleon, which had sailed from Manilla for Aca-
pulco, in Mexico, with a cargo which sold for above half a million sterling,
and the influx of the precious metals into England was so great as to
afford a very sensible increase in the circulating medium.
The preliminary terms of peace were arranged in November, and the
definitive treaty settled at Paris in February of the next year, 1763.
England retained Canada and all its dependencies. Cape Breton, and all
the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the French population having op-
tion to remain as British subjects, or to sell their estates, and depart withiii
eighteen months. Most of them chose to remain. The Frencn were al-
lowed the privilege of fishing on any part of the eoast of Newfoundland,
as under the treaty of Utrecht, and at any place in the Gulf three leagues
from all coasts and islands belonging to England ; also in the sea adjacent
to Cape Breton, but not to approach within fifteen leagues of that islaad
— the fishery on the coasts of Nova Scotia and other places remaining as
settled in former treaties. They were allowed to dry their fish on the
coasts of Newfoundland, and, as a shelter to their fishermen, the small
islands of St. Peter and Miguelon, near Newfoundland ware ceded them,
on condition of remaining unfortified and without any military forca
These concessions in regai3 to the fishery were inflexibly insisted on by
France, who, humbled as she had been, would not relinquish this ancient
pursuit, and were exceedingly distasteful to the New Englanders, whoee
main interest in the effort to conquer Canada and the neighboring iaJands
was in the expulsion of the French from the American waters. A laige
party in England also violently opposed this portion of the treaty.
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The great Western r^on, called Louisiana, was also retained by Eng-
land, except a small province cut out of the mouth of the Mississippi, em-
bracing the island of New Orleans and some territory on the west bank.
The boundary line was described as running down the middle of the
river, from its source as fiir as to this province, and although the mouth
of the river was exclusively within the latter, the navigation of the river
in its entire extent was declared perfectly free to both nations.
In the West Indies, the islands of Guadaloupe, Martinico, Mariegalante,
St Lucia, and Desirade were restored to France ; Grenada and the Grena-
dines, 6t. Vincent, Dominica, and Tobago were retained by Eogland, under
the same stipulations as in the case of Canada. Minorca, in the Mediter-
ranean, was restored to England ; and in the East Indies, each party re-
stored its conquests during the war.
In order to regain Havana, Spain was obliged to cede to England her
province of Florida, extending westward to the French colony of Louisiana,
and as a compensation for this loss, France secretly conveyed to her the
possession of Louisiana as it remained. These transfers were both very
disagreeable to the inhabitants. Nearly the whole of the Spanish popu-
lation migrated from Florida to Cuba and the other Spanish islands. A
general consternation ensued in Louisiana when first mformed, in 1764,
of their being under the dominion of Spain ; but the government was left
in the hands of the French until 1769. England agreed to destroy the
fortifications erected in the Bay of Honduras, to evacuate the Mosquito
coast, and withdraw all protection from any of her subjects remaining
there ; while Spain guarantied the safety of the business pursued by Eng-
land and her colonies in cutting and shipping logwood from Campeachy
and its vicinity.
The possessions of England on the continent of North America now
extended from the Arctic Circle to the Gulf of Mexico, and longitudinally
from the Atlantic to the River Mississippi. About half of the whole
hemisphere was under her dominion, forming a colonial empire vastly
more extensive than she could find capital and population to improve.
But the triumph had been dearly purchased, and she, as well as her colo-
nies, were no less glad than their humbled enemies, to sit down to the
quiet pursuits of peace, and endeavor to repair the losses they had borne.
During the war, the English colonies had still continued in the vigorous
prosecution of the foreign West India trade, and an English factory es-
tablished at Hamburgh had flourished upon consignments from the colo-
nies and from the West Indies. So bountiful was the supply of sugars
carried there that France, upon the loss of intercouse with the West
Indies, derived thence the amount required for her large consumption.
While holding Guadaloupe, the English carried into it 18,721 negro slaves,
and proportionately increased its cdlivation, as well as that of all the other
conquered islands.
Upon the peace, England and her colonies endeavored still to keep up
the advantages thus acquired ; but France, though sufiering under the
calamities of the war, a corrupt government, and oppressive taxation, di-
rected most vigorous and successful efforts to the improvement of her re-
maining American possessions, and was soon enabled to drive the English
completely out of the trade of Hamburgh, and recover to herself the busi-
ness of supplying Europe with sugars. The trade of the English colonies
with the foreign West Indies, however, continued — fish, horses, naval
VOL. TTTin. — ^HO. V, 86
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562 Commerce of the United States.
stores, lumber, ^fec, being carried tbere as before, and their molasses
brought home, to be manufactured into rum for use in the Indian and
slave trades and the fisheries. The fur trade was now exclusively theirs,
and their commercial energies branched out with enlarged vigor in all
directions.
But this prosperity was doomed to a sudden and violent check from the
very cause whicn had been considered its best security — the completeness
of England's triumph. Even while most deeply immersed in the concerns
of the war, the English ministry were not too much engaged to inaugurate
the policy of effective restraints upon America, and of compelling her to
become productive of a revenue. It was determined in 1761 to undertake
a strict enforcement of the old Navigation and other acts concerning the
trade of the colonies, to which hitherto only partial attention had been
paid. The chief effort was in regard to the " Sugar and Molasses Act," so
called, enacted in 1733, and imposing a duty on foreign sugars, molasses,
and rum imported into the colonies, the original object being to suppress
the trade.
The colonial merchants had always found means, some of them of very
questionable morality, to evade the operation of the statute, and the cus-
tom-house oflScers had *'made a very lucrative job of shutting their eyes,
or at least opening them no further than their own private interest re-
quired." Some of the latter in the higher stations were believed to be
even deeply concerned in the illicit trade, carried on in especial contraven-
tion of this act, for the enforcement of which mainly their offices were
originated. Of course, the gi'eat design of the measure, the protection of
the sugar planters of Jamaica, had totally failed.
The ordmary measures of enforcing the Sugar act having thus proved
ineffective, the new policy resorted to was to put the officers of revenue
themselves under check and to afford them extraordinary powers for com-
pleting the execution of the act They were to be authorized to break
mto and search not only stores, but even dwelling-houses, suspected of
containing dutiable goods brought into the colonies without payment of
the customs. The commissions for this most offensive scrutny were to
!be general search-warrants, under the name of ** writs of assistance,"
wrhich the colonial courts were enjoined to issue upon application of the
revenue officials.
The first attempt under the new system was, of course, made at Boston,
•where the most violent excitement attended the eftbrt Thatcher, Otis,
:and other kindred spirits, as counsel for the merchants, or leaders of the
j)ublic opinion, denounced the scheme in unmeasured terms, while the peo-
ple universally were prepared to resist the application of the odious prin-
»ciple. The courts here, and wherever else solicited, denied openly or pru-
dently doubted their own power and their duty to issue such writs ; a
process which had been known only to the infamous Star Chamber in
England.
The contest between the officers of the crown and the colonies continued
until the peace of 1763, upon which the British Admiralty made the moet
violent efforts to enforce the evaded statutes. A number of American
vessels engaged in the contraband intercourse with the foreign West Indiea,
were seized and confiscated, and the result was, that this lucrative Com-
merce was soon nearly annihilated. The profits, enhanced by the restric-
tive efforts of the government, were such as still to tempt the cupidity of
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Commerce of tJ^e United Statee. b^Z
a portion of the merchants, but the vigilance of the officers was so great,
and the cruisers along the coast were so multiplied, and so watchful, that
the adventure was attempted only at extreme nsk.
But the new policy did not stop with the mere enforcement of obsolete
statutes. This was but a link in a chain of revenue measures, the adop-
tion of which was contemplated. The financial condition of England im-
peratively urged the ministers to every possible resource of revenue within
their reach. The debt of the kingdom which, in 1765, was £72,289,678,
stood, at the opening of the year 1764, at £139,561,807. The creditors
could not demand of government the repayment of the principal, but the
amount annually payable in the shape of interest, annuities, <fec., was about
£4,670,000. The revenue, after the imposition of a number of new and
onerous taxes within the kingdom, amounted to £7,760,000. The budget,
after setting forth an expenditure hitherto unprecedented, exhibited a de-
ficiency of three million sterling, which was with difficulty supplied by
temporary resources, and by encroachments upon the sinking fimd.
Among the measures adopted in 1763, by which the revenue had been
urged upward to its insufficient amount, were a loan, combined with two
lotteries. The loan, drawn from the people of England, amounted to
£2,800,000, at 4 per cent interest, the subscribers receiving as a douceur
a lottery ticket of the price of £10 for every £100 subscribed to the loan.
The lotteries distributed £350,000 each, and the prizes in them were stock,
bearing 4 per cent interest, the blanks being rated at £5 ; that is to sav,
they were entitled to an annual income of four shillings each. An addi-
tional duty of £8 a ton was also laid on French, and of £4 a ton on all
other, wine and vinegar ; also a duty of £2 a ton on all foreign, and an
excise of 4s. per hogshead on all domestic, cider and perry. This latter
excise produced a most violent and general explosion, the city of London
being particularly excited. It was denounced as a partial and oppressive
tax, and grossly violative of the liberty of the people, by subjectmg their
houses to visitation and search by the revenue officers. The act for levy-
ing th^ land-tax of 1764 included all personal estates, among them debts,
except those considered desperate, stock on hand, household goods, and
loans to His Majesty, all of which property was taxed 4s. in the pound of
their yearly value, which was 1 per cent on the capital. The same tax
was extended to all employments and pensions, companies and offices, (ex-
cepting in the army and navy.) The act authorized also the borrowing of
£2,000,000 on the credit of this tax.
Thus it appears that the attempt of England to tax America was not
for the purpose of sparing her own resources, and that the cry of oppres-
sion and misgovemnient resounded all through Great Britain before the
sensibilities of the Americans had been very considerably excited. Nor
did England propose, when she undertook to make America contribute to
her necessities, to make the point then reached the limit of her own self-
infliction.
The colonies were rapidly growing, and had already attained a state
bordering, in some degree, on opulence. They had hitherto been treated
with much forbearance and real liberality, and could not expect any longer,
it was said, to escape sharing in the burdens of the realm. The great
amount of their imports, their astonishing efforts in the late war, their
style of living in the large towns, were all alluded to as evidences of an
ability to aid the mother country in her distress, which, respectable as it
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S84 Ckmnneree of ihe UniUd SMe9.
waa, was yet mucb overrated. The AmericanB were prone to oyertrading;
ihey had not made their exertions in the war without incurring serious
embarrassment ; and the chanee from the original simplicitj of their hab-
its had run in advance of the miprovement of their means. Many of the
merchants and leading men, whose style was described as so gay and lux-
urious, were deeply indebted in England, and some of these were perhaps
disposed to accelerate any crisis which might promise to relieve them of
their unpleasant obligations. No arguments were more efficacious in de-
ciding the course of the ministry and of Parliament than the evidence
presented them regarding the luxury of the Americans, of which they had
notable examples beneath their own eyes in the young men sent over to
England for education.
The government was further encouraged by the example of oihet coun-
tries. The royal revenues in the single Spanish colony of Mexico amounted,
in 1763, to $5,705,876. Beside, something was considered due on the
score of gratitude. On some of the colonies England had expended lar^
amounts in their in&ncv ; above £4,000 was still expended upon Gleor^a
yearly ; and considerably more on Nova Scotia, to secure the joint unin-
terrupted visitation of the fishing region by England and the other colo-
nies. She had repaid a large part of the expenditures of the colonies in
the wars upon the French. Her present yearly expenses in North America
were £860,000, and it was deemed (sat that the colonies should help de-
fray this outlay, of which they were asked to contribute less than a third
part Nothing was asked toward paying the proper liabilities of England
nerself.
At the commencement of the year 1764, the subject of revenue being
before the Parliament, various schemes for its enlaivement were under
consideration, among those referring jointly to Great Britain and the cfAo-
nies being propositions for the discontinuance of drawback on the re-ex-
portation of certain goods ; for a duty on East India merchandise ; more
duties on foreign wines ; higher duties on coffee, cocoa, Ac The schemes
in serious contemplation, referring exclusively to the colonies, and combin-
ing the objects of revenue and the regulation of the colonial trade, were a
revision of the Sugar and Molasses act, imposing a practicable revenue
duty on the importation of foreign Molasses into the colonies ; a lai^per
duty on foreign Sugar, and an open and efficient prohibition on foreign
Rum. Also, a duty on Tea, and on Wine and Fruit imported into me
plantations from Spain and Portugal. A Stamp duty was, beside, in con-
templation.
Beside the support which the necessities of the ministry afforded the
new Sugar act, it was powerfully urged by the West India interest, which
had always far more influence in the cabinet and in Parliament than the
North American colonies, and was consequently able to carry against the
latter any point upon which their interests were divergent The English
merchants trading to North America exerted themselves vigorously in be-
half of the latter, but though successful in obtaining the dmrrai of some
parts of the intended taxation system, were unable to secure even a sus-
pension in regard to the Sugar act The friends of the northern colonies
published several forcible treatises in their behalf and an able pam{^let,
put out at Philadelphia, entitled an *^ Essay on the Trade of the Northern
Colonies," in which the impolicy of legislation in behalf of the sugar col-
onies to the injury of the former was elaborately exposed, was repuUiahed
in London*
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Cammeree cf the United Statet. 56l(
The upshot o( the matter was, the re-enaotmetit of the Sugar act of
1783, bearing the title of an act for "better securing and encouraging the .
trade of the Sugar Coloniee," with a modification of the duty on foreign
molasees and sirups imported into any of the British colonies, reducing it
from the old rate of 6d. per gallon to Sd. The importation of sugars into
Ireland, except directly from Great Britain, was prohibited. Another act
was passed at the same time, laying duties on the importation into the
colonies of foreign clayed Sugar, Indigo, Coffee, Wines, Silks, Calico, Ac
The preamble to this act directly avowed the policy of taxing the colonies
in these words : —
** Whereas, it is expedient that new duties and regulations should he estab-
lished for improving the revenue of this kingdom, and for extending and secur-
ing the navigation and Commerce between Great Britain and your Hajeaty's do-
minions in America, which by the peace have been so happily enlarged ; and
whereas it is just and necessary that a revenue be raised in your mqfesty s domino
ioM in America, for defraving the expenses of defending, protecting, and secur-
ing the same. We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, 3ie commons
of Great Britain in Parliament assembled, being desirous of makinff some pro-
vision in this present session of Parliament toward raising the said revenue in
America, have resolved to give and grant unto your Majesty the several rates and
duties hereinafter mentioned."
These duties, to take effect from September 29, 1 764, were on the fol-
lowing goods landed in America, and at the rates affixed : —
White or clayed sugar, the produce of foreign colonies, to pay over and
above all former duties per cwt £12 0
Indigo, of foreign growth per lb. 0 0 6
CToffee, from any pmce except Great Britain per cwt 2 19 0
Wines, from Madeira, or any other island wlience wme may be lawfully
imported pm* tun 7 0 0
Wine, of Portugal, Spain, or any other wine except French, (prohibited,)
imported from Great Britain 0 10 0
Silk, or stuff mixed with Bilk, made in Persia, Obina, or India, imported
from Great Britain, weight per lb. 0 2 0
Calico, made in the same places, imported from Great Britain, .per piece 0 8 0
French lawn, imported from Great Britain 0 8 0
The articles specified as imported from Great Britain were, by existing
laws, prohibited from other places, or had other and higher duties affixed
to such importation. On exports from the colonjes to any place whatever,
excepting Great Britain, the duty was —
On coffee, of the British Islands per cwt £0 7 0
Pimento, of the British Islands. perlb. 0 0 OJ
The duties under these acts were to be paid in specie or bullion alone, a
measure of peculiar severity at a time when almost the whole internal
business of the colonies was transacted by means of a paper currency, and
hard money had become almost a thing unknown, being as well banished
from the colonial finance as from commercial operations. The amount
collected was to be appropriated for the defense of the colonies.
The strictest guards were provided for the enforcement of these acts.
All vessels found hovering on the coasts of the North American colonies
were made liable to forfeiture, excepting French vessels at the fishing
grounds. The officers of the ships of war were created revenue officers,
taking the usual oaths, the navy being thus converted into floating custom-
houses. The jurisdiction of the Admiralty Courts was enlarged, with
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566 Ommeree of ths United SUUe$.
special reference to these acts, and the right of trial by jury was denied in
the cases arising under them, as well as in regard to the trade and naviga-
tion acts genersdly. One third part of the proceeds of forfeiture went to
the informer, another third going to the governor of the colony where the
forfeiture occurred, and the other third to the crown for the use of such
colony.
These acts, with the affirmation of an intention to push the system of
taxation thus introduced at subsequent session?, were regarded as sufficient
to test the operation of the general scheme, and to try the temper of the
Americans. Accordingly, the only step farther at this time was the pas-
sage of a series of resolutions introduced by Mr. Grenville, the Pnme
Minister, asserting the right and expediency of taxing the colonies, and
specifying a Stamp duty as an eligible mode. Without a single speech or
vote against them, the resolutions were adopted, March 1 9th, and the con-
sideration of the proposed measure assigned for the next session of Parlia-
ment The ministers were in hopes that bv thus holding a Stamp duty
suspended over the heads of the Americans, they would be induced in the
interim to furnish voluntarily the amount demanded of them as their con-
tribution to the revenue — the small sum of £100,000 — in which case they
would not be disposed immediately to impose the Stamp duty. But they
miscalculated in supposing the provincials would meet the requisition upon
them from the fear of a measure which would remain suspended only so
long as they complied with all the demands which the ministry might
choose to impose upon them. They regarded the act thus held in terrorem
as objectionable as an actual statute.
The news of these measures of Parliament stimulated the excitement,
which in the northern colonies had attended the progress of the debates,
to the highest point In regard to the Sugar act, the Massachusetts Gen-
eral Court declared that it must ruin their trade entirely. Two-thirds of
their fisheries must be sacrificed, as the British West Indies, they said,
could not consume above one-third of the product of them. Molasses
being the only article which the French allowed foreigners to carry from
their islands, the restraint upon the import must be fetal to the fisheries
and to the other business of the North, which rested mainly on this trade
with the foreign colonies. The Legislature of Rhode Island, in their pro-
test against the act, affirmed that the distillation of rum from the foreign
molasses was the main hinge on which the trade of that colony turned,
and that beside all the persons it employed upon land, it gave support to
2,200 seamen. Newport contained upwards of thirty distilleries. Other
northern colonies made equally energetic protests, accompanied by earnest
petitions for the repeal of the injurious measure. But it was against the
threatened Stamp act that the feeling was most intense and universal, the
Legislature of Massachusetts taking the lead in the expression of public
sentiment on this subject They declared boldly that the colonial assem-
blies had the sole right to lay taxes. It was asserted that the recent duties
on imported goods had materially encroached on this right, which the
proposed act would utterly extinguish, reducing them to the condition of
slaves. Resolves, embracing the full extent of this principle, were passed ;
but at the instance of Governor Hutchinson were so modified, in the hope
of gaining some forbearance from their moderation, as to rest their oppo-
sition solely on grounds of expediency. Other colonies, especially New
York and Virginia, also expressed decided opinions, and forwarded petitions
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Commerce of the United States, 66Y
of the same tenor as those sent from Massachusetts against both the
adopted and intended acts. Hitherto the southern colonies had felt little
interest in the " molasses controversy," and had been accustomed to ridi-
cule the sensitiveness of the Yankees in regard to free sweetening ; but
they realized now that the danger was common, and that to save them-
selves it was necessary to co-operate with, and uphold the before under-
valued cause of the North. Agents were sent out by several colonies to
advocate their interests, Dr. Franklin representing Pennsylvania.
Although it was against the Stamp Act that the opposition of the col-
onies was principally directed, it was not by any means, that the measure
of itself threatened them with the greater oppression. The Stamp Act
was opposed as an incipient step in a new system of direct internal taxa-
tion, which might afterwards be pushed to a ruinous extent, more than
from its own immediate importance. Placed upon their own intrinsic
merits, the Sugar Act was immensely more important than the stamp duty.
The former struck at the very vitals of the Northern colonies. But it
was only a step in the progress of an old and recognized system. Al-
though some of the colonies had before denied the right of parliament t^
impose direct taxation upon their property or persons, none of them had
ever questioned the right of the national legislature, and even of the sove-
reign alone, to oblige them to furnish a share of the royal revenue, by
means of regulations upon their Commerce. The right to dispose of their
exterior relations had always been freely conceded to the imperial govern-
ment, by the colonists, as a necessity of their relative condition, and as the
chief feature of its authority over them. In fact, this power to regulate
trade was the only eminent sovereign authority which England had, with-
out question, exercised over the colonies. That power removed, the latter
could scarcely have been considered as any longer dependencies.
Had the Sugar Act been alone, the colonists, injurious as they felt that
measure to be, would scarcely have thought of open resistance. In the
Stamp Act they affected to discover a new question raised between them
and the British government It was the principle of taxation upon their
internal business, as distinguished from their outward Commerce. It was
direct and intentional taxation against that which was incidental and un-
avoidable. The Stamp Act was opposed as unconstitutional, the Sugar
Act as only impolitic.
This distinction, though broad enough in a theory, could not be ob-
served in the practical operations of govenimeut. The two species of
trade are too much intermixed and mutually dependent, to admit of the
line of powers and inabilities being properly drawn between them. It was,
indeed, impossible, to adopt any measure considerably affecting one branch,
but must be very sensibly felt upon the other. It would have been easy,
indeed, under the existing circumstances, to have struck, through the ex-
terior tr^e of the colonies, a fatal blow to its internal business. But even
the theoretical difference vanished in tlie case of these two acts. There
was no new question presented in the case that the most sublimated theory
could reveal. The Stamp duty fairly came within the same category as
the Sugar Act. Both were legitimate exercises of the conceded power of
regulating outward trade. There was exactly the same political right to
lay a duty on Paper brought into and used within the country, as on Sugar
and Molasses, Indigo, Coffee, or Silks, so imported and consumed.
If it were objected that the Stamp Act came more appropriately under
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568 Commerce of the United Statee.
the class of Internal le^slation, because its main feature was the making
illegal of all inward business conducted without the use of stamped paper,
we need only allude to the many other acts, forbidding, sometimes direct-
Ij, at other times virtually, the inward trade in, and the consumption of^
various articles not directly furnished from Great Britain. The English
government had actively busied itself, for many years, in restraining, by
effective penalty, (that is, by prohibitory tax,) the growth of all species of
colonial manufacture coming mto competition with British industry. This
method of internal taxation and regulation, was far more onerous and tm-
just than the Stamp duties could possibly become, and was yet more offen-
sive, from being imposed for the benefit of a few privileged classes in Eng-
land, instead of the plausible object of a national revenue. These meas-
ures had been indeed complained of as deleterious, but no one had thought
of impeaching their constitutionality.
It was the colonists, and not England, that brought at this Ume a new
principle into their relations, and furnished the ground of dispute which
eventuated in war and separation. The principle that " Taxation and Re-
presentation are inseparable," was indubitably a fixed element of the Brit-
ish Constitution ; but its enunciation, instead of being a claim for return
to any practice ever enjoyed, was the assertion of Revolution. It was the
open, undisguised declaration of a purpose to overthrow completely the
entire system of colonial relations, and to institute totally new conditions.
The same principle which nullified the Stamp Act, swept away also the
Sugar duty, the statute prohibitory of Iron works, and a whole class of
laws that nad hitherto been admitted legitimate. It went further, over-
turning the always undoubted power of regulating exterior Commerce, as
authonty assumed in open and gross violation of the great charter of Eng-
lish liberties, being in its exercise essentially an act of taxation. Nor was
this all. It was assumed on all hands, that from the nature of the case,
the provincials could not well be represented in parliament The inter^
diet of the taxation power, was, then, absolute, and as this matter of tax
really involves and swallows up nearly every other ground of legislation,
the parliament was, in effect, totally stripped of its authority over the
colonies. Legislative power is emasculated when it loses the element <^
taxation. Parliament would not desire to retain the intangible shadow of
authority left, nor would the dignity of either party tolerate the trivial
exception to the completeness of the legislative revolution. Even were it
otherwise, the integrity of the new principle would enforce this result
The postulate that Taxation is inseparable from Representation, instead of
being a complete principle, is only the fraction of the inevitable law fol-
lowing its recognition, that Representation is inseparable from all Legisla-
tion. The only legitimate end of the new principle was, an utter denial
of the authority of Parliament to legislate for tne colonies in any case
whatsoever. The humble colonial assemblies assumed thus the attitude
toward the Imperial Parliament, of co-ordinate legislatures, invested with
precisely equal attributes of sovereignty, and liable to put their fellow to
a humiliating ejection from the intrusive authority, obtained and exercised
hitherto, by simple sufferance. No element of union with the empire thus
remained, but the single, simple, needless and inconvenient bond of ft
common executive — a royal shadow, which it was absurd on one part to
cede and on the other to receive and uphold longer, as the embodiment of
Britain's sovereignty over America.
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The City of Lynn^ MoMochimtU, 500
Such was the infallible result of the only principle upon which a valid
opposition could be made to the legality of the Stamp Act A very large
portion of those who joined in the project of nullification, did not at first
discern the momentous issue, but it did not long escape the shrewder.
Some of these were almost unwilling to admit the startling conclusion, to
themselves, and none deemed it prudent to avow it before the public, who
were quite unprepared for its immediate reception. The bolder and more
sagacious of the leaders patiently waited their time. The deeper were
their investigations, the more extensive, odious, and fearful were discovered
the ramifications of the system they were about to repudiate and demolish.
To pull out one stone from the edinee was nothing, they saw that the great
superstructure must stand entire, or tumble altogether to the ground. The
wonder with them was, not to find the colonies in an attitude so entirely
new toward the mother country, but that they should have been so long
and so desperately blind, keen political students as the Americans were, as
to be ever willing to occupy for a moment any other position. They saw
the smoke of battle in the horizon, and the result of a completely dissev-
ered nationality, or of unconditional and thorough subjection. For well
they knew that principles so directly at antipodes as those by which the
Stamp Act was repudiated and upheld, could find their only solution in an
appeal to force.
irt. T.— COIMERCIIL AMD INDDSTBIAL CITIES OF TflS U. STATES.
NVMBBR XLI.
THE OITY OP LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.
This flourishing city lies on the shore of Massachusetts Bay, nine miles
east from Boston. Viewed from the sea it presents a front of nearly three
miles, and rising gradually from the water is crowned by several eminences
and wooded heights, among which High Rock, with its observatory, is most
conspicuous. The streets are generally fringed with trees, and many of
the finest houses front upon a parade-ground, which is nearly a mile in ex-
tent, and adds much to the beauty of the place.
Some of the modern houses are spacious and elegant, and Ocean-street,
lined for nearly a mile with tastful villas, which look out upon the ocean,
and command a view of Nahant and the surf breaking upon its beach, is
one of the most pleasant drives in the country.
The houses in this city are principally of wood, two stories in height,
standing detached from each other, and painted white or stone-color.
Nearly all of them have piazzas, and most of them a small garden or
court-yard, ornamented with trees and shrubbery. Most of the streets are
provided with brick side-walks or dry graveled walks, and are lighted by
gas.
By the State census just completed the population has risen from 9,367,
in 1845, to 16,800, in 1865 ; and if allowance be made for two towns,
Nahant and Swampscot, which have been set off in the last ten years, the
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5*10 Commercial and Industrial Citiei of the U. States :
increase is nearly 100 per cent This ratio of increase is nearly equal to
that of our most flourishing Western cities.
The census gives us the following statistics of the business of this young
city, whose manufactures during me past year exceed five million of dol-
lars:—
Boot and Shoes. The whole number of pairs of boots manufactured
in Lynn from June, 1854, to June, 1856, was 3,274,893 ; shoes, 6,000,700 ;
total, 9,275,593 pairs. Number of males employed in said manufacture,
4,645 ; females, 6,476 ; total employed, 11,021. Total value of boots and
shoes manufactured, $4,166,629 28.
During several months of the year above named, the business was veiy
light, and the year was hardly an average one. The manufacture this
year will be at least one-fourth larger than is shown by the above figures,
Morocco Manufacture. The number of establishments for tanning
goat and sheep skins is 13 ; number of hands employed, 202 ; number of
goat-skins tanned and finished, 633,064 ; number of sheep-skins, 67,200 ;
value of morocco manufactured, $407,486 ; amount of capital invested in
the business, $71,160. There is no other place in the State where the
morocco manufacture is so extensive as in Lynn.
Carriage-making. Number of establishments for the manufacture of
carriages and other vehicles, 5 ; number of hands employed, 11 ; amount
of capital invested, $2,360 ; value of vehicles made, $6,200.
Sewing-silk Manufacture. One establishment; number of hands
employed, 13 ; amount of capital, $7,000 ; number of pounds sewing-silk
made, 8,000 ; value, $85,000.
Iron Fence Manufacture. Number of establishments, 2 ; hands em-
ployed, 6 ; amount of capital, $1,600 ; value of fence, $4,200.
Bedsteads. One establishment ; hands employed, 4 ; capital, $500 ;
value of bedsteads, $3,000.
Saddle and Harness Manufacture. Establishments, 3 ; hands, 10 ;
capital, $3,900 ; value, $10,500.
Soap. Establishments, 2 ; hands employed, 7 ; pounds of soap made,
862,000 ; pounds of soft-soap, 600 ; capital, $7,500 ; value of soap made,
$23,560.
Tin Ware. Establishments, 6 ; hands employed, 10 ; capital, $7,160;
value of tin ware, $12,600.
Glue. Establishments, 2 ; hands employed, 9 ; amount of capital,
$10,000 ; value of glue, $20,000.
Bricks. One manufacturer; hands employed, 12; number of bricks,
800,000 ; value, $6,400.
Cigars. One manufacturer; hands employed, 16; value, of cigars,
$5,000.
Blacking. Number of manufacturers, 3 ; hands employed, 6 ; value
of blacking, $3,500.
Mechanics' Tools. Establishments, 6 ; hands, 62 ; value of tools
manufactured, $77,300.
Tool Handles and Brackets. Establishments, 3 ; hands, 5 ; value,
$11,744.
Lasts. Establishments, 6 ; number of lasts made, 75,600 ; value,
$16,320.
Fire-wood. Number of cords of fire-wood prepared for market, 2,947 ;
value, $16,391.
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The City of Lynn, JfoBsaehusetts. 5?1
HAKDKiBacHiEF pRiNTiKo. One establishment ; number of hands, 24 ;
capitol, $6,000 ; number printed, 33,600 ; value, 19,000.
Sashes, Doors, and Bunds. Manufactories, 2 ; hands, 5 ; capital,
$2,300; value, $5,500.
Brewbries. Number, 2 ; hands, 5 ; barrels of beer, 305 ; capital,
$1,400 ; value of beer made, $2,469 60.
Lynn Gas Works. Hands, 4 ; capital, $40,000 ; value of gas made,
$9,895 26.
Bakeries. Number, 6 ; hands, 42 ; capital, $30,400 ; barrels of flour
consumed, 12,700 ; value of bread made, $191,000.
Box Manufactories. Number, 4 ; hands, 25 ; capital, $20,000 ; boxes
made, 219,800 ; value, $32,890.
Machinery. Manu^tories, 3 ; hands, 1 2 ; capital, $2,600 ; value of
machinery made, $17,500.
Cordage. One manufactory ; hands employed, 8 ; capital, $1,000 ;
pounds of cordage made, 29,200 ; value, $4,524.
Lightning Rods. One manufactory ; number of hands, 4 ; capital,
$600 ; value of rods, $5,000.
Shoe Patterns. Manufactories, 5 ; patterns made, 51,600 ; value,
$4,448.
Steam-engines. One manufactory ; number of hands, 3 ; capital,
$1,000 ; value of engines manufactured, $3,000.
Chocolate and Spice Mills. Number, 4 ; hands employed, 24 ; cap-
ital, $49,o00 ; pounds of chocolate made, 80,000 ; pounds of coffee ground,
1,268,000; value of coffee ground, $126,800 ; pounds of spices and cream
tarter ground, 225,717 ; value of same, $42,727 52.
Paper Hangings. One manufactory ; hands employed, 50 ; capital,
$50,000 ; rolls of paner, 960,000 ; value, $192,000.
Sewing-machine Needles. One manufactory ; hands employed, 3 ;
capital, $1,000 ; number of needles, 60,000 ; value, $6,000.
Confectionery. Manufactories, 2 ; hands, 6 ; capital, $4,000 ; pounds
manufactured, 99,200; value, $13,076.
Since the tariff of 1 846, which was framed to aid importations rather
than manufactures by reducing duties on cloths and cottons and imposing
them on the raw material, the growth of factories for fabrics of wool and
cotton has been severely checked, the stock of existing companies depre-
ciated, and the new investments have little more than counterbalanced the
losses by fire and flood.
The industry of Massachusetts has thus been thrown into other chan-
nels ; her shipping and railroads have nearly doubled ; her bank capital
has rapidly increased ; her wharves, piers, and warehouses multiplied ;
and her manufactures of paper, glass, leather, boots, shoes, and wooden-
ware, fabrics — ^made principally from domestic materials or stocks gathered
by her ships from distant regions — have made great progress. She has
ceased to be, to a great extent, dependent on the South for her materials,
and has learned how to develop and how to turn to profitable account her
own resources.
Her annual products of boots, shoes, and leather, alone are now esti-
mated to approach sixty millions of dollars — an amount nearly double her
manufactures of wool and cotton.
It is apparent, too, that the South and the West have been the princi-
pal losers by a diminished market for their cotton and wool, for notwith-
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572 Cammereial and Jndu9trial dim (f^ U. Statu.
atandiog the dapreseion of these interests, tibe rate of wages and the
exports and imports of Massachusetts have been steadily improving.
In Massachusetts, the giant interests of the State are now navigation,
Commerce, banks, manufactures of wood, and of boots, shoes, and leather ;
and when the solicitude of other States to revive the manufacture of cotton
and wool, and thus to furnish home markets and to check the export of
specie, shall lead to modifications of the tariff which common sense de-
mands, Massachusetts will probably be found one of the least interested
parties, although she still has capital, water power, and inventive facili-
ties, which may be successfully applied to the great staples of wool and
cotton.
The growth of the boot and shoe business in Lynn, confined principally
to the boots and shoes worn by women and children, is an index of the
^wth in the whole State in this branch of manufacture — a branch whioh^
including leather, did not in 1845 exceed nineteen millions of dollars, and
in ten years has increased to nearly threefold that amount
THB FOLLOWINQ TABLB SHOWS THB BATS OF 7R00BBSS IW LTNN: —
1845. im.
Hale operatives employed in boots and shoes 2,719 4,MS
Female operatives employed in boots and shoes 8,209 6,476
Whde number of operatives 6,928 11,021
Boote aod shoes pairs made 2,406,723 9,276,69S
Value of boote and shoes made $1,468,000 |4,l 66,629
Value of Morocco leather made 84,000 407,486
Number of packing boxes of shoes 219,800
Value of lasto made $6,900 $16,880
Childreo at Pabiic School of LjDD 1864 8,066
This valuable table presents to us a singular array of facts. We leam
from it that 70 per c^ent of the entire population are engaged in the maau*
facture of boots and shoes, and this is in addition to all Siose engaged in
other branches of industry. As one-third of the population is under fif-
teen, and about one-fifth constantly attendant on the public school, to-
wards which Lynn is a liberal contributor, we may safely infer there are
few idle fingers in Lynn.
Another fact which strikes us is the ffreat increase in the manu&cture
of Morocco, which has grown eleven nundred per cent in the past ten
years ; while the manufacture of lasts has more than doubled, and the
manufacture of shoe boxes risen from nothing to 219,800 packing boxes
• in the same brief periods
But in the manufacture of boots and shoes and in the value of the prod-
uct, the increase is most astonishing. While the operatives have increased
but 87 per cent, and this gain has been principally in females, the number
of pairs of boots and shoes has increased 286 per cent^ and their value
has risen also 185 per cent
May we not deduce from these facts two conclusions 9 First, that in-
creased skill and intelligence have been brought to bear upon the manu-
facture, by which female now accomplishes results greatly surpassing those
of male industry in the former period, and also that in the face of a very
important rise in hides and other raw materials, and of a large advance in
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Priu Law.—Fr€e Skip$ make Free Goods. 578
wages,* and of a great improvement in the style of the fabric, the cost of
the finished article had been materially reduced.
Massachusetts, in her attention to the head and feet, is becoming alike
distinguished, and while she devotes herself so assiduously to the inside of
the one and outside of the other, we shall not find her, or the fair city of
Lynn in particular, deficient in understanding.
Art. TL— PRIZE liW— FREB SHIPS MAIB FREE GOODS.
M. A. DE PiSTOYE ET Ch. Duverdy, of Paris, France, have published
'* Traits des prises maritimes, dans lequel on a refondu en le trait6 de
Valin en Fappropriant a la legislation nouvelle " — a work which our co-
temporary of the Washington Union justly regards as possessing general
value and importance, because it contains the existing law of France on
the object of maritime prizes, including many unpublished decisions of the
council of prizes, and otherwise brings down the law from the time of
Valin. In commenting on the rule that *^ free ships make free goods,'*
vol. i., p. 350, the author says : —
" The United States sinee their origin, connected with France by a communi-
ty of interests and principles, have proclaimed the maxim, which the French
rule had definitely adopted : * free ships, free ffoods.*
" This principle, resolutely proclaimed by France since 1778, has been inserted
by her in all the commercial conventions which she has signed since that period.
Not to make a tedious enumeration, which would throw no new light upon this
question, we will merely remark that in the most recent conventionH of this
kind the following article, expressed always in the same termn, may be found :
" * The two contracting paKies adopt, in their mutual relations, the principle
that the flag protects the cargo. If one of the parties remains neutral while the
other is engn^ed in war with some other power, the goods covered by the neu-
tral flag are also to be regarded as nentral, even though they belong to the ene-
my of the other contracting party.*
"England, by her declaration of March 28, 1864, has conformed to the prin-
ciple that * robe of friend saves robo of enemy,' (robe tCami sauxe robe tCermemi,)
Notwithstanding the provisional and temporary character of this act, it may be
asserted that international law will be found to be definitely settled upon this
point; for it is not probable that England will now retract this declaration. She
was the only dissenting nation, and would have had to accede some dajr or other
to what had become the common law of all other nations. Her accession ought
to be considered as settling the principle. The laws of each particular nation
are all now in harmony with the principles assumed in diplomatic relations."
All this is just and proper. But while applauding Great Britain for
having come into the French and American rule on this point, the authors
proceed, in another place, with singular inconsistency, not only not to con-
demn, but to commend, the French rule on the subject of property in
ships, in which France is behind Great Britain as well as America. In
vol. ii., p. 1, they say : —
* Some of the male operaUyes in the sboe bQsineM In Lynn now arerage Uiroagh Uie year
two-end-a-hair doOare a day, and tome or Ute femalet two doUarn. Sewing macbinee are exten-
atrely UMd.
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6Y4 Prisse Law, — Free Shipe make Free Ooode.
"Regulation of July a6th, 1778.— Article 7. Ships of enemies' construction,
or which shall have been of enemies' ownership, cannot be regarded as neutral,
or as belonging to allies, unless there be found on board certain documents, au-
thenticated by public officers, certifying the date of sale or cession, and that such
sale or cession had been made to the subject of an allied or neutral power pre-
vious to the commencement of hostilities, and that the said conveyance of an
enemy*8 property to the subject of a neutral or an ally has been duly registered
in presence of tne principal officer of the place from which the vessel sailed, and
signed by the owner of the ship, or by person holding power of attorney from
him. *♦♦♦*♦»*
" But it may be asked, what difference does it make whether enemies' ships
shall have been sold to neutrals before or after the commencement of hostilities,
if it is evident that they have been made neutral, and have lost their hostile char-
acter in becoming the property of neutral citizens ? The answer is, that bellig-
erents, in maritime wars, looking out tu seize the ships of their enemies, are no-
willing that they shall have the power to convert the capital invested in ships
into money, in order to avoid capture and confiscation. These ships are a prey^
a booty, which would be allowed to escape^ if it were permitted to sell them during
time tf hostilities. All enemies' sliips pursued by cruisers and menaced with
capture would take refuge in neutral ports, and their owners would there sell
them to neutral citizens, in order to avoid being taken."
In assuming that ships are any more a " booty " than the contents of
ships, the authors fall back into the very doctrine they had condemned in
speaking of belligerent goods in neutral ships ; and they belittle great
wars by making the plunder of private property a primary object or means
of conducting such wars.
In the same spirit they give improper color to some recent English
cases (pp. 15, 16, lY,) in which purchase of belligerent ships has been dis-
regarded by the Court of Admiralty, on proof that the transfers were only
simulated, and, therefore, fraudulent, suppressing the fact that such sales,
when made bona fde^ are of recognized validity by the laws of Great
Britain.
It would have been graceful, after having exulted over the advance, on
the first point of neutral rights, of France before England, to have lament-
ed, on this point of neutral rights, that France is in the rear of England
The true principles of public law on this point are well stated by an-
other French author of the present day as follows : —
** In most of the regulations published by nations at war, with regard to the
course to be pursued m maritime matters, two provisions are found which it is
important to examine. The one declares every ship sailing under a neutral flag,
with neutral papers regularly drawn up, which, having been owned by the ene-
my, shall have oeen purchased by the neutral since the commencement of the
war, to be subject to seizure, and, consequently, to be lawful prize. Such a
right in belligerents cannot be recognized. Commerce is free between neutrals
and nations at war ; this freedom is unlimited, except with regard to the two re-
strictions relative to contraband of war and to places besiegea, blockaded, or in-
vested; it extends to all kinds of commodiiies, merchandise, and movable goods,
without exception. The citizens of nations at peace.can, when they think pro-
per, purchase merchant ships from one of the parties engaged in hostilities with-
out the other party having the ripfht to complain ; above all, without its having
the power of censuring or annulling these sales, of considering and of treating
as belonging to the enemy a vessel really neutral and regularly recognized by
the neutral government as the property of its subjects.
** In order to declare a contract null and void, it is indispensable that the legis-
lator have authority and jurisdiction over the contracting parties. It is neces-
sary, then, for such a provisir*^ iti have effect, to suppose that the belligerent
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Prize Law. — Free Ships make Free Goode. 575
possesses the risrbt of jariadiction over neatral nations. This cannot be. Such
pretension of belligerents is an abuse of power, an attempt against the indepen-
dence of nations at peace ; and, consequently, a violation of Uie duties imposed
by the divine law upon nations at war.
'* But it is said that the object of this provision is to prevent the collusion
which might exist— which, in fact, does too often exist — between neutrals and
the belligerent which may happen to be inferior in naval power, by means of
which the latter may, by fraudulent sales, place all its merchant ships beyond the
reach of the chances of war. Thb fear is but a pretext ; but were it well found-
ed, I cannot perceive that the belligerent has the right to make opposition. The
nation whose adversary has been forced to have recourse to such a maneuver is
not the owner of the ships thus sold fraudulently or in good faith ; the ships
have not yet been captured, they are not even at the point of being captured,
and the act of transfer, then, neither deprives it of any right nor inflicts upon it
any wrong.
*^ llie ship, under such circumstances, may be found either in the enemy's
port not blockaded, where the neutral may consequently engage in every species
of commercial operation ; or it may be found in a neutral port, over which the
belligerent has in no case any jurisdiction. The ship is then completely beyond
the power of the enemy, and being engaged in Commerce, it may consequently
be either bought or sold. The enemy has no right to prevent this sale, whether
it be real or fraudulent, by which its interests are not endangered ; it has no
right to appreciate, to adiudicate, as I am about to explain, or to attempt to as-
eertiin whether the sale be boTia fde or fraudulent. The belligerent power, so
long as it retains its ship in its own possession, so long as it has not been de-
prived of it by its adversary, has the right to sell its property ; the neutral has
the incontestible right of purchasing it. and in making the purchase it violates
neither its own duties nor the rights of war. If the neutral really becomes a
{>urchaser, how can it justly be deprived of property legitimately acquired ? At
east it will be necessary to examine whether the sale nas actually been made.
But the belligerent has no right to make such examination ; it cannot, then, have
the right of declaring a sale null without examination.
'* The fear of collusion is but a pretext, which belligerents have put forth in
advance, in order to extend their rights and to prejudice the rights of neutrals.
To admit their pretensions leads naturally, necessarily, to very grave conse-
quences, particularly with nations which do not recognize the maxim \free ships,
free goods.' In efiect, if we admit the possibility of the sale of a ship being
rendered null on account of the possibility of fraud, we are necessarily led to
make the same admission with regard to merchandise ; the natural consequence
will be the confiscation of all products of the growth or manufacture of the
enemy found on board of neutral ships, because they may have been purchased
since the commencement of the war, and the sale may have been fraudulent, and
these products are reputed always to belong to the enemy. The consequences
do not cease here ; a great many kinds of merchandise, being neither of the
growth nor of the manufacture of the enemy, may belong to him, and will be
subject to confiscation when they are found on board of neutral ships. It will
thus gradually come to pass that the Commerce of nations at peace will be re-
duced to the point to which it was reduced by the English in 1807, viz. : it will
be confined solely to the products of their own soil or their own manufacture,
transported directly from the places of production into a neutral port — that is to
say, that Commerce will be ruined and annihilated, the concealed but unhappily
the real purpose of all powerful belligerents."
These are noble sentiment?, honorable to their author, and mnch more
in consonance with the spirit of the modem or Napoleonic legislation than
the sentiments of MM. Pistoye and Ihiverdy.
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676 7%e Zato MerehcaU :
M. Vn.— TflS LAW MEBCDANT.
HVMBBR 1*
THE APPLICATION OF VOLUKTARY PAYMENTS.
In order that the reader may clearly understand the nature of the vari-
ous questions which arise in respect to the application, or appropriation,
as it is often called, of payments, we will state an imaginary case.
We will suppose, then, that in a certain village there are a storekeeper
and a farmer, who have dealt with each other in various ways for a num-
ber of years.
We will suppose that the merchant has an account with the farmer for
goods sold to mm, which has run on for some time, and now amounts to
two hundred dollars. Also, that the farmer, several years ago, gave his
note to some third person for eight hundred dollars, which has since been
endorsed by the original holder over to our storekeeper. Also, that the
storekeeper holds a mortgage on the farm of his customer to secure a third
debt of one thousand dollars.
Now if, while matters thus stand between these parties, the farmer
should find, on counting up his profits upon his year's crops, that he has a
hundred dollars which he can pa^ to the vill^ merchant, and resolves to
pay it, and does pay it, the question arises — ^To which of the three debts
shall it be applied?
Shall we consider that the faniler has paid off half the account — or one-
third of the note — or one-tenth of the mortgage ? or shall the payment be
divided among the three debts ?
If the payment is to be applied to one of the debts, then which one
shall be selected ?
Shall it be applied to the debts in the order of their amount ; if so,
shall the largest or the smallest be paid first ?
Shall it be applied to them in the order of time ; if so, shall the oldest
debt or that most lately contracted receive the payment t
If the payment it to be applied to all the debts, how shall it be appor-
tioned among them ?
Shall it be divided equally among them, thirty-three dollars and thirty-
three and one-third cents to each ?
Shall it be divided proportionately to the respective amounts ; ten dol-
lars being credited upon the account, forty endorsed upon the note, and
fifty {^plied to the mortgage ?
These are examples of the questions which arise in respect to the appli-
cation of payments.
They may seem to be, at the outset, quite unimportant questions. If
the former owes two thousand dollars in the three ways we have supposed,
it will, perhaps, seem to make very little difference which debt he pays off
first But there are many aspects of such a case in which it will be seen
that the difference is quite important We must bear in mind, for exam-
ple, that the creditor has different degrees of security for his three claims.
For the account he has merely the personal responsibility of his debtor.
For the note it may very likely be that he has, in addition to this, the per-
sonal responsibility of the indorser, who may be abundantly able to pay-
For the mortgage he has, superadded to the personid responsibility of the
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The Ajoplicatkm of Voluntary PaymmU. 5Yf
fiurmer, the right to take the farm itself in payment Therefore, under
such circumstances, it will manifestly be for the advantage of the creditor
to apply the one hundred dollars upon the account ; for then, if the debtor
should never be able to pay any more, he can collect the amount of the
mortgage from the £u*m, and that of the note from the indorser, and will
lose only one hundred dollars, the balance of the account ; whereas, if it
is applied to either the note or the mortgage, ^he whole two hundred due
on the account will be lost
Again, to show the importance of attending to the application of the
payment in a still more striking light, we will imagine tiiat the note was
made a long time since, so that it fell due upwards of six years ago, and
is now outlawed.* In this case, if the one hundred dollars is appDed to
the account or the mortgage, there will remain legally due only eleven
hundred dollars, the note wing no longer collectable. But if the debtor
should pay the one hundred dollars upon the note, then, by reason of the
new promise to pay the note, which the law implies from this part pay-
ment, the balance could be recovered, notwithstanding the lapse of the
six years. In this case the amount remaining due after the payment would
be nineteen hundred dollars, instead of eleven hundred. In fact, the
&rmer would owe more money after his payment than he did before.
Therefore, the principles of law which govern the application of pay-
ments are of considerable importance to all persons who have debts to
oollect, and to all who have debts to pay.
The principal rules of law upon this subject are these : that the debtor
has, in the first instance, the right to apply his payment as he pleases ;
that if he does not exercise the right it passes to tne creditor ; that if nei-
ther party has made an application of the payment, the law will apply it
Therefore, it will be necessary to consider three principal topics.
1. The right of the debtor to direct the application of his payment —
how far this right extends — what are its limits and qualifications — and in
what manner it is to be exercised.
2. The right of the creditor to make the application — ^in what cases he
enjoys this right — and how and when he must exercise It
8. The various rules of law which, if the parties have made no eflfective
application, will guide the court in directing how the payment shall be ap-
plied
I. THE. debtor's right TO APPLY THE PAYMENT.
A debtor, making a voluntary payment to a creditor, who holds several
distinct claims against him, may apply his payment to whichever debt he
pleases.
* In each of oar states, as well ai In England, there Is a gtatnte which /imi(« the time dnring
whleh Tariona actions may be brought. It Is called the eStatnte of LimiuUons of Actions ; or more
briefly, in common parlance, the Statute of Limitations, it provides that (except in a lew peculiar
Ques) no person shall bring an action upon a promissory note or other similar contract, nnless he
oommencee it within a oertaio time, nsoally six years, after the time when flrst an action miffht
have been brought upon the note. That is, ttte action must be commenced within six years after
the money was due. And when a note is so old as to come within this provision it is said to be
«^ outlawed."
But it is a well-settled rule of law that, although the money has been due more than six years,
yet if the creditor can show by adequate legal proof that within the six years the debtor haa prom-
ued anew that he will pay thu note, this new promise will '* remove the bar of the statute,'' as it is
called, and the creditor can recover upon the note. And if the debtor has, within six years, paid a
part of the note, this part payment is regarded as implying a recognition that the wkoU is due, and
a new promise to pay the balance ; and upon proving this part payment the creditor can recoyer.
The dnnimstances must fairly imply a new promise however, for if they do not, as, for Instance, if
the debtor, when paying a portion of the debt, sin tea in so many words that he never meent to pej
any more, the payment will have no effect to renew his liability.
VOL. XXZUI. — HO. Y* 87
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5?B The Law Merchant :
This is the ftmdamental prinoiple of the law upon this sabject Few
principles are so firmly settled ; few so free from exception as this. The
aebtor has an absolute, unqualified right to direct how the payment which
he makes shall be applied, without regard to the efiect which his applica-
tion may have upon the rights and interests of the creditor. The creditor
must either reject the payment and resort to such legal measures as may
be open to him to enforce his various claims, or he must accept it, saddled
with whatever conditions, as to the appropriation of it, his debtor may
have chosen to impose. He cannot accept the money, rejecting the con-
ditions. The two cannot be separated. Nor can the creditor free himself
in any manner from the obligation to follow the directions of ^ his debtor.
There lived in the State of Illinois, a few years since, two men named
Jackson and Bailey, the first of whom owed the other a balance of ten
dollars and eighty-five cents upon a note, and eighteen dollars upon an ac-
count Jackson one day paid Bailey ten dollars, directing him to indorse
it upon the note. Instead of so doing, however, Bailey passed it to Jack-
son's credit upon the account, which was thus reduced to eight dollars.
Subsequently, he brought two suits gainst Jackson before a justice of the
peace ; one to recover ten dollars eighty-five cents upon the note, the other
to recover eight dollars upon the account The justice decided in Bailey's
favor in both suits.
When a suit is decided, a memorandum of the decision of the judge is
made in the books of his court, which is called a judgment It often hap-
pens that the unsuccessful party is willing to pay the amount of the judg-
ment, without making any further opposition ; but if he chooses he can,
in most cases, appeal to a higher court.
Jackson, either being a shrewd man or having a shrewd lawyer, the re-
port of the case does not inform us which, paid the amount of the judg^
ment rendered against him on the account, and appealed from the judg-
ment on the note, contending, in respect to it, that Bailey ought to have
obeyed his directions to indorse the ten dollars upon the note.
In the Supreme Court of Illinois, to which the case was ultimately car-
ried, the appeal was decided in favor of Jackson. (See Jackson vs. Bail^,
12 111. Rep. 159.)
" We think," said the Chief Justice, " that the court erred in not allow-
ing the debtor credit for the amount claimed to have been paid on the
note. The amount in controversy was received by the creditor with the
written directions of the debtor to apply it on the note. It was therefore
accepted as a payment on the note. It was, as far as it went, a discharge
of that particular indebtedness. It was a clear right of the debtor so to
appropriate the money. He expressly exercised the right, and the creditor
in accepting the money received it in part satisfaction of the note. The
instant that it was received the note to that extent was paid, whether the
credit was ever indorsed thereon or not The creditor was not at liberty
to disreffard the appropriation made by the debtor, and apply the payment
on another account The application of the payment could not be changed
without the consent of the debtor. The creditor cannot complain if he
loses the benefit of the payment in question. This will be the result of his
own wrongfnl misapplication of the payment"
And the court reversed the judgment upon the note. The result of the
case was, therefore, that Jackson obtained the benefit of his payment of
ten dollars twice over—once upon the account by tlje credit given by
Bailey, and once upon the note by the decision of the court
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The Application of Voluntary Payments, 5f 9
Ano&er case which occarred in Massachusetts exhibits the same prin-
ciples in a very striking light (Hall vs, Marston, 17 Mass. Rep., 576.)
The facts of that case were these : A sea captain named Ellis Bradford
set sail in the fall of 1819 on a mercantile voyage. At the time he sailed
he was indebted to a number of persons, and amon^ others he owed
Marston, from whom he had procured a large part of his cargo, about
thhrteen hundred dollars, and Hall about four hundred. Before he left, he
promised each of these creditors separately that he would send him some
money while he was ffone.
In March of the following spring, while Bradford was still absent, his
other creditors attached, as it is called, all the property which he had left
behind him ; that is, they procured it to be taken into legal custody as
security for the payment of their claims. This occurrence, of course, ren-
dered Marston anxious to collect his thirteen hundred dollars ; and he
wrote to Bradford, who was then at Charleston, in South Carolina, urging
him to make a remittance, but not saying anything about the attachment.
Bradford procured a bill of exchange for one thousand dollars, payable at
thirty days* sight, and inclosed it to Marston in a letter containing the
following directions as to the application of the money : —
" Please to do the needful with the bill, and when in cash, have the
fi;oodness to pay to Mr. Jacob Hall, distiller, of Boston, two hundred dol-
lars and take his receipt, and place the balance to my credit, and you will
much oblige, <fec."
Marston said nothing to Hall about either the bill or the letter, but
when the thousand dollars were paid to him by the aooeptor of the bill,
he applied the whole sum to the payment of his own claim upon Brad-
ford, instead of paying two hundred to Hall, and reserving only the
balance.
Bradford ultimately returned to Boston, and, calling upon Marston, in-
quired whether he had paid the two hundred to Hall. Marston told him
no — that he thought it his duty, considering what had happened, to keep
the money himseltj as Bradford owed him more than that amount.
Bradford subsequently informed Hall of all these circumstances, of which
up to that time he had been ignorant ; and Hall brought an action against
Marston to recover the two hundred dollars. The case was submitted to
the Supreme Court upon a written statement agreed upon by the parties,
and presenting the above facts.
The Supreme Court decided that Marston was bound to pay the two
hundred dollars to Hall.
" It has been urged," said the Chief Justice, " that as the defendant was
a creditor of Bradford to more than the amount of the bill, and as he had
a right to attach his property or summon his debtors as trustees, he would
of course have a right to apply any of his money which came to his hands
to the payment of his own debt. But he is to be considered as having
accepted an agency, and as undertaking to perform what was requested
of him in the letter covering the bill ; and he could not have the right
to follow his instructions so far as to receive the money and to disobey
them as to its application. If he had refused to act under the letter,
he might have attached the debts in the hands of the drawee of the bill ;
or if the money had come into his hands without any implied contract on
his part to appropriate it to any particular use, he might nave returned it
without any breach of trust But this bill came to him for the purpose
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680 The Law MerekmL
of payuig Hall out of the proceedfi, in pursuance of a promiee of Bradlbtd
to remit to him ; and his liability is the same as if Bradford had inclosed
a bank-note to him, requesting him to deliver it to Hall, which would be
considered as a payment by Bradford at the time when he sent the note,
if Hall chose so to consider it. It would in that case be Hall's money,
and he could maintain an action for it if it were not paid over.'*
*' If upon his receipt of the letter and bill of exchange, the defendant
had informed Hall, and at Uie same time declared his intention to keep all
the money to himself, the case would look better for him ; for then Hall
might have taken other measures lo obtain his debt But the silence of
the defendant and his receiving the contents of the bill, must be construed
to be an assent to pursue his instructions to receive the money for Hall as
well as for himself; so that when it was paid him, two hundred dollars
was l^ally Hall's money, and was a(terwanls improperly converted by die
d^endant to his own use."
These cases show to what an extent the debtor is protected in the ex-
ercise of his right to apply his payment as he pleases.
But althou'^h the right of the debtor to make application of his pay-
ment is thus absolute, it must be taken with some qualifications — the most
important of which relate to the time and mode in which he must exer-
cise it.
It must be borne in mind that this right of the debtor exists only in
respect to the payments which he makes voluntarily/. Where money is
collected from a man by legal compulsion, the law in general directs the
applicAtion of the fund collected, and so fkr as it does not, it is the cred-
itor, and not the debtor, who is entitled to do so.
A more important qualification of the debtor's right of appropriation is
this — that he must direct the application of his payment at the time when
that payment is made. If he fails to do this, he loses all riffht to control
the appropriation. He may accompany his payment by whatever direc-
tions he cBOOses respecting its implication, and they will be binding upon
the creditor; but if he gives none at the time of paying, and his intention
to make a particular application is not apparent from the circumstances of
the case, his ri^ht is gone forever. It then becomes the creditor's privi-
lege to apply tSe payment, as will be more fully shown when we come to
consider the extent of the creditor's right
It is plain that the debtor's wisest and best course, in all cases where he
desires to pay off one debt in preference to another, is to give distinct
specific and unequivocal directions to that effect, accompanying the money;
and he should secure evidence that he gave such directions just as care-
Mly as he secures evidence of his payment If he pays the money himself^
he should have the intended application specifiea m his receipt If he
sends it by a messenger he should send a message stating the application
which he intends. If he incloses it in a letter, he should write his direc-
tions as to the application in the same letter. In such ways as these it is
prudent to state distinctly his wishes.
But it does not always follow that because the debtor has not in so
many words directed his creditor to make a particular application, there-
fore his right to have it made is lost Sometimes a direction on the part
of the debtor to make a particular application of his payment may be im-
plied from circumstances. This will be the case whenever the circum-
stances attending the payment are such as may reasonal^y be conaidered
to show to the creditor what the intention of the debtor was.
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For example, sa|q>oBe a mereliaiit shoidd send in to his customer bills
for two separate parcels of goods sold ; and the customer should say to
the messenger : *♦ This bill is right, and I will pay it in a week or two ;
but that one I shall not pay, for I never ordered the goods ;" or, " They
were never delivered to me ;" or " I have paid for them once before ;" and
soon afterwards should send to the merchant a sum of money just equal to
the amount of the bill which he promised to pay, and larger or smaller
than that of the other, without sending any message. These circumstances
would show clearly enough that the debtor intended to pay one of the
bills and not the other. The creditor would'be bound to obey the implied
direction. He could not credit the payment upon the repudiated bill and
then proceed to collect the one admitted.
Thus also, if the debtor owed two admitted debts, to his creditor, and
should send to him a sum of money exactly sufficient to meet the larger
of the two ; this would show an intention to pay the larger debt and not
the smaller. And the creditor would be bound accordingly.
But no such direction can be implied from circumstances unless they
amount to a notice to the creditor of his debtor's intended application.
The creditor is entitled to this notice. Once or twice a debtor who paid
money without directing its appropriation, and contented himself with
entering it in his own account book as paid upon one particular debt, has
relied upon this entry as a circumstance showing what his intended appli-
cation was. But this is not sufficient. The creditor must be notified of
Ae debtor's wishes, or he will not be bound by them.
Thus we see that the party who makes a voluntary payment has alwaya
an absolute power to appropriate it as he pleases, by notifying his creditor
1^ the time of payment, either in words or by implication, of the appro-
priation which ne intends. This principle is more concisely summed up
by an ancient Latin proverb often quoted in law books in connection with
this subject : " Quicquid solvitur, solviter propter modum solventisy*
The creditor's right to apply the payment, and the rules of law regula-
ting the application where none has otherwise been made, will be consid-
ered in a future number.
Art. VIII.— THE BINE OP BNGliND U 18S4.
Toe London Bankers^ Circular of June 23, 1855, contains its annual
analysis of the Bank of England, in continuation of the one published last
year, the substance of which was reproduced at the time in the pages of
the Merchants* Magazine, We now give the Circular* 8 statement for the
yewr 1854, more as matter for future than present reference : —
The information contained in the movements of this establishment affords but
little that is interesting to the casual observer, or to those whose views are con-
fined to the surface of things which are daily occurring around him; but to the
man who can for a time wiSidraw himself from these pursuits, and carefully sur-
vey the mighty interests which are involved in the operations of the Bank of
England, the subjeitt is full of the most important philosophv; nor are we aware
that this importance has ever assumed a graver weight than daring the year which
we are about to investigate.
* Wbaterer Is paid !■ paid aoeordlog to Uie dedgn of tbe payor.
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582 The Bank of Englamd m 1854.
Two jean since, tbe eivllized worid, and more especially the commeftial part
of it, was raised to the highest pitch of expectation by the enormous influx of
gold to these shores. The Bank of England, which had for many years pre-
vious only received some three or four millions per annum, suddenly became ab-
solutely gorged with the gulden treasure, and possessed at one time upwards of
jS22,000,000 sterling of tne precious metals. Under this remarkable change the
bank had power to issue its notes to the extent of £35378,000, which leA a
margin of nnissned paper under the head of reserves of £14,244,000, the active
oireulation at that time being £23,379,000, and the minimum rate of discount
for mercantile bills only 2 per cent.
It is unnecessary for us to ^^int out to our commercial and manufacturing
readers the impetus which this gave to the industry of the country, for they have
only to have recourse to their ledgers for 1861 and 1852 to be fully sensible of
the great changes which took place; and it certainly cannot be a matter which is
unworthy of their consideration to inquire how far the returns which we lay be-
fore them to day may be regarded as the consequence of our monetary system.
We are aware that we have to deal with seme who treat an examination of these
facts with as much indifference as if they had not the slightest influence upon
the interests of the public, while others receive them with as much submission
as if they were some sacred ordinance of heaven ; but all this is wholly unworthy
of a great and intelligent people ; it is bowing down to a Dagou, which monop-
oly, power, and ambition have set up. Touch it by the magic wands of truth,
Justice, and reason, and it crumbles to pieces before you. We trust, therefore,
that our readers will not throw aside the array of figures that are here presented
to them as unmeaning nnd useless, nor treat with neglect or indifference the phil-
osophy which they unfold.
We shall now proceed to notice the principal changes which occurred in tbe
bank operations in 1854.
ISSUE DEPARTMENT.
In comparing the highest amount of issues in 1854 with that of the previous
year, in the second column of the table at page 831, it will be found that the
power of issuing notes diminished considerably, the highest and lowest amounts
for the three years being as follows : —
Yean. Highest Date. Lowest.
1862 £86,878,765 July 10 £80,992,460 January %
1858 84,014,000 January 1 28,868,996 October 2i
1854 29,628,620 February 14 26,779,095 May 20
These figures show that the fluctuation in the power of the bank to issue
notes between July, 1852, nnd May, 1854, diminished to the extent of £10,099,060,
or nearly 30 per cent. These fluctuations are governed principally by the fluc-
tuations in the gold held in the issue department, and do not anord any measure
of the notes actnally in circulation.
The amount of notes in active circulation, given in column 3, for 1854, when
compared with the two previous years, fluctuated as under: —
Yean. nigtaert. Date. Lowest.
1862 £68,879,756 July 10 £19,284,690 January 8
1868 28,880,060 July 16 20,077,860 December 81
1864 22,667,026 July 4 19,089,066 December 16
Here we see that in 1852 the active circulation was reduced to £4,095,000 in
about six months; in 1853 it was reduced about i/3,880,000; and at the close
of 1854 it had decreased X4,840,995 below what it was in July, 1853.
. The metallic assets in the issue department of the bank during the year 1854
were considerably below what they were in the two previous years, and indeed
lower than they had been the four previous years in their extreme fluctuations;
for on the 4th of February the higliest amount was only £15,523,620, and on
the 20th of May it had fallen to jSl 1,779,095, the extreme diminution of ^oUl
being £3,744,525. The following statement shows the comparative fluctuatiooii
in gold coin and bullion for the five years ending 1854 : —
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Ton. ~BlglM»t IM«. LowmU Data.
1850 £16,209.408 March 16 £14,800,054 December Sft
1851 16.784,875 December 80 12,608,895 May 8
1862 21,845,890 July 10 16,959,076 January 8
1858 19,994,851 January 1 14,885,955 October S2
1854 16,528,620 February 4 11,749,096 May 20
These figures show that the metallic assets of the bank have not fallen to so
low an omoant for several years ; and this redaction in the bnllion has also had
the effect of reducing materially the proportion between the amount of bullion
held and the pnper in active circulation. In 1852, this prpportion advanced to
101 per cent against the notes in chtmlatlon; in 1863 it fell to 90.7 per cent;
and in 1864 it fell to 70.9 per cent, as the highest proportioirof bullion to paper;
showing, beyond dispute, that the bank has no control whatever over the degree
of convertibility which it is able to maintain. The followin^r figures show the
fluctuating power of the bank to maintain this convertibility during the three
years ending 1864: —
PROPORTION or BULUON TO KOTIS IN GIRCULATIOir IIT THB ISSUE DIPARTMRNT.
Highest Lowest.
1852 101. 1 percent. 81.5 percent
1858 90.7 percent. 62.0perceDt
1854 80.9 percent 54.0 percent
If we omit the small amount of gold and silver coin held in the banking de-
partment, we find that the notes in circulation, which were more than covered
oy bullion in 1852, had their metallic basis lessened by about 29 per cent when
at the highest point in 1854, and at the lowest point of the metallic assets there
was only 54 per cent of gold as the basis, therefore 46 per cent were issued upon
credit To the unobservmg this change in the proportion of the metallic basis,
which is made the foundation stone of the issues of the bank, may carry with it
very little significance ; but it is the mainspring which guides all the secret ope-
rations of the bank machinery, because its directors regard every advance in the
metallic proportion of its assets, compared with its liabilities, with hope and en-
courngemeiit ; while, on the other hand, it watches every decline, when it reaches
a certain point, with apprehension and fear. Therefore the fluctuations in the
metallic resources of the bank, as given in column 8 of the table, are favorable
as they advance or recede.
It may be seen that we have retained the column in the issue department of
the bank returns for silver bullion, but the bank has reserved no part of its me-
tallic assets in silver since the 20th of September, 1863, though the act of 1844
allows it to retain a proportion not exceeding one-fourth.
THE BAHnNO DEPARTMENT.
The changes which take place in the issue department are presumed by the
framcrs of the act by which it is governed, to operate without, in any degree, in-
terfering with the movement in the banking department, but this is too palpable
an error to obtain credence amongst those who are practically acquainted with
the working of the system. The bank is compelled to watch the proportions
which are continually occurring between its metallic assets and its active circula-
tion with the greatest vigilance, and as it has no power to maintain a strict pro-
portion between its issues and its specie, it is forced, therefore, to compensate
for any difficulty here by restrictions in the banking department, either in the
shape of discounts or in loans and advances.
The highest amount of the *' rest" was, on the 1st of April, when it stood at
£3,767,676, against £3,681,119 on the 8th of October in the previous year.
These figures denote an increase in the prosperity of the bank as a public com-
pany.
Under the head of ^ public deposits" the highest amount was £8,291,993, on
the 7th of January, against £11,400,933 on the Slst of December of tlie previ-
ous year, showing a i^uction of upwards of three millions in one week ; the
change, however, at this period may be accounted for by the preparations made
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684 The JBqnk ofUngUmd in 18114.
for the dividends ; but the low amoQDt to which the piMc deposits fell in 1854»
maj be accounted for by the operation of two circumstances. The first of these
was the scheme of Mr. Gladstone for paying off the principal stock of the South
Sea Company, and the second the demands upon the treasury for the support of
the war. The following is a statement of the highest and lowest amount for
the three years ending 1864: —
Htghett amount. Lowest amoant.
1862 £9.447,616 £2,802,861
1868 11,409,983 1,849,668
1864 8,291,998 1,866 ,864
The private deposfts during the early part of the year exhibit the same stead*
iness which characterized them through nearly the whole of 1852 and 1863.
The following were the highest and lowest amounts in the three years: —
Rlvhett amount. Lowest amount
1862 £16,464,288 £9,911,117
1868 14,988,197 10,607,92*
1864 14.140,492 9,710,612
Seven-day and other bills stood at their highest point on the 14th of January,
being £1,232,329; and at the lowest on the 30th of December, being J£892,118.
The total amount of the liabilities of the bank in the banking departm«lllt
stood at £40,062,680 on the 7th of January ; but on the 3d of June it was re-
duced to £31,660,663, being a decrease of nearly nine millions in six months.
This decline appears to have occurred to the extent of nearly six millions under
the head of public, and the remainder under the private deposits.
The highest amount of the Government Securities held in the banking depart-
ment was £14,833,299 on the 7th of January, against £16,044,330 in the last
week of the previous year; and the lowest amount, £9,720,499 on the 17th of
June, against £11,319,072 on the 22d of October in the previous year.
Under the head of other securities, which comprised commercial bills dls«
counted, advances on bills, bonds, and other descriptions of securities, the high-
est amount was £16,912,843 on the 30th of September, against £19,124,799 on
the 1st October, 1863. These figures show a very great reduction in the com-
mercial trans«action8 of the bank in the Litter year, and up to the present time a
decrease under this head of about 7 millions sterling — a fact of great significance
in the commercial world.
The reserve of notes during the year 1854 fell far below the point at which
it declined in 1863, having been at £3,900,430 on the 6th of May, against
£6,012,490 on the 16th of October in the previous year, from which date the
rate of discount was raised to 6 per cent, and continued until May, when it was
raised to b\ per cent
With regard to the minimum rate of discount, we have not to record so many
changes as occurred in the previous year, but we have to notice a longer dura-
tion of a very high rate than can be round in the previous history of the trans-
actions of the bank during the last century. Higher rates may Se found, as io
1847, but between September, 1863, and April, 1866, the bank minimum rate
was kept at 6 per cent for 67 weeks, and for 12 weeks at 6i per cent, which pro-
duced to the bank under the head of discounts alone, according to official returns,
about half a million sterling, during the first five months of 1864. The minimum
rate of discount was continued at 6 per cent in 1864 to May the 11th, when
it was raised to 6} per cent, and again reduced to 6 per cent on the 2d of Au-
gust
The last column shows the total amount of bullion and coin in both depart-
ments to have fallen off considerably in 1864, compared with the two previous
years, as may be seen by the following statement of the highest and lowest
amounts :—
Higheet. Date. Lowest Dmte.
1862 £21,282,188 July 10 £17,616,501 January 10
1868 20,627,682 January 1 14,960,206 October 22
1864 16,286,166 FebVy 26 12,618,969 May 80
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The Bank <rf England in 1854.
S8&
THE BULLIOll BEPARTMEHT.
The following statement shows the qaantities of gold and silver received and
delivered by the bank in the bullion department up to the close of 1354, in con-
tinuation of that we published last year, in weight and value :—
GOLD RXOKIVSD.
ISSi 18il. \m.
First quarter ounces 1,081,959.75 1,084.407.14 1,017,84S.79
Second quarter 1,819,588.60 1,157.195.14 788,842.12
Third qoarter 1,095,514.60 981,458.17 1,064,480.98
Fourth quarter 1,818,644. £0 1,720,701 . 12 1,121,985.75
Total 4,815,667.16 4,948,916.57 8,998,160.89
GOLD DKLIVBRED.
First quarter ounces 284,895.60 625,796.91 1,222,618.44
Second qusrter 222,850.55 558,287.85 694,916.98
Third quarter 197,462.10 1,059,715.35 685,261.18
Fourth quarter 659,509.65 1,872,240.06 588,471 .82
Total 1,214,707.80 8,616,089.67 8,186,257.92
SILVEE RECEIVXD.
First quarter ounces 5,070,962 . 25 4,944,888 . 44 5,925,552 . 22
Second quarter 5,683,720.20 5,670,686.55 4,842,015.61
Third qoarter 6.858,005.95 4,719,640.81 4,938,621.40
Fourth quarter 4,083,847.80 5,861,858.61 4,288,249.60
Total 21,646,036.80 20,696,478.91 19,984,488.88
SILYSa DELiyRREO.
First quarter ounces 5,07 9,838 . 25 4,938,583 . 84 5,029,679 . 07
Second quarter 5,671,877.60 5,689,945.99 4,818,096.68
Third quarter 6,884,606.10 4,777,271.69 4,945.579.40
Fourth quarter 4,069,242.57 5,881,941 .87 4,288,120. 10
Total 21,705,064.52 20,787,693.89 19,976,484.20
The above statements, converted into their equivalent money value at 77s. 9d.
per ounce for gold, and at 62d. per ounce for silver, give the following re-
sults:—
Gold receired. Gold dellTeted. Silver raoelTsd. 8ilT«r dePvd
1862 £18,720.867 £4,722,176 £5,591.892 £5,607,141
1858 19,219,475 14,067,364 6,846,588 5,370,169
1854 15,528,874 12.092,202 5,162,646 5,160,591
Thesc^tatements show that the quantity of gold received into the bank dur-
ing the year 1854 was 950,766 ounces less than in 1853, which is equivalent to
i>3,696,101 sterling, at 77s. 9d. per ounce.
The receipts of silver during the year were less by 712,035 ounces, which, at
62d. per ounce, is equivalent to j& 183,942 sterling.
These returns, it must be observed, do not form any necessary part of the
operations under the bank charter, but represent the deposits and deliveries of
gold and silver on^merchants' account For it may be seen that although silver to
upwards of five millions in amount was deposited in the vaults of the bank, it
formed no part of the metallic assets of the bank in its weekly returns, as they
appeared in the London Gazette.
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080 Jomwtl of MereaiUUt Law.
JOURNAL OF MERCANTILE LAW.
LAW OF COMMON CARRIERS — BANK-BILL AS FREIGHT.
Chenteau & Valle vs. Steamboat St Anthony. 20 Missovri Rep., 519.
This was an action under the statute for an alleged breach of a contract to
carry $612 in bank-notes from St. Louis to Peirs Landing, on the Ohio River.
When the package was delivered, (420 of the amount was missing. No bill of
lading; was signed nor freight paid. Testimony was offered to prove a custom
for boats to carry money for hire on account of the owners; but it appeared
that, as a general thing, no charge was made, the expectation being to get the
patronage of the parties obliged.
Scott, Judge, delivered the opinion, aflSrming the decision of the Court, m
reported in 16 Mo. R., 216. That the evidence did not establish a custom to
carry bank-bills for hire on account of the owners of the boat ; that if the com-
pensation to be received was fVom the patronage of the persons obliged, the
contract was gratuitous, as no obligation rested upon them to give their patron-
age as a return ; that although a gratuitous bailee might be liable for negligence
in the performance of the act he had undertaken, the principle would not apply
to a steamboat, as a steamboat is not a person who can undertake a gratoitoiia
bailment, and the statute gives no action against a boat in eases of that kind.
In the case of Whitmore vs. Steamboat Caroline, 20 Mo. R., 613, the same
principle was affirmed, holding that there must be a known and well-established
usage for boats to carry money for hire, to authorize an action against the boat,
and that the evidence snowed no such custom. In this case the money, $1,500
in gold, was deposited by a passenger w^ith the clerk for safe keeping, and no
proof was given of any express contract of any kind ; and in relation to this the
Court say that the implied contract of a common carrier to carry the bagga^
of the passenpfer, does not extend beyond ordinary baggage, such as he usnaliy
carries with him for his personal convenience. It is never admitted to include
merchandise, nor does it Include a large sum of money. It cannot cover more
than a reasonable amount necessary to pay traveling expenses.
LAW OF SALES — FRAUD — ^FACTORS LIEN.
Bidanlt et al. ts. Wales & Sons. 20 Mo. R., 546.
1. To avoid a sale of goods on credit, it is not sufficient that the purchaser
did not intend to pay for them at the time agreed upon. He must, when be
buys, intend never to pay for them to prevent the title from passing; and this is
a question for a jury.
2. Although a vendor may avoid a sale as against the purchaser, yet this can-
not be done when tlie rights of thurd parties intervene. This exception does not
embrace creditors of the purchaser seizing the property by attachment or under
execution, or taking it by assignment as a security for a pre-existing debt.
Whether it would extend to the protection of the lien of the factor of a par-
chaser for a general balance, or a lien in relation to the specific property, left
open.
This was an action by Bidault & Co. to recover from the defendants, Wales
& Sons, sixteen hoffsheads of suffar, or their value, consigned to the defendants
aa factors of one Whiting, who cLiimed the sugar under Sieged sale to him by
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the plaiIltifig^ which, as the latter insiBted, did not pass the title, by reason of
his frand, in purohastng withoat intending to pay for them as he promised. The
defendants alleged that at the date of the oonsignment Whiting was indebted to
them, and that this debt bad not been paid, and that they had been garnished on
execution by a creditor of Whiting for a larger amount than the balance re«
maining in their hands, after payment of their own debt
There was evidence that the sugar was bought in New Orleans by an agent
of Whiting's, on a credit of ten days, and under his instructions, and shipped to
the defendants at St. Louis, to be sold on his account ; that Whiting knew he
was insolvent at the time of the purchase *, and that for some time he had been
in the habit of making ptirchases of sugar and paying for them by the proceeds
of preceding purchases.
Leonard, Judge, gave the opinion.
This Jud^ent must be reversed, on account of the instructions given to the
jury as to the law of the case.
When it was here before (19 Mo. Rep., 36,) this Court held in substance that
a purchaser did not acquire a valid title to property under a mere form of pur-
chase made with a preconceived design of never paying for it ; but that mere
inability to pay, even if known to the purchaser at the time of the purchase and
concealed from the seller, did not avoid the sale ; and we think the law was cor-
rectly laid down. But however that may be, it was the judgment of this Court,
and roust be submitted to as the law of the case.
The plaintiff amended, by inserting an averment to the effect that the party
'* purchased and received the property without any intention of paying for the
same, and with the purpose of cheating and defrauding the plaintiffs out of their
property," and upon a jury triol the Court instructed that " if Whiting, the pur-
chaser, at the time of the purchase of the sugar in question was in gooa or
ordinary credit, on a stle of ten or twenty days, but in fact was unable to pay
at the time agreed upon between the parlies, and was aware of his inability in
this respect, and the jury shall further find that he did not, at the time of said
purchase, intend to meet his engagements, but that said purchase was but a
contrivance on his part to sustain his credit, the plaintiffs are entitied to a ver-
dict; otherwise the jury will find for the defendants."
Under this direction the jury would, of course, find for the plaintiffs, if they
thought the purchaser was unable to pay when he bought, and that be knew this
and concealed it from the plaintiffs, and bought for the purpose of sustaining
his own credit, and without any expectation or intention of meeting the pay-
ment on the day it fell due, although hoping and intending ultimately to pay.
And it has been argued here that this instruction contains every element
necessary to constitute a fraudulent purchase according to the law laid down
upon the former occasion, and indeed that it even goes in favor of the purchaser
beyond what we deemed to be the law, in directing the jury that thev must also
be satisfied that the purchase was but a contrivance on the part of the buyer to
sustain his own credit. We think quite otherwise, and that the instruction was
Tery unfortunately expressed, if the purpose of it were, as we must presume it
was, to convey to the jury the rule of law prescribed here as applicable to the
case.
There is a very brood line of distinction, both in morals and law, between the
conduct of one who gets property into his possession with a preconceived do-
sign never to pay for it, under color of a formal sale induced by a sham promise
to pay which the party never intends to comply with, and the conduct of a man
deeply involved in debt, far perhaps beyond his means of payment, and who,
stru^glinff it may be, and frequently is, against all rational hope, to sustain his
eredit and maintain his position in business, buys property to-day under a prom-
ise—which he can hardly hope, and moat probably does not intend to keep — ^to
ay for it on short time, in order to raise money from day to day to meet immo-
late and more pressing demands.
Yet, under this instruction, the jury may well have supposed, and no doubt
did suppose that the law made no distinction, but visited both classes of cases
did
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with the same leg^al conseqnenees. The dfflference between not intendhif to
pay on the dajr fixed by contract, and intending never to pay— between getting
property for nothing nnder the mere color of a purchase, and getting it upon a
longer credit than was agreed upon between the parties bat with an expectation
ultimately *^J**y> '* entirely lost sight of, or rather, indeed, as it seems to us, the
jury are m effect instructed that there is no difference, and that it is enough in
this particular to avoid the sale as a fraudulent purchase ; that the purchaser
was unable to pay ** at the time agreed upon," and aware of his inability " in this
respect," and aid not intend to meet ** his engagements " in point of time.
Jt was said before, and is repeated now, Uiat this is a question for a jury,
under proper instructions from the Court Although it may be improper in
morals for one to buy property upon a promise to pay upon a given day, when
a party is conscious of his inability to meet his engagements at the time, and so
may be said to buy with an intention not to meet his enga^ementa, yet this is
not, in point of law, such a sale as the vendor can avoid; and it was the duty of
the Court, in its directions to the jury, to have made the distinction in unmis-
takable language, and not to have employed general expressions, capable of be-
ing argued one way before the jury and another way before the Court, and which
the jury could construe to mean one thing or the other, according to the caprice
of the moment, or their own peculiar views of the conduct of the parties in other
respects.
The other point in the cause may be disposed of in a few words. This prop-
erty appears to be in the hands of the defendants as Whiting's factors, and they
allege that when it came there a large balance was due to them on ^neral se-
count from their principal, as garnishees in respect to this property. When jt is
said in the case of a fraudulent purchase that the property is not changed, it is
to be understood that although the party injured may avoid the sale against the
fraudulent purchaser, this cannot be done when the rights of third persons have
intervened. This exception, however, does not embrace the general creditors of
the purchaser seizing the property by attachment or execution, or taking it by
assignment as security for pre-existing debts.
It may extend, however, to the protection of a factor's lien, even for a general
balance, and it would seem ought certainly to protect any lien he may have in
relation to the specific property ; and whether the proceedings in the garnish-
ment had progressed so far as to fix any personal liability upon him in respect
to the attach^ property, is not disclosed ; and we leave these questions for fu-
ture couHideration, if they shall arise in the cause.
The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.
BILL OF EXCHANGE BEFORE ACCEPTANCE — RIGHTS OF ATTACHING CREDITDB <»
DRAWER AND PAYEE.
Kimball, Donald & Co., Appelhmts, and Benoist & Co., Respondents. SO
Mo. Rep., 677.
A bill of exchange before acceptance is not an equitable assignment of the
funds of the drawer in the hands of tlie drawee, nor will it defeat sobseqasol
attaching creditors, although there be a direction at the foot of the bill to chargs
to a particular account, and although the drawee may have promised to apply
any balance in his hands belonging to the drawer in payment of the bill.
Stone & Walworth, in New Orieans, drew on Kimball, their factor in St
Louis, having funds and goods on hand, with accounts unsettled, the following
bill:—
Exchange $2,500. New Orleans, May 13, 1863.
Twenty days after sight of this, pay to the order of L. A. Benoist & Co.
twenty-five hundred dollars, value received, and charge the same to aeconnt—
sugar. Belcher; rice, Simonds, and account sales.
E. B. Kimball, St Louis. Stohb 9l Walwoktil
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Stone & Walworth notified Kimball of the draft by telegraph and directed
him to protect, and Benoist &. Co., also being notified by telegraph, called on
Kimball on the 16th of Mav, and he promised to hold any balance that might be
in his hands to meet the bill, although he could not accept the bill when it (ihould
come up by moil, as he should not have funds.
The Dffoceeds of sugar by the Belcher were $400, and the balance in the hands
of Kimball was $1,018.
On the day after his promise, Kimball was summoned as garnishee by Donald
& Co., attaching creditor of Stone & W., and to protect himself filed his bill of
interpleader. The Court below awarded the fund to the payees of the bill, on
the ground that Kimball's promise gave them the fund and a direct action
against him on the promise.
Leohard, Judge, delivered the opinion of the Court.
This is a bill of exchange, and not a mere order to pay over a particular fund ;
and the direction at the foot of the bill to charge to the particular account there
indicated, does not change the character of the instrument, and we think that af-
ter being refused acceptance, it cannot take effect as an equitable assignment of
the fund, even connected as it b with an express promise on Uie part of the
drawee to pay whatever balance may be founa in his hands.
It is true, that anything amounting to a present transfer of a specific fund for
TBlne, is a valid assignment in equity, which changes the property as against the
assignor, and cats off subsequent attaching creditors. No form is required ; it
k sufficient that a present interest passes, and that it does not rest merely in
agreement. Thus, in Redech vs. Gandell, 16 Eng. Law. and £q. R. 80, Lord
dbaneellor Truro stated it, as the result of all the cases, that *' an agreement be-
tween a debtor and creditor that the debt owing should be paid out of a specific
fund coming te the debtor, or an order given by a debtor to his creditor upon a
person owing him money, or holding funds belonging to the giver of the order,
directing such person to pay such fund to the creditor, will create a valid, equita-
ble eharge upon the fund ; in other words, will operate as on equitable assign-
ment of the debt or fund to which the order refers."
We are reminded that a bill of exchange is the transfer of a debt due to the
drawer from the drawee, and so it undoubtedl v is us between drawer and drawee
when the latter accepts ; but what is proposed here is, to make a bill that the
drawee refuses to accept operate as a transfer of the fund, without any refer-
eoee to the intentions of the drawer, under the circumstances that have occurred.
The object of drawing a bill is to convert a debt, in theory supposed to be due
from the drawee to the drawer, into a transferable chattel that may pass from
one to another by indorsement or delivery, and this object is consummated by
acceptance, which binds the acceptee to whoever becomes the holder to pay, as
the original debtor, absolutely and without any reference to the state of accounts
between himself and the drawer, leaving the latter still under his original con-
ditional obligation to pay in default of payment of the priouury debtor. No one
supposes that it was the intention of the parties, at the time this bill was drawn,
that if it could not tiake effect as a bilK on account of the refusal of the drawee
t» accept, that then it should operate as an equitable assignment of whatever
fiinds the drawee might have in his hands belonging to the drawer. That event
was already provided for, by the drawer undertaJ^iog to pay himself upon snoh
relhsal.
What authority, then, have we nnder these circumstances, to put into the
transaction a stipulation which the parties never thought of, and would have re«
jeoted at once had it been suggested to them, and then give effect to the trans-
aotion as an equitable assignment, in order to carry out the supposed intention?
Looking to the probable intention of the parties, and to the interest of business,
we cannot but think such a decision would be very mischievous in its practical
operation, not only defeating the real intention of the parties in a majority of
the cases to which it would be applied, but also greatly complicating the busi-
ness affaira of men.
This seems to be the view taken of this question in the most commercial
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States of the Union, the decision of whose tribnnals in qaestions of this charac-
ter must certainly command our respect, and when approved by our own reason,
may be very safely followed as guides in determining commercial questions.—
Pope vs. Luff, 5 Hill, 417; 7 Hill, 678; 3 Comst, 243; 1 Selden Rep., 526:
16 La. Rep., 256.
The result is, that the payees of the bill acquired no specific Hen upon the
fund so as to cut out .subsequently attaching creditors, and the fund must be dis-
tributed among them, according to their priorities.
STEAMBOATS LIABLE FOR ROBBERT.
Louisville Chancery Court, Hon. Henry Prittle, Chancellor. F. S. Vander-
pool vs. Steamboat Crystal Palace.
The complainant was a passen^r on the steamboat Crystal Palace from
Paducah to Louisville, and on the ni^ht of her arrival at Louisville a thief en-
tered the state-room where he was sleeping, and stole from him a gold watch
and chain, a diamond breastpin, and a sum of money; and to make the boat
liable for his loss, this attachment was sued out of Chancery.
The boat was constructed In the modem style, with separate rooms for pas-
sengers, and locks to the doors. It is proved that the lock to the door of the
room in which plaintiff slept was in some way out of order, so that it would not
fasten. This had been found out the night before the felony, and it was men-
tioned by the plaintiff and his brother, who stayed in the same room with him, to
the waiters about the cabin; and when one was called as the plaintiff was about
to retire, to see if the door could not be secured in some way, be said there was
no way of fastening it but by putting a chair or baggage against it, which was
done.
The common law does not fix a rule directly applicable to just such a case as
this. When it was formed there were no steamboats, and the world had seen
no such internal navigation as bears our ten hundred thousand of people hn
*^ crystal palaces" on our majestic rivers. But all civilization has held puUia
carriers by water to a responsibility, more or less strict, according to the neees-
sity demanding it. By the Roman law — ^which is still tha rule over the largest
part of the Christian world — shipmasters, as well as innkeepers and stablekeep-
ers, were put under a peculiar responsibility and made liable for all losses not
arising from inevitable casualty or overwhelming force. The common law went
further as to the shipmaster, who was a common carrier, and made him liable for
every loss, unless it was by the act of God or the enemies of the king. Bat
these rules, both of the civil and common law, applied only to the property of
the passenger or traveler, which was put into the custody of the sliipmaster, dio.
They did not apply to such articles as the passenger kept about his person or in
his own charge. The rule at inns was different when the goods were stolen
from the apartment assigned to the guest.
By one of the most enlightened codes that any civilization has seen, although
compiled in 1263, it was provided ** that everything which travelers, either by
sea or land, put into inns or taverns, or ships that navigate the sea or rivers, to
the knowledge of the owners thereof, or of those who act in their places, shall
be taken care of, so that no loss or damage happen to them ; and if they get lost
through their neglect or fraud or fault, or if they be stolen by any person who
come with the travelers, then such owners shall be bound to pay for everythnig
that is lost or damaged; for it is but just, that since travelers confide to tbea
their persons and effects, they should honestly and fiuthfully take care of tiiem,
so that they sustain neither loss nor damage. And what we say in this law it
understood of hotel and innkeepers, and of owners of vessels who are in tfao
habit of publicly receiving persons for hire or for a price.'* 2 Moreau &. Carle-
ton's ParUdos; Partida 6, Ut 8, b. 26.
This looks very much like it would include a loss of property in the charge of
the person of the traveler, as well as that handed over to the care of the i
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Journal </ Mercantile Law, 501
of the vessel or of the innkeeper. Indeed, it seems to pat tbe master of the
yessel under the same reHponsibility Iai4 on the innkeeper. This law originated
with a country then much more commercbl, (Spain had splendid ships at that
time,} and much more enlightened than that from which the common law has
come, was at the same date.
The liability of shipmasters, innkeepers, &.C., under these different codes, al-
ways had reference to necessity of intercourse, the protection and accommoda-
tion openly offered the traveler, and the danger there was of the acts of the
parties, of servants, and others employed by the carriers and innkeepers, &«., or
of strangers who might combine with them. In this country, where we have a
necessity of intercourse, a traveling beyond anything seen in any other age, or
in any other country, we have also a better accommodation and protection
offered by steamboats than can be found in any other part of the world.
The law of bailments involved in these things must advance with these things.
Tbe law of the Caravel, in former times, about the coasts of the Old World, or
of such open ships as Columbus procured to find another hemisphere, must have
been different when they had been engaged in the unsuitable pursuit of carrying
passengers for hire, from that of the splendid palaces that float so invitingly on
tbe American rivers. Here is the parlor, and here the secure state-room otfered
with its door to be shut and locked with its inside key.
I can recollect when the passenger steamboat was first built on our rivers. It
had no door to protect the berths or sleeping-places. They had only tbe benefit
of drapery, except rooms for ladies. Then of course the passenger could not
expect when ho stepped in haste on this fast traveler, that he could sleep se-
eurely from thieves, if any were about, with his watch and breastpin and money
near him ; and the boat should not then have been liable for what was not
specially put in the care of its officers, any more than the picking of a pocket
by a stranger on one of its decks ; no more than an innkeeper should be liable
for such an act in the public entrance hall. But when the steamboat is so fur-
nished as to offer the passenger the protection of lock and key, he has a right to
expect it, and go on board, as he often does in this country, with a haste that
would not allow him to inquire whether all is in fit order or not; and in such in-
stances, if he takes his watch and breastpin and such like artkles to his room,
or a reasonable sum of money, when he goes to bed, and they are stolen, the
boat should be held liable.
I would not hold the owner of the boat as an innkeeper is liable at the com-
mon law for an interior breaking and robbery, but only as I think the civil law
would have held him, in analogy to its laws of innkeepers, for a failure to carry
the party and his effects under his charge, or about his person, with the careful-
ness substantially offered to every traveler from the structure of the boat. But
it may be contended that if the passenger finds out that the lock of his door is
oat of order, he should undergo the risk, or take such articles of value as have
been about his person to some officer of the boat for better care. I do not think
so as a general rule.
The boat's owner has engaged his safety ; and if a lock is out of order, the
offiers of the boat ought to know it and have it put in order, or take other
means, such as setting a watch or guard, or at any rate, offer to take the charge
and care themselves of the property exposed. Circumstances might change the
course to be taken, but none are shown here. It seems to me that unless such
a rule be established, passengers will be subjected to the depredations of ser-
yants and others, who may withdraw keys, seeking the chance of carelessness,
or too much confidence on the part of the traveler.
It was proved by one witness that there was a printed card posted up in the
atate-room requesting passengers to lock their doors, and place any valuables
which they might have in the hands of the clerk for safe keeping, and otherwise
the boat would not be responsible for such articles. It is not shown, however,
that the plaintiff had seen tbe notice, if there was one in his room. But it could
not be supposed that this notice meant that every passenger shoald deliver his
watch, hreastphi, and pocket money every night to the clerk, for it would be an
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592 Commercial ChronicU and Review,
fnconyenience unheard of. Thf7 are a part of his apparel, and he might be buV-
ject to disputes about their identity every morning; but it had reference to
"valuables," not to be kept there with the'door locked — nothing ordinarilv be-
longing to his dress or carried about his person. The notice, 1 think, did not
excuse the boat from the loss which happened, because the door could not be
festened. The engagement implied was to have the lock in order, or stand re-
sponsible for the robbery. Another rule would be unsafe to the great traveling
Sublic in this country. I do not say this implication exists in all instances where
)e berths are furnished with doors to be locked, but I do not think the role
qualified by anything in this case.
Decree for plaintiff.
COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW.
IVMCATIOm or OOHimCIAL AMD rWAMCIAL PEOIPBRITT— OAUtBt OF IHt^UIMT— «OiniBCnoa WtTB
rUAMCIAI. DimcULTIBt ABROAD— BFFBCT OF TBB WAR VPOM TBB OOTTOM TRADB— FOBBMH
CAPITAL III AMBRICAK BMTBBPBItB— FOEBIOM BXCBaKOB, AND TBB tDPTLT OF OOLD— TUB CAllAl.
ACBOtt TBB tSTBHUS OF DAUBN— BBVBHUB FOB. TBB LAST QUABTBR AT MBW TOBK, DOBTOII, PBILA-
DBLPBIA, BALTIMOBB, CBABLBiTON, BBW OBLKAHf, AMD ST. LOIHl — TBB BANK MOVBHBKT— BB-
CBIPT8 OP OOLD AT MBW TOBK ASSAY OFHCB AND AT TQB MBW OBLBAHS MIMT — IXPOBTS AT
MBW YORK FOR 8BPTBMBBR AMD FROM JANUARY IST— IMPORTS OF DRY GOODS— CASB DimRS RB-
CB1VBD AT MBW YORK — BXP0RT8 FROM MBW YORK FOR BBPTXMBRR AMD FROM JAMCART IST—
BXPORT8 OF D0MB8TI0 PRODUCB— TBB FOOD QUBSTION— BTRUOOLB FOR 8PBCIB BBTWBBM BVQ-
LAND AMD PRANCB, BTO., BTC.
The prosperity of the country appears daily to become set^ed upon a broader
and deeper foundation. The amount of labor expended upon the soil during the
last twelve months is certainly one-third more than for the previous year, and the
results are seen in the immense products already harvested, or still waiting to
be gathered. In cereals the production is very large. The wheat crop has
been injured in the Genesee Valley, and in many parts of Ohio and Michigan,
and also in some counties of Maryland and Virginia; but the total yield through-
out the Union is above the usual average. The crop of Indian com is very lai^
probably larger than ever before produced in the country. It is yet too early to
estimate the cotton crop, as the frost may cut ofT much which would otherwise
mature ; but everything at the date we write promises a yield larger than ever
recorded*
We have thus in our great staples, breadstuffs and cotton, the prospect of a
very large surplus for export. Other interests are likewise improving. The
rejudice against American pork, which bad its origin chiefly in the carelesaneas
with which the meat was prepared for market, is rapidly passing away, and both
the French and British are ordering supplies from our stores. The iron trade
is also revlvifljf. During the recent depression the price of Scotch pig ran down
so low as to remove all motive for importation, and thus when the demand in-
creased with a limited supply, the price increased much more rapidly than in
American pig, and there was for some considerable time an unusual diffisrence
between the price of the foreign and domestic article. TTiis led many, who
have hitherto used only the foreign, to try the domestic, and they have found
the change ao easy and the advantages so unexpected, that DMiny will eonsnrae
now only the product of our own furnaces. There are other items in the ached-
V(
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Commercial Chronicle and Review, 598
nle of favorable indices which might be enamerated. There are fewer idlers in
almost every department of trade and Commerce. The shipping interest has
greatly revived. There is no unemployed tonnage ; at all of our ports freights
are offered at prices which must pay large profits to ship-owners.
Notwithstanding these reasons for a strong faith in a prosperous future, there
are many who are very anxious, looking for farther troubles to arise out of the
difficulties in Europe. ' If the war continues, all of the nations engaged will be
obliged to have recourse to farther loans, and many look for a suspension of
^ecie payments by the national banks of both England and France. For many
years the Bank of France was more independent of the government than at pres-
ent, and was one of the best-managed institutions in the world. It is still in
good hands, but more liable under the present regime to become involved in the
pecuniary difficulties of the government, and thus to be obliged to preserve
itself only by a legalized suspension. If such an event should occur, prices of
property would at once advance about the difference in the market value of the
paper currency and specie, but no consequent disaster need happen to us. There
b another question of far more importance to this country, and that is, how fiur
Europe may be willing to take our cotton. More than half our exports are made
np of the trade in this staple, and we may therefore well inquire whether the
prolongation of the war will diminish its consumption. We do not believe that
it will to the extent which many predict. The war, so long as it does not de-
vastate whole provinces, is not as disastrous in its effects upon Commerce as
the conflicts which swept over the face of Europe during the earlier part of the
century. The falling off in consumption will be greatest in fine goods, which
use but a small portion of raw material. Still the trade mu.>t be greatly inter-
rupted, and peace is every way much to be desired. We do not believe that
evil can come upon any portion of the world without being felt, sooner or later,
in all the rest, and that any suffering member must in the end communicate its
infirmity to the whole body.
The chief anxiety \n regard to our connection with European troubles is prob-
ably based upon our supposed need of a large amount of foreign capital. Many
are apprehensive that the scarcity of money abroad, and especially the suspension
of specie payments, would return upon us an inconvenient supply of our stocks ;
while others fear that borrowers will not be able to obtain the coveted supply
of foreign capital to finish our projected railroads. The stocks, of course, can-
not be sent out to us faster than we may be willing to purchase them; and in
regard to the capital, the refusal to contribute it for the construction of our
works of internal improvement, may be a blessing in disguise. Too much
energy has been expended in that direction during the past two or three years,
and especially in the building of parallel roads, and a little relaxation in this
respect may be quite as profitable as further progress. It would be desirable*
perhaps, to finish such roads as are partly constructed, and would be otherwise
useless; but this cannot be done without encouraging new enterprises — and
as there must be a stop somewhere, the present point may be the best prac-
ticable.
The finished railroads are mostly doing a large business, and great expeets-
tions are formed in regard to the trade of the coming winter.
VOL. ZXXUJ. KO. V, 88
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594 Commercial Chronicle and Review.
The demand for capital has been steadily increasing, and rates of interest have
advanced. Money is wanted everywhere to move the crops, and to furnish the
*' sinews " for all the increased traffic of the coantry, and there is more activity
throughout all of our borders. The supplies from California have not been
quite as large as during the same period of last year; but this is owing to two
causes — the use now made of capital there, and the direct shipments thence to
England. Foreign exchange has steadily declined since our last, and first-claaii
bills are now selling below the specie point.
W(i have heretofore alluded to the efforts making to connect the Atlantic with
the Pacific by a ship canal at or near the Isthmus of Darien. A survey has been
made under the direction of F. M. Kelley, Esq., of New York, and a route quite
practicable, it is said, has been discovered. This route enters the mouth of the
Atrato River, furnishing a ship navigation to the junction of the Truando, then
deepening that branch a short distance, it finally leaves it, and makes a straight
cut to the Pacific. The Secretary of the Navy has consented to confirm the
private survey by an examination under proper government officers, and if this
is done, and the route be as it is represented, the discovery is one of the great-
est of modern times. It is designed to be open from ocean to ocean without a
lock, and to be navigable for tlie largest ships. We hope that no time will be
lost in determining the value of this discovery, and in this we are sure that we
speak the sentiments of the whole of our people who have any interest io our
oommercial prosperity.
The revenue of the country durmg the last quarter of the year shows fiir less
decline than for either of the previous two quarters, and has rapidly increased
since the 1st of October. The following will show the comparative total at
seven of the principal collection districts for the three months ending Septem-
ber 30th:—
18S5. im.
New York $10,667,000 118.707,000
Boston 2.149,000 2,802,000
Philadelphia 1,086,000 1,874,000
Baltimore 264,000 825,000
Charleston 118,000 99,000
New Orleans 261,000 646.000
SuLouis 80,000 260,000
ToUl 114,600,000 118,672,000
The bank changes have been more important than usual The loans and dis-
•counts and deposits have generally run down, while the specie has also been de>
creased. The lowest point of specie in New York was about Uie Ist of Octo-
ber, when the total was less than for any previous week since the 1st of Novem-
ber of last year. We annex a statement of the weekly averages since the opening
^f the year: —
WKKKLT AVKBAQXS KIW TOEK CITT BANKS.
Loans and
Date. OkpitaL Dtocoonta. Specie. arculation. Depoiila.
Jan. 6, 1866 $48,000,000 $82,244,706 $18,696,968 $7,049,982 $64,982,168
Jan. 18 48,000,000 88,976,081 16,488,626 6,686,461 67^08,398
Jan. 20 ' 48,000,000 86,447.998 16,872,127 6,681.866 69,647.<18
Jan. 27 48,000,000 86,664.657 16,697,260 6,789,828 20,136.618
Pebi 8 48,000,000 88,146,697 17,4b9,196 7.000,766 72,923.817
Feb. 10 48.000,000 89,862,170 17,124,891 6,969,111 78,794,142
Feb. 17 48,000,000 90,860,081 17,889,086 6,941,606 76.l98.eM
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commercial Chronicle a$wl JRetfievf,
695
Lotus
Dtte. CairfteL ind dtoeonnts. Spede. Clreulation. Deposltii
FeK 24 48,000,000 91,690.604 16,870,876 6,968,662 74,644,721
March 8.... 48,000,000 92,886,126 16,581,279 7,106,710 76,968,844
HtfchlO... 48,000,000 92,881,789 16,870,669 7,181,998 76,269,484
Mardil7... 48,000,000 92,447,846 16,988,982 7,061,018 76,624,227
March 24 . . . 48,000,000 98,060,778 16,602,729 7,462,281 76,289,928
March 81... 47,688,416 98,634,041 16,018,106 7,887,638 76,600,186
April 7.. 47,866,666 94,499,394 14,968,004 7.771,684 77,818,908
April 14... 47,866,666 94,140,899 14,890,979 7,628,628 77,282,242
April 21... 47,866,666 98,682,893 14,866,041 7,610,124 76,744,921
April 28.... 47,866,666 92,606,961 14,282,424 7,610,986 76,219,961
May 6 47,866,666 98,098,248 14,826,060 8,087,609 78,214,169
May 12 47.866,665 91,642,498 14,685.626 7,804,977 76,860.692
May 19.... 47,866,666 91,676,600 16,226,066 7,688,680 77,361,218
May 26 48,684,780 91,160,518 16,814,682 7,489,687 76,766,740
Jooe 2..... 48,684,780 91,197,663 16,897,674 7,666,609 76,848,286
JoDO 9 48,684,780 92,109.097 16,006,166 7,602,668 77,128,789
June 16 48,688.380 98,100,886 14,978,668 7,462,161 77,894,464
Juo6 23 48,688,880 94.029,426 14,706,629 7,886,668 79,118,186
June 30 48,683,880 96,578,212 16,641,970 7,894,964 81,908,966
July 7 48,688,880 97,862,491 16,881,098 7,748,069 86,647,249
JalyU 48,838,380 98,621,002 16,676,506 7,616,724 86,664,186
July 21 48,888,380 99,029,147 16,918,999 7,407,086 82,079,690
July 28 48,888,880 99,088,799 16,920,976 7,409,498 81,626.788
Aug. 4. 48,833,880 100,118,669 16,298,368 7,642,908 88,279,990
Aug. 11 48,888,880 100,774,209 15,280,669 7,714,401 88.141,320
Aug. 18 48.833,380 101,164,060 14.649,246 7,610,106 81,948,671
Aug. 26 48,888,880 100,604,604 13,826,378 7,682,096 81,278,668
Sept 1.... 48,888,880 100,436,970 12,852,828 7,620,178 81,057,210
Sept 8 48,888,880 100,278,''88 12,006,626 7,861,148 80,442,478
Sept 16.... 48.888,380 99,897.009 12,218,240 7,721,826 80,610,806
Sept 22.... 48,888,880 98,581,734 11.655,891 7,716,492 80,106.147
Sept 29 48,888,880 97,885,226 9,919,124 7,724,970 76,818,109
Oct 6.... 48,838,880 96,516,021 11,110,687 7,868,217 77,682,626
Oct 18.... 48,888,380 96,069,420 11,138,878 7»840,114 76,616,807
We also annex a comparative statement of the weekly averages of the Boa-
ton banks : —
WKEKLT AVSaAGKS AT BOSTOIC.
September 34. Oetober 1. OetoberS. October 19.
Capital f82,710,000 $32,710,000 $82,710,000 $82,710,000
Loaos and discounts- 63,995,878 58.944,814 64,167,189 64,848,166
Specie 8,405,266 8,418,268 8.198.404 2,681,886
Due from Other baoks 8.072,146 7,792,894 9,402.977 8,172,887
Due to other banks ' 6,296.147 6.956.104 6.606,898 6,096,890
Deposits 16,279.741 16,814.107 16,167,440 16,646,264
OircuUlion 7,67 1,928 7,703,167 8,668,477 8,890,809
Owing to a change in the date of sailing, the California steamers did not ar«
rive in time to have their manifests included in the September statements, so
that the receipts at the New York Assay Office were smaller than usual : —
MEPOSRS AT THB A8BAT OPriOK, NKW 70BK, FOK TBI XORTH OT BBFTKMBBa.
Gold. Stiver. TotaL
ForeigD coins. $8,000 00 $8.697 76 $16,697 76
Foreign bullion 21,000 00 900 00 21,900 00
Domestic bullion 1,328,890 50 11,139 34 1,840.029 84
Total deposits $1,867,890 60 $20,687 09 $1,878,627 69
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096 Oommereiai C^kfmUek imd ^emew.
Total depoeita payable m ban. $l,SS9/m M
Total depoftits payable in ooim 804^8 IS
Gold ban stamped M07,87» M
Of the deposits of gold, $36,000 were in California mint bars ; and of the de-
posits of silver, $1,212 64 were in Lake Superior silver. The Assay CXEoe in
New York first commenced operations October 10, 1854, and the year's receipts
to October 9, 1865, were $27,952,778 24 in gold, and $278,403 63 in savar^
making the total for the year $28,281,181 87. The PhikdelphSa mint has been
elosed for repairs daring the last two months. The following is a statemeat of
the New Orleans mint for September :»
OKPOeiTB AND OOUUfil AT TBI *9W OBLEAITS BaAMOH MINT UOMUtQ SBFZniBlft.
OOLD.
Oalifomiagold |»99 68
Gold from other souroes 564 08
Total gold depodU \ •1,5a 10
SILVBB.
SOver extracted from gold 11 46
Tbtal gold and silver depoaiti tl«576 U
WMJ> OOm AOI.
5,609 Eagles 1 50,060 90
SILVKB OOIVAfll.
M0,000 Half dollars ; 470,006 90
Total coinage $520,060 60
The impoits at New York from foreign ports for the month of September
show an increase of $1,300,000 in doliable goods entered for coDsnmption, but
a falling off in goods warehoused, and a decline also in free goods and speck,
which leaves the total imports for the month $245,163 less than for the eone-
sponding month of last year, $3,270,979 less than for September, 1853, and
$1,401,506 leee than for September, 1852,a8 wHl be seen in the following sui-
mary: —
voauGir ivvoats at nsw tork for samEMBn.
im. im. 1854. iSfii
Entered for eonsumption $11,095,827 $14,791,080 $10,582,731 $11,866,617
fintered for warehoiutng 623,260 1,577,858 2,755,608 1,666317
Free goods 884,848 628,290 769,195 489,lf6
Specie and bnlltoQ 66,789 296,026 159,869 107,265
ToUl entered at the port $12,620,219 $17,292,704 $14,266,888 $14,021,725
Withdrawn ftom warshoQse 1,254,858 1,709,052 8,181,816 2,811,841
The total of datiaUe goods thrown upon tbe market shows an faiepease, net-
withstanding the fidling off in tiie amount withdrawn from warehonse. The
imports at New York since January 1st are $37,608,246 less than for the •om-
•ponding nine months of last year, $40,617,008 less than for the same period of
1863, and $12,617,709 less than for the same time in 1862. The decline ex-
te ds to all the items of direct importe in the summary, but the vithdravafti
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Commercial C^rmkU <md Hepiem. ((9T
from warehouse for consumption unee Janoarj 1st show an increase. We an-
nex a coinparaii?e statement:—
Foanoir nrpoaTS at hkw toek roa bins moiiths fsox januaet Isr.
I8<!. 18M. 18Si 186S.
&t«red for eoBsamptioo $88,805,277 125,188,189 112,768,884 184,665,066
Entered for ▼arehooaing 6,589,890 17,891,246 24.569,718 19,187,452
Free goods 10,169,670 10,964,816 18,118,058 10,252,994
Specie and bollioB 2,151,954 1,907,257 1,941,141 678,999
Total entered at the port .. . 102,166,791 155,401,508 152,892,746 114,784,500
Withdrawn from warehouse. 12,206,926 11,682,018 17,587,217 19.471,459
The decline, as shown above, was comparatively greatest daring the second
quarter of the year, that is, ftom April to June. This will be seen in the an-
nexed quarterly statement of the total imports since January 1st: —
QUAETXaLT STATEMENT OP FOEEZOIT IXPOEtS.
ISa 1861. 18M. 185i.
First quarter $82,849,576 $50,886,718 $47,260,478 $85,200,866
Second quarter 28,446,05 1 47,499,805 47,552,902 82,747,068
Third quarter. .,... 40,871,164 57,564,985 57,579,871 46,887,071
JaD.ltoSepi80.. $102,166,791 $155,401,508 $152,892,746 $114,784,500
Notwithstanding the slight increase on the total of imports, the receipts of
dry goods at the port of New York for the month of September show an in-
crease of $1,390,510 over the corresponding period of last year, but are
92,488,790 less than for September, 1853, and $1,133,996 more than for Sep-
tember, 1852, as will appear from the following comparbon : —
tXrOETS OF FOEBION DRY GOODS AT ITEW TOES DT SBPTEMBBE.
XMTEEBD roa OOMSUMPTION.
im. 1851. 18M. im.
Kanu&ctnres of wool $2,085,897 $8,200,641 $1,872,654 $2,607,170
Manufactures of cotton 950,820 1,199.298 558,577 1,042,848
Manufactures of silk 2,070,823 8,864,625 2,095,460 2,880,508
Manufactures of flax 742,596 767,925 520,167 758,019
MiBcelianeous dry goods 446,681 585,585 601,476 648,478
Total entered ibr consumption . $6,296,817 $9,618,024 $5,148,884 $7,482,018
WITBDEAWM FEOM WAEEHOUSB.
isa i8fit. i8fi4. im.
Manufactures of wool $166,667 $287,924 $848,882 $267,576
Manufactures of cotton 69,448 94,480 285,060 82,928
Manufactures of silk 97,148 58,968 420,880 190,683
Manufactures of flax 56,955 48,844 86,01 2 9 1 ,788
MiMsellaneous dry goods 85,601 28,491 86,526 96,488
Total $425,819 $508,707 $1,677,810 $729,406
Add entered Ibr consumpUon 6,296,817 9,618,024 5,148,884 7,482,018
Vslal thrown CD the mariiet... $6,722,126 $10,181,711 $6,820,644 $8,161,417
Digitized by VjOOQIC
9BB
(hmmerekU Chroniele and Bemew.
BMTUBD rOE WAmXHOOBQia.
18Si. 18M. 18S4. ' 18tf.
Kaonfkcturefl of wool f 96,804 f 277,410 $409,040 $91,479
Manafkcturet of cotton 69,697 166J&76 174,086 109,258
MaoQ&ctares of silk 88,160 120,857 429,679 76,010
Manofiictiiresofflax 66,782 60,068 144,649 46,671
Miscellaneoafl dry goods 61,718 89,186 102.266 87,884
Total $863,001 $664,080 $1,269,470 $861,808
Add entered for consamption 6,296,81 7 9,618,024 6,148,884 7,482,012
Total entered at the port $6,669,818 $10,282,104 $6,402,804 $7,798,814
The imports of foreign dry goods at New York for nine months from Janu-
ary Ist are $22,480,890 less than for the same time last year, $26,610,114 leas
than for the same period of 1853, but are 91,286,462 more than for the same
period of 1862. We annex a comparison for the periods named: —
IMPORTS or rOESON DET GOODS AT TBI FORT OP NEW TOEK FOE HIVB MOHTHa, PEOM
JANUAEY 1st.
XIITKEED FOE CONSUMPTION.
18a 18il. 18$4. I8S6.
Manufactures of wool $12,079,080 $21,719,622 $16,680,785 $13.024448
Manufactures of cotton- 7,906,679 12,217,060 12,802,288 6.614,180
Manufactures of silk 17,020,266 27,626,127 22,766.800 17,212,822
Manufectures of flax. 4,781,272 6,899,134 6,679.171 4.175,679
Miscellaneous dry goods. 8,476,820 4,468.058 4,686.272 4.077,029
Total $46,268,107 $72,818,996 $61,966,266 $46,008,844
WinrDEAWN FEOM WAEIHOUSB.
im. mi. 18S4. I8ii.
Manufactures of wool $1,467,808 $1,798,181 $8,642,617 $2.S12,88t
Manufactures of cotton 1,291,008 882.089 2,889,186 1,984.660
Manufactures of sUk 1,638,467 1,168,611 2,618,984 2^8,660
Manufactures of flax 714,607 208,167 725,998 1,068,168
Miscellaneous dry goods. 296,662 281.788 881,662 708,199
Total withdrawn $6,407,982 $4,888,721 $9,608,843 $8,317,819
Add entered for consumption . . . 46,268,107 72,818,996 61,966,266 46,008,844
Total thrown upon the market. $60,671,039 $76,662,717 $71,668,608 $68,820,668
BNTXEXD FOE WAEXHOUSINO.
ISSi 18$]. 18i4. ISti
Manufactures of wool $1,098,877 $2,202,029 $4,406,086 $1,449,109
Manufactures of cotton 746,479 1,160.194 2,863648 1,261^10
Manu&cturesofsilk 1,812,847 1,886,678 8,246.962 ^,746.288
Manufactures of flax 800,384 298,679 896.884 771,897 .
MiscelUneous dry goods 312,799 814,688 482,199 697,656
Total $4,270,886 $6,811,118 $11,886,619 $6,816,611
Add entered for consumption. . . . 46,268,107 72,818,996 61,966,266 45,008,844
Total entered at the port ... $49,688,498 $77,680,109 $78,800,886 $60,819,961
The exports from New York to foreign ports for the month of September
(exclusive of specie) are 9 1,287,275 greater than for September last year, only
$564,304 lets than for September, 1853, and $1,069^01 greater than 1^ Sep-
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Cimiinereial CkronicU and Review. 599
tember, 1852. This increase, as compared with last year, has been wholly in
domestic produce, as will appear from the following summary : —
KZPOBTS raOM NIW YORK TO FOBXION F0BT8 VOB TBI MONTH OF SKPTKMBVK.
18SI. 18it. 18M. I8SS.
Domestic produce •,.. $8,289,429 16,679,088 |8,7'72.124 |6,228,6ST
Foreign merchandise (free) 128,184 68,470 97.889 17,809
Foreign merchandbe (dutiable)... 817.888 526,668 447,664 368,896
Specie 2,122.495 1,244,191 6v647,104 1,881,684
Total exports $6,867,996 $7,418,407 $10,864,781 $7,486,686
Total, exclusiye of ^)ecie 8,786,601 6,169,216 4,817,627 6,604,902
The exports of specie, it will be seen are very fkr behind the total for Sep-
tember of last year. The exports since January 1st (exclusive of specie) are
only Sl«094,278 less than for the corresponding nine months ef last year, and
are (3,270,979 greater than for the same period of 1853, and $12,295,197
greater than for the same time of 1852 :-«•
BXroaTS FEOM MSW TOBX TO FORXION PORTS FOR MIMX MONTHS FROM MMITART fST.
i8$s. m\. \m. mk
Domestic produce. $80,741,612 $40,424,718 $48,226,844 $89,808,999
Foreign merchandise (free) 7 16,626 1,168,996 1,816,29» 8.467.966
Foreign merchandise (dutiable).. 8,284,178 8.S92.669 8,699,648 8,781,244
Specie 20.668,886 16,007,768 80,208,748 24,489,196
Total exports $66,896,247 $69,979,08*1, $78,846,629 $71,486,704
Total, exclusive of specie 84.762,411 44,971,278 48,141,786 47.047,608
There has been a large increase during the year in the exports of free goodt^
a very considerable portion of which consists of guano. The shipments of do-
mestic produce show a comparative decline since January 1st, notwithstanding
the increase during the last month. We annex a quarterly statement of this
description of exports to show the course of this trade :—
QCARTKRLT STATXMKMT OF XXPORTS OF DOMESTIC PRODUOR.
185!. 1853. 1854. I«5S.
First quarter $10,085,484 $11,020,686 $16,267,987 $12,968,884
Seeond quarter 12,060.887 14,401,664 M,929^,60S 18,378.640
Third quarter 8.695.791 16.002.428 12.028,404 18,470,876
Total since January Ist $80,741,612 $40,424,718 $43,226,844 $39,808,299
The cash duties received for the month at New York are 883,887 01 greater
than for September of last year, the dutiable imports taken for consumption be-
ing larger, as already shown.. The total receipts since January 1st are
$6,536,365 50 less than for the corresponding nine months of last year, and
$8,878,971 33 less than for the same time of 1853, but $1,369,960 40 more
than for the same time of 1852 : —
OASH DUTIRS RXORTPRD' AT MRW YORK.
18a 18SI. 18S4. !8iS.
Id September $8,166,107 29 $4,226,840 18 $8.4S9.49« 49 $8,528,879 5»
Previous 8 months.. 21,876,896 62 80,654.094 46 28.998,886 82 22,878,088 81
Total since Jaa let. $^4,581,602 91 $84,780,484 64 $82,487,828 81 $26,901,468 81
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600
Commercial Chrmide and Review.
The imports in September have not been as large in general merchandise as
was expected, bnt the exports have increased more than was anticipated. The
exports for the next two months promise to be very large, almost all the avail-
able freight^room in regular lines of ships being already engaged for the re-
mainder of the year: — •
BXPOBTS or CBETAIH AKTIOUES OF DOMlSnO PRODUCK FEOX NXW TORK TO roaiI«Jf
POSTS FROM JANUARY IST TO OOTOBKR 16TH: —
1854. 18iS.
Naval stores.... bbls. 620,603 545,58S
Oils— whale galls. 190,278 242,271
sperm 416,465 612,129
lard 24,996 91,406
linseed 6,941 9,790
ProviaioHB —
Pork bbls . 82,952 1 88,1 28
Beet 49,406 66,888
Oat meats, lbs. . ..16,969,643 16,224,276
Butter 1,814.141 781.687
Cheese 2,196,696 4,871,894
Lard 11,799,644 6,876,416
Rice trcs 19.838 14.446
Tallow lbs. 4,674.8V4 1,168,240
Tobacco, crude . . pkgs 29,1 87 26,281
Do^ manufactured.lb8. 2,891,769 4,169,807
Whalebone 1,206,012 1,670,028
Ashes — pots • . . .bbls.
pearls
Beeswax lbs.
Breadttuff^—
Wheat flour . .bbls.
Rye flour ........
Oommeal
Wheat bush.
Rye
Oats
Oom
Oandks— mold..boxes
sperm
Goal tons
Cotton ..bales
Hay
Hops
1854.
18$S.
7.769
11,268
1,266
1,988
201,812
144.187
760,216
468,996
10.887
17,222
69,181
62,826
1,666,610
741,956
816,168
66.144
89,264
12,211
2,882,428 8,828,798
42,809
48,687
7,819
9,491
18,846
10,668
262,677
228,126
8,216
4,644
2,112
8,626
The above shows, in comparison with our previous statements, that the exports
of breadstuffs are gaining upon the total of last year, although in the aggregate
they are still smaller. The clearances of Indian Corn have largely increased,
and the exports of wheat, flour, and rye, are now large and rapidly increasing.
The question of breadstuffs for Europe is not yet definitely settled, bnt it is now
known that the demand firom this side, although large enough to afford us an
active trade, will not reach the quantity exp^ted. There is every prospect that
the supply of English grain will be in excess of the limit at first assigned to it,
while the exports hence to Germany must all be over before the cold weather
shuts up her inland commnnications. France must be fed, but at the lowest
price at which we can afibrd to sell our flour this season, the consumption thefe
most be largely diminished. Orders were sent out here early, either in behalf
of the government, or at least by the sanction of the imperial authority, in order
that speculation at home might be prevented, and the supply be sufficient to
bring prices within a desirable compass. England must need a large quantity
of our surplus, but even she will not take it at famine prices.
The recent movement of the Bank of France to obtain a supply of gold ban
been the subject of much comment on both sides of the channel. It appears
that the Bank, in order to comply with the wishes of the Emperor, instead of
raising the rate of interest to retain its bullion, resolved to purchase a supply of
the precious metal, and for this purpose made a contract with M. St Paul and
others to furnish a sum equal to Q20,000,000. The plan adopted waa, the pur*
chase in Paris, Prussia, and all the different trading ports of the ooatinent, th»
bills and floating claims upon London, paying for the same in bills on Paris, or
in bank-notes. These claims and sterling bills were forwarded to London
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Chmmereiai Statiitics,
601
the cash realized for them, and tiie specie sent to Paris. The negotiation was
seeret, and all Europe was astonished at the drain of gold from London, in the
(ae6 of adverse exchange. At first this was charged to the movements of the
Turkish loan, and then to the gold sent to Vienna to purchase grain, and still
again many averred, that England was carrying on a losing and one-sided trade
with the eontinent At last the secret was out, and the whole mystery explain-
ed. The banks of both England and France, have now raised their rate of inter-
est, the former to 5i and the latter to 5 per cent
COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.
TRADB AND COUAIERCB OF NEW ORLEANS IN 1854-55.
We have for several years embodied in the pages of the MerehanU Magazine the
annual statement and remarks of the New Orleans Price Current on the trade and
Oomuerce of that port, but press of other matter compels us to omit the full details,
and give in a condensed form only such statements as are of general interest to ow
readers at home and abroad.
We commence with a table showing the receipts of the principal articles imported
iato New Orleans from the interior during the year ending on the 8Itt of August, 1855.
This table, it will be seen, shows the quantities, average value, and total value of the
products received from the interior : —
PKODUOI IMPOETED INTO MEW ORLEANS IN 1864-56.
Articles. Amount. Average. Value.
Apples bbls. 82.628 $2 26 $78,171
Baooo, assorted hhds. & casks 40,787 70 00 2,866,090
Bacon, assorted boxes 8,492 28 00 80,816
BacoQ hams hbds.^ Ires. 81,871 66 00 S,0S9J 15
Bacon, in bulk lbs. 282,920 8 18.688
Bagging..; pieces 40,678 16 00 608.670
Balerope coils 96,886 7 00 667,862
Beans bbla. 4.690 6 60 26.795
BuUer kegs A firkins 88.874 7 00 287.118
Hotter bbls. 1,017 80 00 80.610
Beeswax. 141 60 00 7,060
Beef 81,899 18 00 414.687
Beef tres. 9,679 20 00 193,680
Beef,dried ...lbs. 23.860 9 2.147
Cotton bales 1,284,768 40 00 61,390,720
Commeal bbls. 226 4 60 1,018
Com,inear 10,701 140 14.981
Corn, sheUed sacks 1,110.446 d 16 2,887,45^
Cheese boxes 46,246 4 60 208,603
Oandlea 66,888 8 00 461,064
Cider bbls. 14 8 00 42
Ooal,westem. 1,018,000 65 669,900
Dried apples and peaches 1,262 6 00 7.612
Feathers bags l/)78 28 00 80,184
naxseed trcs. 281 12 00 837S
W\onr. bbls. 678,111 8 25 6,663,166
Fars hhds., bundles dlr boxes 802 .... 800,000
Glassware packages 16,884 4 00 66,586
Hemp. bides 81,885 80 00 940^050
fiides ^ 84,298 2 25 189,670
Hay bales 78,271 5 00 866,870
Irod.pjg tons 17 85 00 5M
Lard. .bbU<ktrcs. 144,086 25 00 8,6€0,9U«
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602
Commercial StaUstia.
ArUclet.
Lard kegs
Leather baodlea
Lime, western bbls.
Lead pigs
Lead, bar kegs A boxes
Lead, white kegs
Molasses, estimated crop gallons
O&ts bbls. A sacks
OnioDs bbls.
Oil, lioBeed
Oil, castor.
Oil, lard
Potatoes
Pork ires. A bbls.
Pork boxes
Pork hhds.
Pork, in bul k lbs.
Porter and ale bWs.
Packbgyam reels
Ram bbls.
Skins, deer packs
8kios, bear.
Shot kegs
Soap boxes
Staves M,
Sugar, estimated crop bHds.
Spanish moss. bales
Tallow bbls.
Tobacco, lea£ hhds.
Tobacco, strips
Tobacco, stems
Tobacco, chewing. kegs A braces
Twine bandies A boxes
Vinegar bbls.
Whisky
Wheat bbl8.Ai
Other various articles, estimated at .
AOUNUlt.
98,826
5,808
19,288
70,614
801
269
28,000,000
489,978
11,666
848
2,617
18,882
70,589
276 898
7,458
8,067
6,268,650
1,217
1,728
1,850
498
16
8,435
7,788
4,000
846,685
4,729
711
42,691
8,109
2,548
4,158
8,249
1,026
108,864
81,)!88
Average.
$5 00
80 00
1 10
5 00
18 76
4 00
1 25
8 50
40 00
45 00
85 00
2 50
16 00
86 00
65 00
6
10 00
12 50
18 00
80 00
15 00
24 00
8 50
47 CO
62 00
16 00
80 00
180 00
180 00
40 00
26 00
10 50
6 00
12 00
2 80
Valve.
1491,680
159,060
21,156
852,570
5,644
l,07e
4,255,000
549,972
40,827
18.920
117,766
466,620
176,848
4,145.895
268,488
199,866
875.819
12,170
21.587
88,800
14,790
225
82,440
27,240
188.000
18,025.020
70,9U
21,880
5.649,880
1,459,620
101,920
108,825
84,115
6,156
1,806.248
87,606
5.000,000
Total value $117,106,828
Total in 1858-54 116.886,798
Total in 1 852-58 184.288,785
Total in 1851-62 108,051,708
TALUS or VRODVOE RXOKIVBD AT inCW 0RLIAN8 FOE THBSB TEARS AND TOTAL TALUS VOft
TWELVE YEAE8.
The following comparison of the value of the principal products of the interior re-
ceived at the port of New Orleans from 81st August to 1st September, is compiled
from a series of tables yearly prepared for the Friee OurrenL It will be found to
exhibit some interesting ficts in regard to Commerce with the South and West^—
1844-55.
Oottoo. $51,890,720
Sugar 18,025,020
Tobacco 7,215,195
Flour. 6.668,166
Pork 4,989,657
Lard 4,092,580
Lead 859,290
Molasses 4,266,000
Bacon 4,998,154
Com 2.402,440
Whisky 1,806,248
Wheat 87,606
18SM4.
$64,749,602
15,726,840
4,848,525
6,119,792
4,072,104
8,690,706
879,966
8,720,000
8,886,150
2.668,968
1,289,250
554,829
$68,t59,424
15,452,686
7,988,650
S,689,024
5,516,875
8,952,514
845,071
5,140,000
6,440,881
1,605,756
1,108,190
82,766
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Oommemal 8tati$iie$.
608
H«iiip ...
Bale rope
Batter...
HftT
nay.,
Hidefl
Goal
Potatoes
Stares.
Tkllow
Feathers.
Oats
Ooro-meal
Other articles..
$608,670
610,414
940,060
667,858
267,628
866.870
189,670
669,900
176,848
188,000
21,880
80,184
649,972
1,018
7,260,001
18SI-^.
$688,682
696,094
699,760
818,192
891,668
290,666
268,100
600,000
412.546
92,600
11,180
68,860
686,461
1,420
8,796,687
ISfiMt.
$888,872
1,192,182
800,016
972,424
827,816
626,000
202,920
850,000
408,664
240,000
81,682
81,680
446,966
6,864
8,888,999
Total $117,106,828 $115,886,798 $184,288,786
1861-62.
1860-61.
1849-60.
1848-49.
$108,051,708
106,924,088
96,897.878
81,989,692
$60,094,716
68,782,064
46,716,046
1847-48.... $79,779,161 1848-44.
1846-47 90,088,266 1842-48.
1846-46 77.198,464 1841-42.
1844-45.... 67,196,122
From the above table it results that the total value of all the products received at
New Orleans from the interior from September 1st, 1841, to September 1st, 1865, a
period of fourteen years, amounts to $1,224,885,520.
SXPOaXS OF COTTON AND TOBACCO FROM NSW OaLXANS IN 1864-66.
The following table exhibits the quantity of cotton (in bales) and tobacco (in hogs-
heads) exported, and the places whither exported, during the year ending on the 81st
of Augcst, 1866, as compared with the previous year: —
Whither exported.
Liverpool 702,641
London
Qlaftgow. Oreenock, die,
Oowes, Falmouth, ic
Cork, Bellast, Ac.
Havre
Bordeaux
Marseillea
Nantes, Oette, and Kouen
Amsterdam
Rotterdam and Qhent
Bremen.
Antwerp, Ac
Hamburg
Gottenburg.
Spain and Gibraltar
Havana, Mexico, Ac.
Genoa, Trieste, Ac
St Petersburg, Ac
Other foreign ports
New York....:
Boston
Providence, Bi. L
Philadelphia
Baltimore.
Portsmouth
Other coastwise ports..
WestemStates
COTTOW.
ima. mui.
TOBACCO.
702,641
779,021
6,272
6,860
888
7,671
6,048
8,621
12,861
....
....
8,460
16,611
649
578
1,878
6.268
% . . .
....
168,660
186,264
8,480
6,707
1,814
1,286
8,066
2,317
8,486
2,019
6,661
4,428
4,878
6,018
....
....
1,876
4.211
100
624
1,907
1,810
....
644
29,451
82,849
6.298
7,970
7,877
9,010
2,492
8,926
5,661
28,709
46
....
9,040
18,162
904
768
47,164
68,796
7,618
6,282
18,787
24,986
. . . •
....
48,228
62,240
4,947
1,128
9,684
....
. • • •
6,85^1
,
8,714
2,479
69.969
58,168
6,019
4,818
118,676
118,861
789
126
1,458
......
....
....
8,106
14,054
489
190
4,070
4,067
108
60
....
2,189
....
. • . .
60
....
268
97
....
110
....
Total 1,270,264 1,429,180 64,100 68,048
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664
^^^^v^^^wrwKiw /9^t^H^^M^9m
OOTTOIb TOBAOOOa
Great Britain 717,S28 818,786 18.802 11,181
France 178,828 198.671 18,147 12,447
North of Eorope. 62,682 98.876 9.247 18,989
Sooth of Europe, Mexico, <bc. 109.164 186,971 16,867 9,889
OoaetwiM 202,817 192,627 7,447 4,7»4
Total 1,270,264 1,429,180 64,100 68.048
XZPOftTS or SUGAE AHD HOLASUS FAOH WSW OELSAlia IM 1864-66.
Whither exported. Hhds. Bblt. Bhda. BMiu
NewYork. 74.970 6,116 62 107,469
Phihulelpbia 14,862 820 ... 20,788
(»i«rlettoiL 6,018 10 ... 17,8t»
SaTannah 864 6 ... 6,047
ProTidence and Bristol, R. 1 6 214 ... 1,278
Boeton 2.664 148 204 26,608
Baltimore 14,445 866 ... 21,866
lUchmondandPeterVbnVgiVa.*! !!!!!!! J *»*** UA9^
Alexandria, D. 0 848 749
Mobile 7,070 26,846
Apalachioola and Pensacola 784 226 . . • 8,016
Otherports 2.118 2,666 ... 16,940
Total 129,487 10,466 266 267,444
SXPOVIB or FLOUB, FOftK, BAOOW, LAUD, BUF, L«AD, imnKT, AWO OOEK, FaOK 8BPTBV-
BB& 1, 1864, TO AUGUtT 81, 1866.
Flour, Pork, Bacoo, Lard, Beef, Leed, Whtoky, Oora,
Porta. bbla. bbls. hhda. kega. bbla. piga. bbla. aacka.
NewYork 86,188 81,622 9,192 228.641 12,496 22.706 2.176 21.617
Boeton 98,168 48,792 8,986 118,487 10,676 26,799 1,676 89,109
Philadelphia. 789 69 189 1,144 40 9,229
Baltimore 4.987 226 880 716
0th. coastw. p'te 78,846 18,670 26,099 26.499 880 3,677 86,481 166,010
Great Britain . . 27,468 1,286 2,997 144.778 6,760 278,646
Cuba ., 707 2,816 1,272 191,096 824 100
0th. ibreign p'ts. 69,486 10,049 472 87,909 1,729 1,662 22,829
Total 845,748 168,811 43,812 791,686 82,968 68,826 41.700 620,988
In the aboTe, the exports to Mobile, «bc, yia the Pootchartrain Railroad and Mew
Oanal, are iookided.
ARBIVALS OF SHIPS, BARES, BBEGS, 80H0O2IXR8, AND STBAMBOATB, FOB FITX TXABB, FEOK
BEPTBMBEB 1 TO AUGUST 81.
Teara. Bhlpa.
1860-61 616
1B61-62 007
1862-68 782
1868-64 718
1864-66 781
Stoam-
Btrka. Brifa. SebooneiB. riiipa.
820 816 704 190
871 287 678 218
447 296 696 244
886 217 478 204
266 180 426 226
Bteas-
TotaL boat*.
2,144 9,918
2.861 9,778
2,864 8.268
1,948 8,976
1,817 9,799
EXPORT TRADE OF CHARLEST05, SOUTH eiROIIIA.
We are mdebted to the Oharlestoa Courier fbr the fbllowfaig tabular statement oC
the exports of Oottoo, Rice, and Lnmber, from Charleston to different ports, for tki
yean 1864 and 1866, years ending the 1st of September : —
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Ckmrntrcial SMktiM.
S»
Szported to layerpool bales
Scotland
Other British ports
Total exports to Qreat Britain
Harre
Maneilles
Other French ports
Total exports to France
Holland
Belgiam «
North of Europe
. 18Si. ^
Sea M. Upland.
14,412 186.648 '
118 2,817
207
Total to North of Europe
I of Europe
Total to foreign ports. ...
Boston ..•••
Rhode Island, 4c.
HewYork
Philadelphia
Bakiinore and Norfolk •
Other United States ports ...
Total to coastwise ports . . . .
Grand total
14,580
4,160
4,160
189,672
61,881
72
4,608
66,606
2,611
4,878
6,211
18,700
27,020
18,680 2»6,.7d8
120 12/)66
711
6^1 167,106
19,118
• . • . 9,898
102
6,771 198,463
24»461 496,261
-1844.-
SealiL Upland.
18,881 144,997
106 8,282
199 666
14,186
8,966
148,784
88,580
784
2,966
8,966 87,279
2,202
2 8,029
7.408
2 12.689
18,901
18,154 217,608
891 16,821
498
6,140 148,488
81 12,984
.... 12,887
102
6,612 190,675
24,766 408,278
Idverpool bush.
Scotland.
Other British ports .
Total to G. Britain
HaTre
Other French ports .
Total to France...
Holland
Belgiam
North of Europe. . . .
BXP0BT8 or aiOB FROM 0HABLI8T0X.
ISfiS. 18M. Ihii.
West Indies, Ac. 17,667
Total to for. ports..
Boston 4,888
New York 82,646
Philadelphia 6,767
Baltimore <fe Norfolk 7.612
New Orleans, <bc. . . . 17,142
Other U.S. ports... 286
Total to N. Europe 8,866
Liverpool .
London.. .
I8SS.
17,740
24,000
9,740
EXPOBTB or
47,243
49,296
Total coastwise . . 67,685
Grand total 93,646
18»4.
22,162
25,960 46,278
6,766
41.060
4,785
10,197
16,176
547
79,461
125,749
EOOOB EIOB.
Total to G. Britain 41,740
Bordeaux ....
North of Europe.. . . . 24,826
West Indies, dtc
96,689
18.122
164,284
100
New York
Other U.S. ports...
Total coastwise • .
Total to for. ports
Grand total
18»S. ISM.
6,608 48,885
600 16,684
7,002 59,019
66,066 264,045
78,068 828,064
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606
(hmmereial StatUtks.
xzpORn or utxbib from OHASUtroif.
im.
Exported to Liverpool feet 663,642
To other British Porte .'.
Total exported the ports of Great Britain 668,642
To Havre 28,767
Bordeaux 829,289
Other French ports 286,296
Total exported to the ports of France 1,148,802
To the North of Europe 467,886
South of Europe 8,088,7 7 1
West Indies, Ac. 2,026,668
Total exported to all foreign ports 7,888,663
To Boston , , 1,628.466
Rhode Island, <kc 6,406,666
New York 1,186,198
Philadelphia 8,686,206
Baltimore and Norfolk 2,677,681
To other ports in the United States 1,286,709
Total coastwise 16,618,764
Grand total of foreign and coastwise 28,862,417
18M.
468.898
606.011
969,404
64,281
97,288
169,196
880,710
648,472
1,266,402
8,626,651
6,780,646
4,190,779
4,846,108
1,428,861
2,998,416
2,799.869
S65,977
17,114,006
28,844,660
COlfSUBIPTION OF 6ARDIKES Iff THE UNITED STATBa
From a letter received at the Department of State at Washington, and pabUshed
in the Union^ dated La Rochelle, France, April 18, 1856, we make the foUowipg ex-
tract, touching the ** little fishes done in oil" Sardines, it will be seen, are quite an
item of commerce and consumption.
** The exportation of sardine^ to the United States is immrase and inoreasti^. The
fisheries commence about the middle of May, and last until about the middle of Octo-
ber. The quantities consumed are enormous; each evening, upon the return of the
fishing smacks, they can be bought for a few cents per dozen, and are an important
part of the food of the poorer classes. These fish are better, and have a fiavor when
put up in oil which they otherwise have not They are found in great plenty from
the coast of Bretagne to the mouth of the Gasomre. La Rochelle is the principal de-
pot for the. fishery. The quantity exported to the United States in 1852, was
59,840 kilogrammes. In 1858 the quantity was 76,737 kilogrammes. Last summer,
I am informed, the quantity exported to the United States exceeded 100,000 kilo-
grammes. Strange to say, more than one half of this importation is for OaUfomia."
HATIOATIOff OF THE PORT OF ffEW ORLEAHS.
The following amounts of exportations of the growth, produce, and manuiactnre of
the United States have been made from the port of New Orleans daring the quarter
ending 80th September, 1855 :^
Foreign conntiies.
AoMricsn veMeis. Foreign vessels. CoMtwise.
July 12,691,864 1466,181 $I,655.a97
August 1,299,595 68,764 1 ,823^289
September. 2,080,528 143,679 1.054321
Total $6,071,487 1678.474 14^88,507
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Chmmereial SktHsUcs,
60lr
BXPOBT TRADB OP SAVAlTllAHi 6B0RCIIA.
TIm Savannah Repttbliean furnishes os with the subjoined statements of the ez*
ports of Cotton, Rice, and Lumber, from this first of September, 1864, to the first of
September, 1866, as compared with the previous year : —
GlMi«dfor~
Liverpool , • .bales
Other British ports
Total Great Britain .
Havre
Other foreign ports. • •
szpoaTB or ooiton Faoic savaitnah.
-1845.-
8m I.
6,851
6,861
148
Total foreign ports 6,998
Boston 208
Providence . . . • • ....
New York 6,280
Philadelphia •• • ....
Baltimore and Norfolk ....
Charleston 1,086
Other United States ports
Total coastwise .
Upland.
166,142
166,142
7,964
8,088
176,194
47,241
8,682
113,642
19,666
4,761
6,482
460
7,474 196,714
18S4. ,
Sea f. Upland,
Grand total 14,467 871,908
8,269
284
8,668
808
8,861
186
• • • •
7,446
2,696
1,890
11,667
16,628
86.462
8,368
88,810
6,179
8,691
88,680
41.166
4,191
111,201
24,299
6,648
16,881
887
208,368
801,948
■ZPOaTS OF LUUBEE VROM SAVAHNAH.
m.
Great Britain feet
St John's and Halifiuc
West Indies
Other foreign ports ....
Total to foreign ports
llaine
Massachusetts •' •
Rhode Island, Ac. •
New York
Philadelphia •
Baltimore and Norfolk
Other ports
Total coastwise .
Grand total. . . .
10,748,600
1,951,886
2,918,022
8,896,800
19,004,808
1,981,700
689,400
41,000
1,527,959
687,800
641,418
1,017,282
18S4.
16,267,100
7,666,400
2,028.900
1.646,200
27,868,600
8,602,800
6,828,700
180,000
4,462,200
616,400
1,269,900
1,712,100
6,486,654 22,602,100
26,490,862 49,866,700 *
Great Britain casks 4
St. John's and Halifax
West Indies 6,145
Other foreign ports
KXFOETS or aioE raoM savannah.
18SS. ISM. I
2 I Philadelphia.
liassadiusetts 1,445
New York 8,678
10
6,787
906
ToUl to foreign ports. 6,149 7,654
2,487
12,219
Baltimore and Norfolk
Charleston
New Orleans, Aa
Other ports
Total coastwise ,
Grand total . . . .
18iS.
808
117
81
100
6,074
8,228
1854.
6,972
192
881
1,868
80
23,094
80,748
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408
Commercial SUjUkUee.
4»]fll£E0S OF TAB BRASIUAI SMPIU.
We are indebted to our esteemed friend, Le ObevaUer vm Aouiar, for tlie solyabed
Btfttistics of the export and import trade of Brazil for the years 1848-44, compared
with 1868-64. Under our usual ** JouayAL or Baioluio, CuaaENor, akd Fixakcb,'* Id
another part of the present number, will be found several tabular statements of the
reyenuee and expenditures of the empire, prepared by the same officiaL
The following table exhibits at a glance the value of the import and export trade
of Brazil with each foreign country, and also the value of the imports and exports
into the principal provinces of the Brazilian Empire : —
VALUE OF IMF0BT8. VALUX OF EXPOKTB.
184M. iSSM. 184M. 18SS~4.
Great Britain. cootoe 29,602 46,621 10,646 21,709
France. 6,976 9,844 2,671
United States 6,661 7,688 10,928
Portugal 4,869 6,746 4,097
Hanee Towns 2.666 6,179 8,174
RiverlaPlata 1,726 4,497 2.861
Other countries 8,601 6,967 9,1H»8
Total 66,289 84,481 48.800
VALUE OF IMPOaTS AMD EXPOETS IKTO THE PEINOIPAL PEOVmCZS.
XMPOETS.
I84S-4. I8«-4. 184M.
46,061 28,846
12,206 6,810
12,716 6.889
2,629 1,762
4,982 988
4,664 2,820
1,886 2,746
6,9«<
21,714
8,688
6,276
2,994
12,842
74,184
Bio Janeira. ,
Bahia
Pemambuco .
Maranbam..
Para
Bt Pedro. . . .
Others.
18SM.
87,711
10.481
8,606
2,896
6.294
4,619
6,178
Total 66,289 84,481 48,800 74,184
We give aleo a table of the value of the principal articles imported and exported,
together with the quantities of certain articles exported : —
VALUE OF PEINOIPAL IlCPOaTS.
Cotton .centos
Wooleo
Linen
Mixed
Silk
Gold and silver
1841-4.
19,087
4,882
2,486
1,268
1,296
161
185S'4.
27,746
6.694
2.060
2,641
2,102
8,217
Flour, wheat, .contoe
Pork and bee£
Fish
Hardware
Wines
184M.
4,014
826
978
2,897
2,627
18$I-4.
4,898
1,707
1,616
8.466
2,681
VALUE or PEDfCIPAL EXPOETB.
184J-4. I8§l-4.
Gotten contoa 8.649 4,886
Bom 641 922
Bice 431 892
Sugar 10,818 16,881
Coffee 17,986 88,844
Ooooa 483 787
184M. 1861-4.
Hides. contoe 6,019 6^20
Tobacco 772 2,099
Wood 246 1,096
India-rubber .... 8^71
Diamonds. 1,990
QUANTITIES EXPOETED.
Coffee .
Sugar ..
Cotton...
Tobacco.
..contoe
184J-4.
6,294,281
6,682,918
814.266
292,848
18SJ-4.
8,179.088
8,016,989
888,135
679,686
1841-4.
Bice contos 872,286
Hides, salted. . .No. 621,079
Hides, dry 799,609
Bum . . • . medidas 1,968,421
18iM.
206,610
496.942
681,699
8,106,659
Conto equal to £112 10s., at 27d. per mil-reis. Conto (weight) eqoal to 99 pounds
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Commereial Statistics.
609
THE FUR TRADE.
Dayu> Samusl & Sons, of Philadelphia, hare fiinushed for publication the sob.
jobed account of the import of fur ekiDS into Loudon, from September 1, 1864, to
September 1, 1855. The statement comprises the entire collection of the Hudson Bay
Compaoj, and in the United States of America— except shipments made direct from
the United States to Germany — and such as are used for home consumption : —
DeeoripHon.
Beaver skins
Muskrat skins
Otter skins „ ^ . .
Fisher skins ....
Marten skins
Mink skins
Lynx skins
Fox siWer skins
Fox cross skins
Fox red skins
Fox white skins
Fox grey skins .'
Fox kitt skins
Bear (black) skins.
Bear (brown) skins
Bear, grey and white skins
Raccoon skins
Wolf skins
Wolverine skins •
Skunk skins
Wild Cat skins
Oppossum skins
It is estimated that about 8,000 mink and 220,000 oppossum have been used for
home consumption.
We give also the result of the semi-annual sales of furs and skins in London on the
29th, 80th, and 81st August; 8d, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th September, 1865 :—
19,979 Beaver skins — in fair request, at previous prices.
227,144 Raccoon skins — in brisk demand; fine Northern at 80 per cent advance;
Western and Southern, 25 per cent advance.
6,868 Bear skins — realised high rates for fine Northern ; among the lower grades
Southern and Western, 15 per cent lower.
2,468 Otter skins — very doll of sale and mostly withdrawn ; no bids ibr United
States sorts.
894 Sea Otter skins — fair demand, at previous prices.
8,488 Fisher skins — in good request; about 6 to 7 per cent advance.
86,186 Marten skins — dark fine color, sold at last sale prices; middling and pale,
10 to 15 per cent lower.
81,650 Mink skins — fine dark sold at previous high prices; brown, pale and coarse
Western and Southern, 15 to 20 per cent lower.
1,958 Lvnx skins — sold at 5 i4> 10 per cent advance.
4,174 ^ iid Cat skins — in fair demand, at 5 to 10 per cent advance. ^
190 Silver Fox skins — sold at previous high rates.
958 Cross Fox skins — in fair demand at last sale prices.
21,672 Red Fox skins — in g(X)d demand, at about 10 per cent advance.
11,625 Grev Fox skins — in fair demand at last sale prices.
1,638 Wolfskins — in fair demand at last sale prices.
418 Wolverine skins — active demand at 20 per cent advance.
499,474 Muskrat skins — in bri»k request at 10 per cent advance.
24,000 Oppossum skins — sold at low rates ; not much demand. ^
VOL. XXZUI. — HO. V. 89
lnd.BayCo.
U. States.
TMsL
69,884
5.954
75,288
845,604
1,280,701
1,626,806
11,118
5,276
16,888
4,886
8,785
8,621
186,587
14,580
151,117
50,771
141,600
192,871
5,656
700
6,856
481
250
781
1,772
1,145
2,917
8,801
87,710
46,011
1,871
440
2,811
....
17,559
17,669
4,661
6,120
10,781
6,878
8,810
10,608
1,192
68
1,266
966
• • . • •
966
1,662
495,844
497,506
16.402
20
15,422
1,149
25
1,174
5,968
5,968
874
7,700
8,074
....
26,874
26,874
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eio
Jimmal of Banking, Cyrreney^ and Finance.
JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE.
USUTIYE VAiUE OF REAL A5D PERSONAL ESTATE Iff THE CITT AJf D C0U5TT
OF HEW YORK,
A8 ASSESSED IN 1864 AKD 1866, AOOOBDIKQ TO THE EEPOET OF A. C FLAOO, OONTBOLLBE.
Wf&rds.
1
2
8
4
6
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
18
14
16
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
KoD-res.
^ASSESSMENTS OF 1864.—%/
Rettl estate. Personal estate.
$86,669,860 163,814,227
28.216,107 6,320.144
20,981.800 9.899,744
9,176,120 1,669,672
18,661,860 2,618.108
9,694.900 2,170,809
12,247,484 8,624.484
16,168,100 2,045,960
18,884,860 2.258,799
7,999,000 1,168,000
7.860,700 380,664
8,744,661 848,100
6,068,660 674,668
9,674,000 2,292,607
24.694.000 17.866,898
14,268,160 2,630,222
16,168,904 8,166.170
80,481,800 13,474,086
9,864,645 891,000
18,291,600 687,600
20,182,096 4,208.800
11,466,846 853,000
^ASSESSMENTS OF 1856.— n
Real estate. Peraooal estate,
136,976,760 $66,177,896
22.448,167 6.118.630
21,745,660 8,420,022
9,878,970 1,644.480
18,866.800 2,150.558
9,606,660 1,700,867
12,476,968 2,186,516
15,251,500 1,828,726
13,767,700 2,602.864
8,144,400 1,121,886
7,664,700 621.987
8,462,686 906.800
5,098,991 740.664
9,876,300 2,819,646
25,857,850 20,042,047
14,871.860 2.602.800
16,562,400 4,798,280
81,921,405 14,296,650
9,882,886 187,000
13,938,900 446,200
21,796,875 5.087,700
10,593,189 788,175
14,491.180
/ TOTAL. r-
1854. 1855.
$89,484,077 $91,168,646
29,6iB5,252 27.566,767
80.881.544 80.165.67S
10,845.792 11.028,400
16,069,958 16.0U,8»$
11,766,209 11,206,907
15,771,918 16.661,474
17,199.060 17.076,2S6
15,648,149 16,870,564
9,162.000 9,265,785
7.781,264 8,086,687
9.592.661 9.368.485
5,748,208 6.884,655
11,966,507 12,194,945
42,649,898 45,899.197
16.898,872 17.474.650
18,820.074 20,860,680
48,905.885 46,218,055
9.755,646 9,6IV.886
18,879,100 14,879,100
24,885,896 26,884.075
11,809,846 11,881.814
14.49U80
Total.. 330.564,452 131.721,888 886,975,866 160,022,412 462,285,790 486,998,278
Wards.
Realesute.
. $806,900
. •...••*.
818.850
202,850
. . 818,450
* .... .••
228,524
98,400
888.850
146.400
214.000
• ........
25.841
201,800
. ^ 668.850
. ^ 608,700
898,496
. 1,489.605
18,241
20 ...
642,800
21 ...
. 1,664,280
22 ...
NoD-rc
s.
844,064
'1*41,482
57.700
66,106
27.187
2,186,^58
i,'642,669
822,565
888,900
885,176
14.491.180
/ DKOI
LRASS. \
/ TOTAL. »
Real estate.
Personal estate
Increase.
$1,669,569
DocPOMi.
$766,950
$1,201,514
$1,968,466
979,722
•a......
165^72
25,242
177,608
867,550
64.100
88,850
469,952
658.302
888,968
110.444
2224^84
* 7V7,4i4
128.884
81,614
118,785
855,482
281,916
224.816
9*1,447
228,487
2.850,008
576,277
2,040,556
27,422
2,812.170
254,o66
'2V5.76i
142,800
600.000
2.498.180
868,700
478.581
14.'49l.i86
Total.. $8,412,887 $22,861,595 $2,000,928 $4,060,621 $28,682,011 $8,919,524
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Jowmil €f Banking, Currmeyj and Mnance. 611
For the sake of coareaienoe, the eent oolmnns in the abore tables hare been omitted,
which loakes a slight dlffereoce in the totals.
From these tables it appears that the total increase in the valnation of 1865 oyer
1854 is 124,712,487.
covDinoir op the hew orlbans basks.
In the Merckanti^ Magazine for July, 1855, (vol xzxii.,) we published tables, which
we compiled firom the official statement of the Louisiana Board of Currency, showing
the condition of the banks in New Orleans for the weeks ending May 19 and June 2;
also a comparatiye statement for the foar weeks ending May 12, May 19, May 26, and
June 2; and in the MerehatUt* Magazine for September, 1865, (voL zzxiL, pagCNi
850-851,) a comparative view of the condition of the banks for four weeks — that is,
to July 7, 1865. We subjoin similar statements for several subsequent weeks to Oc-
tober 6th, inclusive:—
Jaly 7. Jaly 14, Deerense. July 31. July 14. Decreass.
Specie $6,498,637 $6,424,808 $73,884 $6,292,458 $6,424,808 $182,140
Oirculktion 6,622,147 6,612,789 109,358 6,457,679 6,612,789 66,210
Deposits 9,884,471 9,769,817 65,154 9,238,378 9,769,317 850,944
Shortloans. 12,407,831 12.293,661 114,180 12,293.651 12,208,401 86,250
Exchange 2,775,461 2,801,404 ♦25,948 2,801,401 2,801,404 184,822
Due distant banks. 1,824,687 1,896,895 *72,208 1,450,214 1,896,895 *53,819
LONO AND SHORT L0AK8.
July 7 $20,254,486 I July 14 $20,094,881
July 14 20,094,881 | July 21 19.186,870
Actnal decrease $160,105 | Actual decrease $279,01 1
Aiigtut4. Aagostll. Decrease. Sept 22. Sept. 89. IneroMe.
Specie $6,260,116 $6,198,927 $76,188 $6,524,284 $6,689,911 $166,677
Circulation 6,211,314 6,116,529 95,886 5.885,219 5,956,225 71,006
Deposits 8,804,666 8,886,476 *dl,92l 9,999,164 10.895,019 896.965
Shortloans. 12,075,837 12.274,592 *198,755 18,950,451 14,168,402 212.961
842,607
49,274
Exchange.....^. 2.095,476 1,912,437 83,039 2,884,106 2,726,618
Doe distant banks. 1.061,684 1,024,414 27,270 768,844 818,118
LONG AND SHORT LOANS.
August 4 $19,831,702 I September 22 $19,074,412
August 11 19,228,746 | September 29 19,085,284
Actual decrease. $102,936 | Actual decrease $10,872
FOR THB WEBK ENDING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1855.
LIABILITIES. RESOURCES.
Dae distant
and looal 90-da7
Banln. Ciroutation. Deposits. banks. Specie. paper. Excluuige.
Bank of Louisiana. $726,374 $2,460,895 $194,893 $1,652,634 $1,997,790 $657,464
Louisiana State... 850,700 2,576.619 268,246 1,494,042 8,171.927 79,466
Canal 805.066 855,658 194,175 717,616 2,486,107 727,226
Citizens' 1,866,915 2,247,526 94,495 1,601,657 8,626.577 549,624
Mech. A Traders'.. 808.906 834,334 10,094 639,938 900,061 74,120
Union 583,700 547,028 43,452 269,934 763.249 825,818
Southern 176,210 205.960 45.509 142,620 300.819 606.680
B'k of N. Orleans . 600.960 688,967 80,554 801,698 919,769 166.806
Total $5,812,829 10,446,059 $881,418 $6,619,789 14,149,289 8,086,849
Increase.
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ei2
J<mmal (tf Baniing^ Currmey^ and Finance.
I1I1ICB8 OF THE CITT OF VEW TORI.
The AoDoal Report of A. 0. Flaoo, Esq^ the Oootroller of the citj, was published
in September. It embraces the financial operations of the city goTemment for twelrt
months, commencing on the 1st of July, 1854, and extending to the 1st of Jnlj, 1855,
thus coToing six months of the former jear and six months of the Utter — that is, 1865.
The following table shows the expenditures for six months of the year 1854, from
July 1st to December Slst, and six months of the year 1855, from Janoary let to
July Slst The last column shows the total suns e:q>ended onder the Tariooa heads
for the twelve months preceding July let, 1855 :—
SXFUfDnURXS OF OITT GOVXaMMBNT FEOV JDLT 1, 1854, TO JULT 1, 1856.
Bxpeaditnres
from Julj 1, 'M,
Heads of acootmts. to Ju. 1, 1855.
Alms-house $222,000 00
Aqueduct repairs 86,982 06
Battery enlargement 8,476 00
Board of Health
City Inspector's Department 72y824 19
Ooroners'fees 6,897 48
Cleaning docks and slips 294 00
County contingencies 45,059 90
Contingent expenses, C. C. 24,724 82
Cleaning streets 118,666 08
Donations 90 00
Elections 15,176 40
Errors and delinquencies 454 49
Fire Department ; . 81,270 22
Fire Department, paid from contin- ) ^ akk ao
gencieVinl864. \ ^m ^^
Interest <»n revenue bonds 78,581 19
Interest on assessment bonds
Intestate estates. 211 14
Lamps and gas 174,780 85
Lands and places 8,498 29
Markets 8,560 29
Mayoralty fees 150 00
Police ...*. 418,109 86
Police fire telegraph
Boads and Eighth avenue 8,789 60
Printing 80,715 84
Repairs and supplies. ..........••.) ^^ qaa a^
Publio buUdings contracted for .... f ^^'^^^ **
Bents 7,155 06
Beal estate 12,277 25
Roads and avenues 29,152 88
Beal estate expenses 1,855 12
Stationery 6,47162
Deghue, or Belgian pavement
Street expenses ) i ao kaa ^a
Bepairing streets by contract f io»,500 45
Bemoving sunken vessels. 940 00
Sewers, repairing and cleaning 6,806 78
Salaries 150,159 81
SUtistical tables 1,500 00
Officers* fees 7,044 57
Waterpipes 65,662 44
Docks and slips, new work 56,821 03
Docks and slips, repairs 20,688 90
Juvenile Asylum 4,888 20
BxpewUtiiras
Total
fhnn Jan. 1, 'SS.
U>JulyI,l8SS.
12iDoiklha.
$850,000 00
$572,00C 00
6,850 05
48.882 11
4,772 00
8,248 00
8,126 00
8,126 00
60,414 18
188,288 82
12,761 66
18,659 09
7,807 52
8,101 52
58,129 87
98,189 77
24,011 76
48.736 58
149,977 86
268.543 89
49,110 00
49.200 00
988 71
16,110 11
2,579 76
8,084 25
> 51,474 26
1
86,800 10
165,175 08
288,706 27
7,045 86
7,045 86
689 45
900 59
197,546 88
872,826 68
14,790 46
28,288 75
8,800 00
7,860 00
150 00
417,008 18
880,117 99
4,185 54
4,185 54
1,529 11
5,268 71
70,458 71
101,169 55
160,085 58
209,302 37
5,062 86
12,217 91
18,725 00
26,002 SI
84,097 11
63,249 99
12,765 21
14,110 33
11,786 22
18,257 84
40,988 07
40,985 Of
58,527 82
163,027 80
1,146 00
2.086 00
5,821 94
11.628 6T
165,115 79
815,275 10
1,500 00
8.000 00
81,682 74
88,727 31
75,846 42
141,508 81
29.852 90
86.673 93
15.802 62
86,436 52
21.898 55
26,780 75
$1,818,291 86 $2,888,765 68 $4,157,051 31
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Jowmal of jBankinff, Currency^ and I^inance. 61S
RBFfilUS A9D SXPEIDITURB8 OF THE BRAZIUAH EMPUUS.
FUBNIBHtD FOft PUBUOATION IN THB MBRGHAllTS' MAOAZINX BT OHBYAUKE DB AGUIAA.
Id the tables below we have a statement of the estimated expenditmre of the Em-
pire of Brazil for 1856-67, and the reventie for each of the years from 1886 to 1854,
indasive, and also the coinage of the mint at Rio Janeiro in 1868-54 : —
The estimated expenditure of the empire for 1856-67 is as follows: —
Department of Empira contos 5,809
Department of Justice 8,00$
Department of NaTj. 4,687
Department of War 8,69 1
Department of Foreign affiure 588
Department of Finance 11,661
Total 88,780
Estimated receipts 84,000
Balance. 2«0
In the expenses of the Treasury no less than 7,806 eontos is applied tor the interest
aod sinking fund of the oational debt, which is at present —
Foreign contos 51,741
Internal 67,744
Kot conyeried 451
Treasury notes 1,566
Total 111,602
Paper money 46,684
Grandtotal 158,186
The foreign debt owned in London is £5,824,200. The expenses for 1866-67 are,
for interest^ £291,786 ; administration, £188,852 ; making in all a total of £480,187.
EXYKIfUB or BEAZIL FOE A 8XRIZ8 OF TEARS.
Yean. Imports. Exports. iDterlor. MIseellan's. TotsL
1886-87 contos 7,926 2,611 2,462 1,880 14,881
1887-88 7,109 2,777 2,495 868 18,25«
1888-89 9,989 8,469 2,756 988 17,148
1889-40 10,999 8,672 8,091 1,034 18,790
1840-41 12,095 8,667 1,979 1,081 18,674
1841-42 11,992 3,898 2,878 1,089 18,808
1842-48 11,186 8,442 2,684 988 18,108
1848-44 12,528 8,854 8,245 966 20,680
1844-45 14,818 4.050 4,876 1,081 24.275
1845-46 ... 16,887 4,644 4.260 951 26,698
1846-47 16,511 4,464 4,672 1,126 26,764
1847-48 14,219 4,661 4,248 994 24,124
1848-49 15,465 4,408 4,297 1,048 26,204
1849-50 17,429 4,878 8,884 1,290 26,977
1860-51 20,606 5,242 4,462 1,320 81,582
1851-62 24,840 5,096 4,466 1,888 86,786
1852-68 24,768 5,181 4,692 1,748 86,880
1858-54 28,621 ♦4,082 6,180 1,664 84,848
Total 178,120 42,026 40,114 11,524 266,811
1886 to 1845 98,596 80,845 26,868 9,666 164,460
Increase 74,524 11,180 14,751 1,859 102,858
* Onaeeoimtof tlieredactkmor2 per cent oo export dallesi and toaasfedotlesredtieed toons-
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614
Journal of Banking^ Currency ^ and Finance,
OODTAGB OF GOLD AMD SILYEft AT THX KIO JAKSIBO MDIT, 1858-64.
Pieces. CohUmu
Gold 801,112 4,668
Silver 780.041 6»7
Total 1,081,158 6,160
TOTAL OOIKAGB OF THB MINT FROM 1849 TO DXOKMBBB, 1864.
Gold. surer. ConUM.
28,879 8,686 27,666
COnfAOfi OF THE WORLD FROM 1848 TO 1854.
The coinage of the principal countries, embracing Qreat Britain, France, the United
States, Rnssia, Austria, Prussia, Holland and Belgium, for the last seven years —that
10, from 1848 to 1864, inclusive, is given in the subjoined tables : —
1848.
1849.
1860.
1861.
1862.
1858
1854.
OEBAT BRITAIN.
Gokl.
je2,46 1.999
2,177,965
1,491.836
4,400,411
8,742,270
11,952,891
4,162,183
Sliver.
£86,442
119,692
129.096
87,868
189,696
701,644
140,480
Copper.
£2,688
1,792
448
8,584
4,312
10,190
61,588
Total.
£2,490,129
2,299,8^9
1,621.880
4,491,868
8,936,178
12,664,126
4,854,201
1848-64.
85,869,045 1,408,618 84,652 86,857,216
FRANOE.
Gold. Sliver.
1848 fr. 80,861,820 fr.97,666,880
1849 i . 27,109.660 206,548,664
1850 86,172,890 86,468,485
1851 285,237,280 68,469,000
1852 27,028,270 71,711,660
1858 880,468.468 20,089,778
1864 527,000,000 2,000,000
Copper.
1,974,989
TbtaL
fr. 128,447,160
288,658,224
171,680.876
858,706,289
98,789,880
852,528,180
529,000.000
1848-64»
1,812,872,788 552,842,826
UNITBD STAT18.
1,974,989 1,867,690^8
1848.
1849.,
1850.
1851..
1852..
1858..
1854..
GoM.
$8,775,5121
9.007,761i
81,981,788^
62,614,442^
56,846,187i
55,218.907
52,094,595
Silver.
12,040,050
2,1 14,690
1,866,100
774,897
1,809,555
9,077,671
8,619,270
Copper.
$64,167 99
41,984 82
44,467 50
99,685 48
50,680 94
67,059 78
42,688 85
Total.
95,869,720 40
11,164,695 89
83,842.801 00
63.488,624 98
58,206,873 44
64,358,587 78
60,756,508 85
1848-54 271,584,181i 25,801,898 410,579 81 297,746,65« 81
RUSSIA.
Gold. silver. Total,
1848 Rubls. 15,814.984 Rubk. 8,650,100 Ruble. 19,465.984
1849 16,844,984 8,810,100 20,655,084
1850 20,854,856 2,725,102 24,079,458
1851 17.854,866 4.000,002 21,854,858
1862 20,854,464 4,000,112 24,854,676
1858 20,965,006 8,600,100 24,665,106
1854 20,966,996 8,900.106 24,866,102
1848-54..
188,164,146
26,688,622
159,88«,7e8
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Journal of Banking, Ourreney, and Finance.
\
616
TOTAL OOINAGB OF GOLD AKD STLTKR IW GRKAT BBITAIV, TEAVOK, TBI UNITSl) flTAT18»
AND ftUB8IA, FOE TBB LAST SKYSX TXAB8 — 1848 TO 1^4, BOTH INOLUBITB:—
GokL euver. TotaL
1848 $88,286,710 128.428,570 $56,714,280
1849 87,500,000 44,642,860 82,142.860
1850 - 71,600,000 21,642,860 98,142,860
1851 152,642,860 17,214,290 169,867,150
1852 120,857,150 18,857,160 189,214,800
1868 191,875,720 19,142.860 210,928,580
1164 184.214,290 12,214,290 196,428,580
1848-64 791,286,730 157,142,880 948,428,610
aogbbgatb ooikagb or gold and biltbb in bach of THB ABOVE-NAMKD OOUNTRZBB
FROM 1848 TO 1864:—
Gold. surer. Total.
QreRt BritRio • $167,286,780 $6,642,860 $173,928,690
France 248,857,14u 104,428,690 352,785,780
United SUtea 274,214,290 26,071,480 800,285,720
RuseiR 101,428,570 20,000,000 121,428,670
1848
1849.
1860.
1861.
1852.
1853.
791,285,780 157,142,880 948,428,610
THB FOLLOWING ARE THB RBTaRNS FEOX OTHBR OOUNTRIXS :—
AUSTRIA.*
Gold. Silver. Total.
Fl 4,780,208 Fl. 16,089,012 FL 20,819,214
4,784,627 18,084.922 «2,869.646
6,425,868 8,868,785 18,789,648
7.689,976 4,678,878. 12,218,849
11,17 1,150 4,989,960 16,161,110
9,844,668 16,576,.S46 26421,009
1848-58.
48,646,477
68,727,878
112,274,875
Gold.
1 848 Th. 4,588.778
1849 691.272
1860 9,784
1851 11,038
1862 268,808
1863 414,968
1854 171.121
Silrer.
Th. 4,01 3,279
1,614,020
1,112,117
1,698,992
640,096
627,888
4,077,710
Copper. TotaL
Th. Th. 8,602,052
2,106,292
1,121.901
1,710,025
910,405
1,096,689
4,276,507
41,501
52,848
27,676
1848-54.
6,046,749
18,684,092 122,102
Gold.
1848 Fr. 8,087,425
1849 4,121,465
1860 2,487,146
1861.
1862
1868
BBLGIDM.
Silver.
Fr. 18,479,952
89,658,252
27,016,870
18,639,610
28,088,508
12,526,000
Copper. .
Fr. 145.588
194,922
165,607
167,191
111,766
44,559
19,851,871
ToUI.
Fr. 22,162,960
43,974,629
, 29,669,122
18,706.801
28,196.274
12,570,669
1848-58.
14,646,026 184,808,692
829,628 150,279,846
Tear.
1848.
1849.
1850.
HOLLAND.f
Coinage. Year.
FL 87,605,882
11,085.540
18,972,761
Coinage.
185 1 FL 1 1,260,662
1862. 11,879,865
1868 1,361,116
ToUI 1848-58
86.665,875
* The returns of 1854 not yet pobltthed.
t SUver and Cvppw CM'niiJrc.— Ttie coinage of gold having been abandoned in 1847, (no eotuige
bj the government ainoe 1853.)
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016
Jcumal of Banking^ OurreMy^ and Mnance.
Since 1850, Belgiam has abandoned the system of coining gold.
Bedociog the coinage c^ the last-named coontries to dollars, and allowing
£120,000,000 to Aostria, and fr. 15,000,000 to Belgium, for 1854, we find that the
total coinage of Great Britain, France, the United States, Russia, Austria, Prussia,
Holland, and Belgium, for the last seven years, amounted to the grand total of
$1,097,584,880.
It has been ascertained that in Birmingham, England, not less than one thousand
ounces of fine gold are used weekly, equivalent to some $900,000 annually ; and thai
the consumption of gold leaf in eight manufacturing towns is equal to five hundred
and eighty-four ounces weekly. For gilding metals by electrotype and the water-
gilding processes, not less than ten thousand ounces of gold are required annually. A
recent English writer states the consumption of gold and silver at Paris at over
18,000,000 of francs. At the present time the consumption of fine gold and silver in
Europe and the United States is estimated at $50,000,000 annually.
CUSTOMS REYfiirUE OF THE PRINCIPAL PORTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
The customs revenue of the General Government, at the principal ports, for the
first quarter of the new fiscal year, beginning 1st of July, is thus reported : —
July, 1855. July, 1854. August, 1855. August, 'H.
New York $2,760,000 $8,797,000 $4,804,000 $8,628,000
Boston 768,000 722,000 731,000 944.000
Philadelphia 864,000 815,000 445,000 781.000
Baltimore 79,000 56,000 121,000 148,000
Charleston 20,000 81,000 88,000 29.000
New Orleans 57,000 186.000 69,000 96.000
St Louis 28,000 60,000 87,000 107,000
Total $4,061,000 $5,116,000 $5,740,000 $8,578,000
Sept, 1855. Sept. 1854. ToH 3 mos. *55. Total 1854.
Kew York $8,593,000 $8,447,000 $10,667,000 $18,767,000
Boston 666,000 686,000 2,146,000 2.802.000
Philadelphia 277,000 828,000 1.086,000 1,374.000
Baltimore 64,000 127,000 264,000 325,000
Oharle»too 60,000 89,000 1 1 3,000 99.000
New Orleans 125,000 818,000 251.000 555,000
St Louis 15,000 98,000 80,000 260.000
Total $4,859,000 $4,987,000 $14,597,000 $18,682,000
The above table shows at a glance the comparative importance of the foreign Gob
merce of the principal ports in the 0nited States.
CONSTTrUTIONAL UABIUTT OF BANK STOCKHOLDERS.
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, passed
March 15, 1855, the following act (Chapter 69.)
AM ACT TO AMEND TBI ACT BNTITLaD ** AN AOT TO ENFOaOB THE BGSPONSIBIUTT OF THE
gXOCKHOLDSRS ^N OBETAIN BANKING INCOBPOEATIONS AND AS800IATION8. AS PBESCRISED
BT TBE OONSrr^UTION, AND TO PEOVIDE FOB THE PBOMPT PAYMENT OF DEMANDS AGAlNEr
SUCH OOBPOEATIONS AND ASS00UTI0N8," PASSED APEIL 5tH, 1849.
Section 1. The eleventh section of the act entitled ** An act to enforce the respoosi-
bility of Btoddiolders in certain banking incorporations, as prescribed by the constitu-
tion, and to provide for the prompt payment of demands against such oorporatiooe and
associations,^ passed April 5th, 1849, shall be modified and amended so as to read aa
follows:
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Commercial ReguUUMm. 617
Sfery reoeiFer appointed according to thk act, after giviog seoarity, shall take into
his poflsession all the property, effects, books, papers, accounts, and demands, against
such corporation or association : including the securities, if any, which may have boen
deposited with the superintendent belonging to such corporation or association, except-
ing therefrom so much of the same as ma? be necessary to enable the superintendent
of the banking department to pay and redeem the outstanding circulation of such cor-
poration or association. He shall immediately give notice, by publication in such
newspapers as the superintendent or any justice of the supreme court may direct, re-
quiring the creditors of such corporation or association to exhibit and establish their
demands before him within thirty days from the time of his appointment. Such re-
ceiver shall possess all the powers of receivers of corporations under the third article
of title four of chapter eight and part third of the revised statutes, in respect to the
■ettlement of all demands exhibited to them, and in all other respects, except as herein
otherwise provided : and all such powers now conferred by law on trustees of insol-
vent debtors as may be applicable, and shall be subject to all the duties and obliga-
tions by law imposed on receivers of corporations as herein modified.
SxoT. 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.
TAB MEXICAN TARIFF OF 1855.
The Department of State fumbhes a translation of the new Mexican tariff^ whidi
18 particularly favorable to the productions of the United States : —
Miguel Maria De Axcarate, retired colonel and governor of the federal district, to
all its inhabitants, to wit : That from the Department of the Treasury has been ad-
dressed to me the following decree : —
His excellency the President ad interim of the republic has been pleased to address
to me the decree that follows : The President ad interim of the United States of Mex-
ico to the inhabitants of the republic : know ye that, in order to reverence the decided
will of the nation, adoptiug all those reforms for which it has pronounced ; consider-
ing that among them one of those which admit of no delay is that (»f establishing uni-
form regulations according to which Commerce should be subjected to the payment of
duties, protecting its interests without neglecting at the same time the general ioter-
ests of society or those of the treasury, I have determined that whilst we are proceed-
ing with the general reform which the tariff requires, the following regulations which,
besides removing prohibitions, equally provide for the reduction of duties, shall be
observed in the maritime aod froutier cudtom-houses, with the understanding that, as
regards the permission of importing provbions, the government may determine, even
before the new tariff shall be issued, to discontinue Uie privilege, should it be thought
convenient to do so : —
1. Linen and cotton textiles, plain, white, and unbleached, of one vara* in width,
per vara, 3 centa
2. Linen and cotton textiles, bleached and unbleached, serge-like and striped, of one
Tara in width, per vara, A\ cents.
5. Linen and cotton textiles, white, colored, and dyed, satin like, damascened,
plushy, velvety, embroidered, worked, and fluted, of one vara in width, per vara, 6
cents.
4. On cotton textiles colored, known by (he name of calicoes or chintzes, of one vara
in width, per vara, 4^ cents.
6 Cotton handkerchiefs, colored, of one vara, each 4 cents.
6. White handkerchiefs, with white or colored border, one vara in width, each 6
cents.
[All these textiles and stuffs, although they have a mixture of linen, hemp, flax,
yegetable filaments or their tows, shall pay the same duty as if compoeed of cotton in
their corresponding class.]
7. Spools of cotton of about 800 yards, (American,) per dosen, 6^ oenta.
* The vara equalt 33f Inches.
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618 Oommetdal ReguUUiom*
8. Od cotton yarn, eolered, pixmdcd H baa the qtialitMa specified ki the iTth tee-
tion of the 9th article of the tariff of October 4, 1846, per 100 Ibe^ $60.
9. Raw cottoD, per 100 lbs., $1.
10. Salt, on the frontiers of Ohibaahiia, introdoced through the cnsftom-hoiiBee of SI
Paeo and Presidio del Norte, per load of 14 arobfts,f 50 eents.
11. Sogar of everj aaality, per 100 Ibe^ $2 50.
12. Flour, per barrel of 8 arobas, (208 lbs.,) |5.
18. Batter, 100 lbs., |5.
14. The importer is reeponsiUe for the whole amoont of duties, as also fat the one
and two per cent created by the laws of March 81, 1888, and October 25, 1842,
which correspond with the ten per cent on the amount, and for the municipal dntka
whidi are now exacted.
16 All tbe above duties, as well as the intemational duties, which shall be col-
lected as heretofore, shall be paid in cash at the ports, allowing sufficient time to ef-
fect settlements, which shall not exceed thirty working days.
16. Thirty days deposit in warehouse is allowed to commence On the paynoent of
6i cents per day for storage.
17. Tbe export duty on coined silver is reduced to four per cent, the duty on that
of circulation remainin^t two per cent, which shall be collected at the places whence
issued, by the bureaus of the republic which may be there established.
18. The above-mentioned general Uriff of October 4, 1846, modified on the 24th
November, 1849, with all its regulations and expositions, shall remain in full force, so
far as shall not be inconsistent with tbe present decree, and shall be considered as
in force from the day of its publication in each port
FREE SHIPS MAKE FREE GOODS.
A TREATY BETWKKN THE UNrTED STATES AND TBE KIMODOIf OF THE TWO SIClUEa.
We publish below all the articles of the treaty between the United States of Amer-
ica and His Majesty the king of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. This treaty was
concluded and signed by the respective plenipotentiaries of the two governments in
the city of Naples on the 13th day of January, 1866, and was made public in the Uni-
ted States, by the proclamation of the President, on the 16th day of July, 1855. The
foUewtng are the articles word for word : —
Article 1. Tbe two high contractingparties recognize as permanent and immutable
the following principles, to wit: — 1st That free fchips make free goods; that is to say,
that the effects or goods belonging to subjects or citizens of a power or State at war
are free from capture or confiscation when found on board of neutral vessel^ with tbe
exception of articles contraband of war. 2d. That tbe property of neutrals on board
an enemy's vessel is not subject to confiscation unless the same be contraband of war.
Tbey engage to apply these principles to the Commerce and navigation of all such
powers and States as shall consent to adopt them on their part as permanent and im-
mutable.
Art. 2. The two high contracting parties reserve to themselves to come to an ulte-
rior understanding, as circumstances may require, with regard to the applicatioo and
extension to be given, if there be any cause for it, to the principles laid down in the
first article ; but tbey declare from this time that they will take the stipulations con-
tained in said article first as a rule, whenever it shall become a question, to judge of
the rights of neutralitj.
Art. 8. It is agreed by the hiffh contracting parties that all natioas wbidi shall or
may consent to accede to the rules of the first article of this convention, by a formal
•declaration, stipulating to observe them, shall enjoy the rights resulting from sudi ac-
cession as they shall be enjoyed and observed by the two powers signing this conven-
tion. They shall mutually communicate to each other the results of the steps wbi^
may be taken on the sulject
Art. 4. Tbe present convention shall be approved and ratified by the Presideot of
the United States of America, by and with ^e advice and consent of the Senate of
said States, and by His Majesty tbe king of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies ; and the
ratifications of the same shall be exchanged at Washington within the period of twdre
montlw, counting from this day, or sooner if possiUe.
t 4 arobas e<iaal 101| pounds.
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Oommenkd BegulaHoM. 619
THI nW SAIYAOE LAW OF LOUmAIA.
The loIlowiDg aet repealiog all laws oontraiy to its prorisioDs, and all laws on tiie
satne subject matter, except what are eootained in the Oiiil Code and Code of Prae-
tioe, was approved March 15, 1805, and is now in force:--
AN ACT KKLATING TO SALYAOB.
Sbctiov \. BtU enaeted hy the Senate and ffouae of Bepresentativei of the State of
Zouinana in General Aa$ernbly convened^ That any person who sbaU recover, save,
and place upon the bank or land any bale of cotton found floating in any of the waters
of this State, and not in the possession or under the actual control of the owner or
carrier thereof, shall be entitled to demand and receive from the owner, his agent, con-
signee, or insurer, the sum of two dollars and fifty cents for each bale of cotton so re-
covered and saved from the water as aforesaid, and also the additional sum of fifty
cents for each bate so saved as aforesaid, which mKj have been shipped to the city of
New Orleans, as hereinafter provided, previous to its being demanded by the owner,
his agent, consignee, or insurer.
Sta 2. Be it further enacted.UhKi the master of the boat or vessel fi'om which sudi
floating cotton may have been lost or thrown overboard, the shipper, consignee, and
insurers of such cotton, or any of them, shall be entitled to demand and receive the
possession of the same, after first paying the salvage fees as provided for in the pre-
ceding section.
Sea 8. Be it further enacted^ That if the owner, consignee, or insurer should not de-
mand such cotton from the salvor within ten days after it shall have been recovered
from the water, then it shall be the duty of the salvor, within the further term of ten
days, to ship the same to the city of New Orleans ; and the merchant there receiving
the same shall cause it to be advertised for five days in a newspaper published in that
city as cotton found, describing each bale by its original marks or brands, and if after
the expiration of the said five days the owner, his agent, consignee, or insurer, shall
not claim said cotton, it shall then be the duty of the merchant to sell the same, and
deposit the proceeds, after deducting the salvage fees, freight, and charges, in the
hands of the Treasurer of the Oharity Hospital in the city of New Orleans, together
with an account of said sale and charges; and the salvor failing to ship such cotton,
as directed herein, shall forfeit all right to demand and receive compensation for sal-
vage.
Sbo. 4. Be it further enacted^ That any person who shall fail or refuse to surrender
or deliver to the owner, his agent, consignee, or insurer, any bale or bales of cotton
which may have been recovered or saved in the manner hereinbefore mentioned, after
the salvai^e fees shall have been paid or tendered to him, and any person who shall
secrete, convert to his own use, or sell otherwise than is allowed by this act, any bale
or bales of cotton so saved by him from the water, or which may nave been placed in
his charge by the salvor, shall be deemed to be guilty of a felony, and upon convie-
tion thereof, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars, and shall be
confined at bard labor in the penitentiary for a term not exceeding one year.
ACCOUHTS AHD RETURNS OF MERCHANDISE.
It is decided by the United States Treasury Department that merchandise imported
in transit and for exportation to adjacent British provinces, must appear in the ware-
bouse accounts at the port of importation as goods warehoused and exported, and
goods withdrawn from warehouse, in pursuance of the required regulations, must also
be credited as exported in the same manner. A daily record of these entries is to be
so kept that statements of the merchandise thus imported and exported can be ren-
dered monthly to this Department by collectors of the ports of importation, according
to the prescribed forma
Similar returns are required, in the same form, of goods transported and exported
to adjacent territory in Mexica
The collectors at the frontier ports through which the goods pass on their way to
the above-named provinces, are also required to make monthly returns of the goods
inspected at soch ports^ in a form nmilar to that reqmred in the case of goods entered
for re* warehousing.
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630 Cinnmercial Beffulaiioni.
APPUOATIOV TO B9VB WARBHOUSBS, BTC.
Whenever it is desired to have aoy baildiog ooostituted a private bonded ware-
house of the second and third classes, the owner or occupant most make applicatkA
in writing^ to the collector or other chief revenue officer of the pcM-t, describing the pre-
mises, the location, and capacity of the same, and setting forth the purpose for which
such building is proposed to be used, whether for the storage of merchandise imported
or consigned to himself exclusively, or ibr the general storage of merchandise in bond.
This application, to entitle it to consideration, must be accompanied by a certificate,
signed by the proper officers of two or more insurance companies, that the building
offered is a first-class fire-proof store, according to the classification of insurance offices
at that port.
It is the duty of the collector, upon receiving this application and certificate, to di-
rect the superintendent of warehouses or other officer discharging the duties of such
superintendent) to examine and inspect the premised, and to report in writing the par-
ticulars in relation to the location, construction, and dimensions of the store, the means
provided for securing custody of the merchandise which may be deposited in the
same, and all other facts having a bearing on the subject On the receipt of this re-
port, the collector is required to transmit the same to the Treasury Department, to-
gether with the application of the party, the insurance certificates, and a statement of
his own views and opinion.
If the reports are satisfihctory, and it appears that the public interest will be sub-
served thereby, the application is granted. The owner or occupant is then required
to enter into a bond in the prescribed form, in such penalty and with such security as
the collector may deem proper. A certified copy of this bond is to be forwarded to
the Department, with a statement as to the sufficiency of the penalty and the re-
sponsibility of the obligors, for its approval, which having been signified to the ec^
lector, the building may be considered a duly constituted bonded warehouse. Appli-
cations for the bonding of yards and sheds as warehouses of the fourth dass, are
required to be made in a similar manner and under like regulations.
ACT OF LOUISIANA RELATIVE TO PERSOiVAL PROPERTT PLEDGED.
The Legislature of Louisiana passed at its last session, which was approved March
16, 1855, an act the provisions of which we give below. This act repeals all laws of
that State on the same subject matter, except what is contained in the Civil Code and
Code of Practice : —
AN ACT RELATIVB TO PLXOOE8.
SxonoK 1. That when a debtor wishes to pawn promissory notes, bills of exchange
stocks, obligations or claims upon other persons, he shall deliver to the creditors the
notes, bills of exchange, certificates of stock, or other evidences of the claims or righti
80 pawned, and such power so made without further formalities, shall be valii^ as
well against third parties as against the pledgers thereof, if made in good faith.
Sko. 2. That all pledgee of movable property may be made by private writing,
accompanied by actual delivery ; and the delivery of property on deposit in a ware-
house shall pass by the private assignment of the warehouse receipt, so as to autbor>
ise the owner to pledge such property ; and such pledge, so made without further fw-
malities, shall be valid, as well against third persons, as against the pledgers thereof
if made in good faith.
Ssa 8. That if a credit not negotiable be given in pledge, notice of the same must
be given to the debtor.
8x0. 4. That in all pledges of movable property, it shall be lawful for the pledger
to authorize the sale or other disposition of tne property pledged, in such manner as
may be agreed upon by the parties, without the intervention of courts of justke.
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Oammereial RegtUaUons. 621
U6ULATI0VS FOR THE IHSPECTIOir OF FLOUft fV ffSW ORLEAffS.
The ■ubjobed act of the Legislature of Louisiana, passed at the session of 1856,
and approved March 15, 1855, repeals all laws contrary to its provisions, and all
laws on the same subject matter : —
AV ACT aiLATlTB TO THE IVSPIOTIOir OP FLOUR IN THB OITT OP NEW 0BLBAN8.
Sbotion 1. That the Goyemor e^hall nominate, and by and with the advice and
ooDsent of the Senate, shall appoint five Inspectors of Flour in the city of New
Orleans.
Sbo. 2. That they shall be entitled to charge five cents on each barrel of flour in-
spected by them, in full coajpensation of their services.
Saa 8. That each barrel of flour shall contain one hundred and ninety-six pounds
of flour, English weight, and if intended for the first qualitv, shall be branded •* super-
fine ;" and on each barrel intended for the second quality shall be branded '* fine ;" and
00 each barrel intended for the third quality shall be branded ** middlings f but where
any flour shall be found to corre^pood with the manufacturer's brand, as superfine or
fine, the inspectors shall brand ** City of New Orleans," which shall entitle it to be
sold as beanng the quality thereon described. If the quality of the flour branded by
the manufacture as superfine, shall appear by inspection to be fine only, or when
marked as fine, shall appear to be superfine, such inspector, in addition to the words
City of New Orleans, shall add fine or superfine, as the ca^e may be. No inspector
thflJl purchase any flour other than for his private use, under the penalty of four hun-
dred dollars.
Sea 4. That for the inspection of flour the inspector shall be provided with a half-
inch barrel augur, with which each barrel of flour shall be bored into, so as to satisfy
themselves of the quality of the flour ; and if any flour shall be found, on examination,
to contain a mixture of Indian meal, or any other mixture, the person offering the
same shall forfeit and pay the sum of four dollars for every barrel so mixed, and the
flour shall be liable for the payment thereof.
Sxo. 5. That if any person shall alter or erase any brand or mark of the inspector,
every person so offending t^hall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty dollars for every such
offense, one half to the u^e of the perbon prosecuting for the same.
PURCHASE OF BELLIGERENT SHIPS BY NEUTRALS.
In the prize case of the Johanna Emilia, lately before the British High Court of
Admiralty, the vessel in dispute, captured by a British cruiser in the Baltic, was al-
leged by the ceptors to be Russian property, and by the claimants to have been sold
before captured to a Hamburger. In considering the question, the court (Dr. Lushing-
ton) says : —
" With regard to the Ifgality of the sale, assuming it to be bonajide, it is not denied
that it is competent to neutrals to purchase the property of enemies in another coun-
try, whether eonshtirtp of ships or anything else. They have a perfect right to do so,
and no belligerent right can override it. The present inquiry, therefore, is limited to
whether there has been a bona fide transfer or not."
It is to be hoped that the French government, which applauds itself on having in
the present war brought Great Britaiu up to its own liberal point of admitting that
free ships make free goods, will now respond by abandoning its own obsolete fallacy
of denying to neutrals the right of purchasing belligerent ships, when Oreat Britain
herself refuses to respect the ordinance of Louis XVI., and emphatically declares
that neutrals have a perfect right to do so, which no belligerent can override.
HOW BONDS FOR DUTIES MIST BE SIGNED.
Bovna poe Duties. Under the twenty-fifth section of the act of March 1, 1828, a
merchant belonging to a firm entering into any bond for duties in the name of the
firm, thereby binds his partner or partners in trade. But partners of a firm signing
tnch bond must each sign individually.
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622 Journal of Imutfumse,
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE,
LEGAL opnrioir ov iiumis msuRiffCE uw,
To Messss. Hall, White, amd Evans, Committee^ dte, : —
GKJtTLKMFN ! — I luive ezamiDed the acoompaoying copy of the '* Act to regnlmU tiie
agencies of iDsuraoce companies not incorporated by the State of niiooiB," and reply
to the various queetiuns proposed by you as follows :—
** 1. When does the law go iuto force T*
The last clause of the 28d section of the 8d artide of our State oonstttatioQ is in
the following words : ** And no public act of the General Assembly shall take effect
or be in force imtil the expiration of sixty days from the end of the session at which
the same may be passed, unless, in case of emergency, the General Assembly shall
otherwise direct** The act in question is a ** public act ** within the meaning of the
clause of the constitution above quoted, and therefore does not become a law until
sixty days after the adjournment of the late Legislature. I am intbrraed that the
Legislature adjourned on the 16th day of February lapt, and if so, of course the act id
question does not take effect or become of force until the 1 6th of the present month —
next Monday. It is therefore not yet a law, and cannot authorise the perfonnanee of
any act, and no act can be done under it or in pursuance of it, that can possibly have
any force or virtue whatever.
2. ** Has the Auditor a right to give a certificate to do business until the law is b
forcer
Until the act becomes of force and takes effect it confers no authority. In oootem-
platioo of law, the act does not yet exist as a law, and until it becomes a law it has
no power. Of course, if it has no power in itself, it confers none. The Auditor can
receive no authority from the act until the act becomes a law in force and effect, and
as he has no authority, of course he cannot grant a certificate. He is not yet author-
ised to receive and file a statement even, for as yet there is no law authorising him to
do so.
8. '* When can he give a certificate t"
Not until the law takes effect, and not then unless the statement required by the
law to be filed by the person applying for a certificate has been legally filed in con-
formity with the provisions of the law. The law provides explicitly, both as to the
manner and substance of the statement to be filed, and the time when the same mut
be so filed.
4. ** What year in March is the first statement to be made to the Auditor T
This question touches the real trouble and difficulty in the law. The daote of the
act appertaining to the time when statements may be filed reads as follows : ** The
statement and evidences of investment required by this act shall be renewed annually
in the month of January in each year, the first statement to be made m the month of
March next,** ^c It is obvious that the framer of the act either forgot the coostitih
tional provision governing the time when the act would take effsct and become a Uw,
or else forgot to add the stereotyped clause, providing ** that the act should take e^
feet and be in force from and after its passage." Had this usual clause been attached,
it would have remedied all difficulty as to the particular month of March intended by
the act But it was not added, and now it remains to mquire what effect courts will
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J<mmal cf iMurance. 688
giTe to tte pfanite ''the first statement to-be made in the month of March next*'
Upon reflection, it seems to me there can be Tery little doubt in the case. When
does the law first begin to speak — when does it first utter its command t It may be
said to have had its conception on the 17th of February, when the Governor ap-
proved of it, perhaps, but it has no birth until the period of sixty days from and after
the adjournment of the Legislature. It is not alive — it has no voice — it cannot speak
until the 16th of April On that day it first has life, and then it can speak, and its
comnumds are instinct with all the embodied power of absolute government On that
day it opens its mouth, and when it says ** next March," it cannot and does not refer
to a past March, but its words must be taken to mean precisely what they say, and
that is next March. I have therefore no doubt that March, 1866, must be the month
indicated by the law, and that it will be so held if ever adjudicated upon.
But there are still grave questions wrapped up in this peculiar clause of the law.
One is, can these statements be filed legally at any other time than in the month bf
March, 1866, either before or after, or must they be filed during that month and at no
other time, and if they cannot ia the effect of the law to prohibit the transaction of
business by agents of incorporated foreign insurance companies until next March, and
also after next March if during that month statements are not filed and certificatee
granted by the Auditor t The phraseology of the act is peculiar. The clause under
examination is phrased as if it was a merely incidental and almost accidental matter,
and yet it mvolves one of the most important and substantive provisions of the whole
act
It involves a stringent limitatioa Qiving the words their full farce and effect,
and true signification, they exclude the possibility of making the required statement
to the Auditor, and of course of obtaining from him the necessary certificate until the
month of March, 1866. Nor can any statement be filed or certificate obtained after
that month shall have transpired. The law expressly provides for rentwaU of state-
ments in January of each year, but absolutely limits the filing of original or first
ttatementt to the month of March next I It is so adroitly worded to avoid notice or
mvite examination, and is so well calculated to deceive by conveying in a careless
and apparently almost accidental manner, a provision of such importance and of such
fitf-reacbing effect, that it cannot but excite suspicion that it was intentional Still
the words are there, and courts must give them their effect, and as they have but one
meaning, but one conclusion can follow. Until March next, it would seem to be a
penal offense, punishable by fine, imprisonment, and very low diet, to act as the agent
of a foreign incorporated msurance company. After March next the same rule holds
aa to all agents who shall not have duriog that month filed their statements and ob-
tained the Auditor^s certificate.
ft.** Doee the law when in force include marine and life insurance companies, or any
companies but those incorporated t**
The words of the law are broad enough to mclude, and I doubt not will be held to
include the agencies of foreign incorporated marine and life insurance companies as
well as those issuing against fire. There are no words of limitation confining the ap*
plication to any particular class of incorporated insurance companies, but the phrase-
ology embraces all foreign incorporated insurance companies that time policies.
The aet is a penal one, and must therefore be construed strictly. By its terms it
only applies to the agencies of incorporated companies. Agents of companies or as-
sociations not technicHally incorporated are not amenable to its provisions.
MARK SKINNES.
April 10, 1866.
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624 Nautical Intelligence.
ACT OF HEW TORK REUTITB TO DIVIBBNDS OF IlTSURAirCB C0BIPAIIB8.
The following Act was paraed by " the People of the State of New York, repre-
sented in Senate and Assembly, March 19, 1856, and is now in force." (Chapter 75.)
AN ACT aCLATIVB TO UNCLAIMKD DIVIDENDS Ot INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Section 1. Every insurance company or association for fire, marine, or life riakaP
conducted on the mutual principle or otherwise, now or hereafter incorporated or or-
ganized, or doing business under any general or special law of this State, on or before
the first day of September next, and annually thereafter, shall cause to be published
for six successive weeks in one public newspaper printed in the county in whidi sodi
company or association may be located, and m the State paper, a true and accurate
statement, verified by the oath of the treasurer or presiding officer, of all dividends
and interest declared and payable upon any of the stock, bonds, or other evidence of
indebtedness of said company or association, which, at the date of such stateroeot
shall have remained unclaimed by any person or persons authorized to receive the
aame, for two years then next preceding : and the word ** dividend " shall include all
scrip issued or declared due for unpaid earnings or profits.
Sect. 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
OF PILOTS APPOINTED BT THE PILOT COMMISSIONERS IJf NEW TORE.
MOnOB TO MBRCHANTB AND SBmrASTEES.
The Pilot Oommissioners— (G. H. Marshall, Robert Taylor, K E. Morgan, appobted
by the Chamber of Commerce, and Qeorge W. Blunt, Russel Sturges, and F. Perktoak
appointed by the Board of Underwriters,) — being frequently applied to in regard to
off-shore pilotage, detention, 4&C., beg leave to refer to the law of the State of New
York, passed June 28, 1868, and as amended April 11, 1854, copies of whidi can be
had at the office, 69 South-street. They especially refer to part of section 13 and
sections 17 and 29, as below. The Commissioners also beg to state that they do not
consider themselves as having anything to do with the agreements made at sea be-
tween pilots and masters : —
SscTioN 13. When any ship or vessel, bound to the port of New York, and boarded
by any pilot appointed by this Board, at such distance to the southward or eastward
of Sandy HociK Light-house, as that said lighthouse could not be seen from the deck
of such ship or vesstl in the day time, and in fair weather, the addition of one-foarth
to the rate of pilotage hereinbefore mentioced shall be allowed to such pilot.
Sec. 17. For every day of detention at the wharf or in the harbor beyond the time
notified to the pilot for him to attend the vessel, or beyond the usual time of getting
vessels from sea to the wharf, and from the wharf to sea, and lor every day of d«h
tent ion of an inward bound vessel by ice longer than two days for the passage from
sea to the wharf, three dollars shall be added to the pilotage ; and if any pilot shall
be detained at quarantine by the health officer, for having been on board a sickly
vessel as pilot, the master, owner, agent, or consignee of sudi vessel, shall pay to sutt
S'lot all necefsary expenses of living, and three dollars per day for each and every
ly of such detention.
Seo. 29. Any person not holding a license as pilot under this act, or under the lawi
of the State of New Jersey, who shall pilot, or offer to pilot, any ship or vcsfel to or
from the port of New York by the way of Sandy Hook, shall be deemed guilty of %
misdemeanor, and on conviction f>hall be punished by fine not exceeding one hundred
dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding sixty days ; and all persons employing a per-
son to act as pilot, not holding a license under this act, or under the laws of the State
of New Jersey, shall forfeit and pay to the Board of Commissiooers Pilots, tbs son
of one hundred dollars.
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PRIHGE'S CflAffHEL— EITRAffCB TO THB THAMES.
TmiiiiTT House, Londoic, August 0th, 1855.
Notice 10 hereby given that, puraaaot to the ioteDtioDs expressed ia an adv^ertise-
ment from this bouse, dated 80th May, 1855, the following changes have taken place
in the Prince's Channel, via. • —
The Toogne Light Vessel has been moved about three-fourths of a mile to the
north- west ward, into teix fathoms, with the following marks and bearings : —
Minster East Mill, on with the center of the Coast Guard Station in
WestgateBay S. by W. i W.
Margate Old Church, the apparent width of its Tower, opened to the
eastward of the Pier Light-house South.
Shingles Beacon N. W.J-N.
North-east Spit 8. E. i S.
Mariners are cautioned always to pass to the northward of this light vessel
The North-east Tongue Buoy has been moved about half a mile to the westward
into 4^ fathoms, with —
8L Peter's Church in line with Margate New Church S. by E. ^ E.
Monckton Beacon, twice its apparent length, on the east end of Lower
Hale Grove. S. by "W. J W.
North Tongue Buoy W.byN.JW,
Shingles Beacon N. K by N.
The North Tongue Buoy has been moved about a quarter of a mile to the west-
ward into 6 fathoms, with —
The we3t end of Cleve Wood, just open to the westward of Birchington
West Mill South.
Sarr Mill, twice its apparent length, open to the eastward of Margate
Hook Beacon. S. by W.f W
North east Pan Sand Buoy W. by N. i N'
GirdlerSpit N.by W.f W*^
The Girdler Light Vessel has been moved about an eighth of a mile to the south-
ward into Z^ fathoms, with —
Ash Church spire, midway between George's Farm and Reculvers. . . .8. ^ E.
West end of Cleve Wood, open to the eastward of St. Nicholas Eastern
Coast Guard Station S. by E. f E.
Redding street Beacon, its apparent length, open to the eastward of
Northdown Tower S. E. i^ S.
Shiveriug Sand Buoy N. N. W.
West Pan Sand Buoy S. by E. ^ K
The following new buojs have also been placed in this vicinity, viz. : —
A chequered black and white buoy, marked ** East Toogue," has been placed in 4
fiUhoms, with the following marks and bearings, viz. : —
The first house, next east of St. Nicholas Church, in line with St. Nich-
olas Western Coast Guard Station S. W. ^ S.
Minster West Mill, in line with the west 3nd of the east cliff of West-
gate Bay f S. by W. f W.
West Tongue Buoy W. by N. i N.
Wedge Buoy W. by S. } a
A red buoy, marked " West Girdler," in 2^ fathoms, with —
Ash Church spire, just open to westward of Reculvers Villao^e ^' A
West end of Cleve Wood, open to the westward of Margate Ilook D-
con, the apparent length of the beacon S. by E. f E.
Sbiverint^ Sand Buoy N. N. W. f W.
Girdler Beacon and South Girdler Buoy in lino £. S. E.
The f<H'egoing bearings are all magnetic, and the depths those of low water spring
tides.
NORTH FAN SAND BOOT.
It is intended that on or about the Ist October next, the black and white chequerad
buoy at this station shall be taken away and replaced by a buoy pamted black.
By order, j. H£RB£BT, Secretary*
VOL. XXXIII. — ^NO. V. 40
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Postal DtpartfMnt
COAST OF SPAII.
STRAIT OF OIBBALTAft — ALTERATION OT TARIFA LM3BT.
The Spanish government has given notice that on and after the 1st of next Sep*
tember, the present Revolving Light on the south point of Tarifa Island will b«
changed to a Fixed Light of the natural color.
The position of the light remains unaltered, in 86^ 0' 0" N., and long, b^ 86' 87"
west of Greenwich.
The new illuminating apparatus is catadioptric and of the first order, and the light,
being 182 feet above the sea, is visible at the distance of 20 miles.
JOHN WASHINGTON, Bydrognpber.
HTDKooaAPHic Orrica, AomaALTT, Lomdon, filst August, 1855.
This notice affects the following Admiralty Charts and Directions : South Ooast of
Spain from Gibraltar to Alicante, Ko. 1,186 ; Gibraltar Strait, plan, Na 142; also the
General Charts Atlantic and Mediterranean, with the plan in Tofino's Directions, and
No. 2 in the Lighthouse List.
POSTAL DEPAB^TMENT.
STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES POST-OFnCE.
In the Merchants Magazine for September, 1854, (volume zzxL, pages 806-820.)
we published a statistical, historical, and descriptive account of the ** General Pott-
Office of the United States " prepared by D. T. Lrrcb, Esq., of the Department, with
additional statistics which we compiled from official sources.
We have received from Pltmt Miles, Esq, some proof sheets of a work nowio
press, entitled '* Postal Reform: its uigent necessity and practicability,'' which will
fehortly be published by Stringer <& Townsend. We are permitted by the author to
extract the most interesting statistics. Mr. Miles has given much time and attention
to postal matters. He wa^^ attached to the Post Office Department in 1863 and 1864,
and went to Europe last year for the purpose of obtaining information on the postal
affiiirs of the various contmental States. The statistics given below are more full and
complete than any before published : —
Expense of
ualiis.
$22,081
28,298
82,781
44,784
53,006
75,869
81,489
89,882
107,014
109,475
128.644
162,450
174 671
206,110
206,{»55
289,686
269,088
292,751
805,499
882,917
327,966
819,166
840,626
Post-
Miles o
offices.
post roa
1790....
75
1,875
1791....
89
1,905
1792....
196
5,642
1798....
209
5,642
1794....
450
11.984
1795....
458
18,207
1796...,
468
18,207
1797....
554
16,160
1798....
689
16,180
1799
677
16,180
1800....
903
20,817
1801....
1,025
22,309
1802....
1,114
25,816
1803....
1,258
25,816
1804....
1,405
29,656
1806....
1.558
81,076
1806....
1,710
88,481
1807....
1,848
83,755
1808....
1,944
34.085
18(9....
2,012
84,035
1810....
2,800
86,406
1811....
2,403
86,406
1812....
2,610
89,878
Total
No. of
expenses.
Berenae.
$82,140
187,985
265.M6
86,697
46,294
824,058
54,581
67,444
472.108
72,040
104,747
788,229
89.978
128,947
902,629
117,898
160,620
1,124,840
181,572
195,067
1,866,469
150.114
. 218,998
1.497,986
179.084
282,977
1.680,889
188,088
264,846
1.858.921
213,994
280,804
1,965,628
255,151
820,448
2,248,101
281,916
827.046
2,289.815
822,864
851,828
2,462,761
887,502
889.450
2.726,150
877.867
421,878
2.949,661
417,234
446,106
^,122,742
458,886
478,768
8.351,841
462,828
460,564
8,228,948
498,012
606.684
8,546.488
495.969
551,684
8.861.788
499.099
587.247
4,110,729
540.165
649,208
4^4,466
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Postal Departmmi,
627
Offices.
1818...
2,740
1814...
2,870
1816...
8,000
1816...
8,260
1817...
8,469
1818...
8,618
1819...
4,000
1820...
4.600
1821...
4,660
1822...
4,799
1823...
f,043
1824...
6,182
1826...
6,677
1826...
6,160
1827...
7.008
1828...
7,661
1829...
8,050
1880...
8,450
1881...
8,686
1882...
9,206
1838...
. 10,127
1834...
. 10,698
1886...
. 10,770
1886...
. 11,091
1887...
. 11,767
1888...
. 12,619
1889...
. 12,780
1840. . .
. 18,468
1841...
. 18,778
1842...
. 18,733
1848...
. 18,814
1844...
. 14,108
1846...
. 14,188
1846...
. 14,601
1847...
. 16.146
1848...
. 16,169
1849...
. 16,747
1860...
. 18,417
1861...
. 19,796
1862...
. 20,901
186^...
. 22,820
1864...
. 28,648
MUetor
poctroad.
89.640
41.786
48,966
48,976
61,600
69.473
67.686
72,492
78,708
82,768
84,860
84,860
94,052
94,062
105.886
114,686
114,780
116,176
116,000
104,467
119,916
112,600
112,774
118,264
141,242
134,818
183,999
165,789
155.026
149.782
142,295
144,687
143,940
149,679
158,818
163,208
167,708
178,672
196,290
214,284
217,748
219,986
Expenaeof
trmhis.
$488,669
076,602
487,779
621,970
689,189
664,611
717,881
782,426
816,681
788,618
767.464
768,939
786.646
886,100
942,845
1,086,812
1,163,646
1,274,009
1,262,226
1,482.607
1,894.688
1,922.481
1,719.007
1,688.062
2,081.786
8,131,808
8,801,922
3,218,048
8,034.814
4,192,196
2.982,512
2,912,947
2.898,680
2,697,466
2,476,466
2,448,766
2.490,028
3,096,974
4,016,688
4,186,907
4,729,026
4,926,786
Total
ex pen tea.
$681,012
727,126
748,121
804.022
916,616
1,086.882
1,117,861
1,160,926
1,182,928
1,167,672
1,169,886
1,169,199
1.206,684
1,809,816
1,878,289
1,628.888
1,782,188
1,982,708
1,986,128
2,266.172
2.930,416
2,896,691
2,767,850
2,756,624
8,803,428
4,621,887
4,664.718
4,718,286
4,499.628
6.674.762
4,874,754
4,296.618
4.820,782
4.084,882
8,971,276
4,826,860
4,479.049
6,212.968
6,024.666
7,108,459
7,982,767
8,677,424
Reresiie.
$708,165
780,870
1,048,065
961,782
1,002,978
1,180,285
1,204,787
1,111,927
1,066,668
1,117,490
1,114,846
1,156,812
1,262,061
1,888,417
1.478,661
1,598,184
1,707,418
1,860,688
1,997,812
2.268,670
2.616,688
2,828,707
2,998.657
8,898.465
4,100,605
4,286,078
4,477,614
4,548,522
4,407,726
5,029,607
4,296,226
4,287,288
4.489,842
4.089,090
4.018,447
4,161,078
4,706,176
6,662,971
6.727,867
6,828,982
6,940,724
6,688,587
Naof
letten.
4.922,086
6.112,690
7.801,465
6,782,474
8,028.784
9.041,880
9,687,896
8,896.416
8,468,264
8,989.920
8.914,760
9,254,496
10,016,488
11,110,886
11,788,408
12,786,073
18,669,344
18,804,664
17,980,808
20,827,180
28,648.842
26,448,868
26,942,018
80.686.096
86,906,446
88,115,702
40,298,526
40,891,698
89,669,684
45,265,668
88,666,026
88,186.598
89,958,978
41,879,781
47.686,767
62,864.819
60,159.869
69,426.469
88.252.785
96.790.624
102,189.149
119,684,418
86,468,416 186,090,814 188,881,650 1,898,980,814
It appean* by the preceding table that the expense of transportation from 1790 to
1854, inclusi?e, amounted to $86,458,415 ; the totolexpen8ee,$ 186,090,8 14; the total
revenue, $133,381,650 ; the whole number of letters transported, 1,893,980,814.
PROGRESS OF THE IRISH POST-OFnCE.
The following table will ehow the reader at a glance what atf immenee increase haa
taken place in the number of letters carried by the poet-ofSce : —
OOMFAEATITE BTATUIKNT Or LETTERS DKLIVBBED UT IBKLAMD FOB TBS WEEKS KMDING,
September 20,1840..
19. 1841 .
•♦ 25,1842.
21,1848.
21,1844.
*« 21,1846.
«* 21,lt^46.
" 21,1847.
860.818
889.696
420.078
443.601
499.800
674.950
614,297
667,754
September 21,1848.
21,1849.
** 21,1860..
« 21,1851..
21.1862..
21. 1858..
21,1864..
642,077
678,588
671.088
678.619
725.288
788,888
777,988
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STATIsncS OF THE BRTTISB POST-OFFICE.
EEVEHUS, IXPKNBS8, MUMBBE Or LnTBBS, kVn KUlCBVft AKD AXOUflT OT XOIIKT OEOBBi,
FEOK 1839 TO 1854, imolusivk : —
Orosa
Namb«ror
Mamberof
Amomtor
reoelpu.
ExpeiMes.
toUera.
mon'r owl'n
. moD*j ord*i.
1889
$11,968,818 |8,784,99'7 18,168,821
82,470,696
188,921
$1,566,628
1840. ...
6,797,882
4,298,885
2,503,947
168,768,844
587.797
4,804.878
1841
7,497.098
4,690,846
2,806.248
196,500,191
1,652,845
15.687,588
1842
7,890,729
4,887.622
8,003,207
208,484.451
2,111,980
21.685.889
1848
8,104,838
4,908,262
3,201,086
220,450.806
2.501,628
26.664.204
1844
8,626,839
4,925.668
8,699,786
242,091,684
2.806.808
28.476.977
1845
9,487,883
6,627,971
8,809,912
271.410,789
3,176,126
82.066.805
1846
9,819.287
6.698,726
4,125,661
299.586.762
8,515,079
86,856.284
1847
10.906,084
6,982,600
4,922,484
822.146.248
4.031.185
89,515.886
1848. ...
10,718.400
7.016,263
8,702.147
328,880.184
4,203,651
40.766.476
1849
10,826,749
6,622,814
4,203,936
837,399,199
4.248,891
40,768.219
1860
11,828,421
7,803,928
4,019.498
847,069,071
4,489,713
42,472,498
1861
12,110.841
6,620,818
6.690,028
860.647,187
4,661,025
44,402.104
1852
12,171,684
6 719,586
6,452,098
879,501.499
4.947,825
47,191.889
1868
12,872.039
7.008,899
6.868.640
410.817.489
6,216.290
49,580,976
1864
18,624,313
7,582,781
6,976.682
448,649,801
6,466,244
62,812,069
164,478.800 98.609.380 70,963,9204.619,778.296 63,654,898 622,151,799
POST-OFnCE MAN AGEMEST.
A Oanadian oorrespoDdeot, restding at Port Hope, has called oar atteoUoa to the
following remarks of the Scientific American on ** Post-Office Management." Ooio-
oiding in the main with the writer, we cheerfully transfer his statements to the pages
of the Merchant^ Magazine : —
** AlthoQffh we are far in advance of all other n^tionfi in a free goTemment by the
people, and in the general economy of its adminiatratioo. still we mast coofeas that ia
tome things we are behind some other countries. In post-office management, for ex-
ample— respecting which we should stand, like Saul, above all other governments^
we are, on the contrary, behind Britain and even despotic Prussia. In England and
Prussia, the safest and mobt convenient way of transmitting money is through tht
post-office. In the last-named country, so safe and convenient is the postal system,
that it is customary for persons going to distant dties, to deposit the money they in-
tend to use at the end of their journey, in the poet office, before they start, and get an
order for the same, the government becoming reepon^tible for it This is also the case
in England, and has been found to operate well In Berlin, Prussia, a plan is in ope-
ration, which we should like to see introduced into all our cities. It consists in having
light post office wagons, with letter deposit boxes, pass through the streets at regular
intervals every day. to carry letters to the general poatKiffice. The people have bat
to drop their letters at their own doors into the wagon, and away they go safe to dif*
ferent parte of the wurld. With our etamp system this would be easuy carriad out
in our large cities, and would be a mo^t convenient arrangement.
" By a recent law the Province of Canada has started out in advance of us in post-
office improvements. All Canadian newspapers are allowed to pass free in the Prov-
ince, and no charge is made upon those from England. The expenses to carry out this
iystem must be paid from the general fund, but such an appropriation is a wisa one.
It facilitates the circulation ol useful information, and tlius it tends to educate the
people. To this pybtoio the aphorism of Lord Brougham — ** the schoolmaster is
abroad " — may well be applied. The spirit of democracy is to adopt every system
which will benefit the people, let it originate where it may. We therefore bopa that
our people will ^ive these remarks a careful consideration prior to the meeting of
Ooogress, in order that our post-office system may be reformed to meet the wants of
the ago and the people. We must yet engraft the *' moOey order,** ocean penny post-
age, free newspapers ami periodicals, and the cheap carriage of light package^ apoa
cor postal system. Until we do this, we will be behind Britain ami PruMia, aod thif
wa should not be in any thiag."
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SiaHsties qf Pcpulation^ etc.
6$>
STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c.
DEATH'S DOHQS WITH THE POPUUTIOIV OF MASSACHUSETTS.
The foUowiDg table it derived from the Secretary 6f State's Twelfth Report to th«
Legislature of MaMachueetts, relating to the BegUteriog and Returns of Births, Mar-
riages, and Deaths in that CommoDwealth. It has been carefully prepared, in order
to exhibit in a clear and comprehensive view all the deaths that have occurred during
the year 1858, together with those that have been reported the previous eleven yean
and eight months, as they are found in this and the previous Registration Reports:—
WHOLE MO. OF DCATH8. FEK CENT OF DEATHS.
Eleven Elevea
years and years and
eight months 8 months
endinfc ^ ending
Oaose of Death. One year, Dec. 31, Oneyeart Dec. Sly
1853. 1858. 1853. 1852.
AHcanses 20,801 148,024
Specified causes 19,561 188,451 100.00 100.00
Zymotic DiscMes 5,446 40,681 27.84 29.87
Sporadic di$ea»e$ of-^
Uncertain seat 2,409 16,862 12.82 12.17
Nervous organs 2,008 18,427 10.27 9.69
Respirative organs 5.788 38,718 29.56 27.94
Circulative organs 475 2,888 2.48 2.08
Digestive organs. 1,191 8,981 6.09 6.66
Urinative organs 88 608 .46 .44
Generative organs. 222 1,676 1.18 1.14
Locomotive organs 118 762 .68 .66
IntegameDtive organs. 18 1^2 .07 .09
OWage 997 8.481 6.10 6.12
Violent causes. 816 6,866 4.17 8.86
By this it will be noticed that the class of diseases designated as zymotics, and iha
diseases connected with the respiratory organs, have been most fatal during the year
nnder consideration, 67.40 per cent of all the deaths whose causes have been reported
having been caused by them. Thb has been the case, also, in the twelve years and
eight months in which registration has been carried on in Massachusetts.
MARRIAGES Iff THB STATE OF KENTUCKY.
Some curious information in relation to marriages in Kentucky during 1864 is givea
in a late number of the Louisville Courier. The total number, as reported by the
oounty clerks, was 2,000— about one marriage to every ninety- eight inhabitants. The
largest number was in December. Of 6,261 marriages, 4,184 were the first to both
parties; 148 widows married bachelors; 698 widowers married maids; and 204
widowers married widows. In one instance the same parties had been previously
married, then divorced, and remarried.
The youngest person married was a female of 18; quite a number at 14, and
over 160 were under 16 years. Of 4,184 first marriages of both parties, 2,094
males — or more than fifty per cent — were under 20 years ; and 89 per cent married
under 26 years. Of all marriages, 48 per cent were under 20, and 79 per cent were
under 25 years ; and 81, or 6 per cent, married over 50 years. On the other hand, of
the 4,184 grooms, 1,607, or 86 per cent, were under 25 ; and of all marriages, 29 per
cent were under that age; and 174, or 3 per cent, married over 60 years; 27 males
and 6 females married for the first time over 60 years of age ; 18 men men and 1
female married over 70.
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680 StaHsties of Population^ etc.
Jf ATITE ABTD FOREIGIV POPUUTIOH OF THE UNITED STATES.
A eorrespondent has famished the following table showing the white native popu-
lation and foreign in several of the States/ with the proportion of criminals to each
NaUre.
Connecticut.. 888,000
Illinois. *'787,000
Kentucky 740,000
Maine 66 1.000
Massachusetts 880,000
Michigan 841,000
Missouri 620,000
New Hampshire 804,000
New York 2,440,000
Ohio. 1,760,000
Pennsylvania 2,01 6,000
Rhode Island. 124,000
Vermont ... 281,000
Virginia 926,000
Wisconsin 197,000
Native white population, 1860, say. 17,810,000
Foreign white population, 1860, say 2,240^00
Native paupers, 1860 66,000 — I in 269
Foreign paupers, 1860 68.000 — 1 in 81
Criminals. One in
CrinilDalB.OBeia
646
611
28,000
800
98
127
6,811
110.000
199
680
126
6,800
80,000
84
882
284
2,940
81,000
460
67
3,866
246
160,000
8,884
41
278
1,250
66,(i00
386
146
242
2,160
78,000
666
109
66
4,606
16,000
24
626
4,000
610
660,000
6.320
108
690
2,660
230,000
166
1,488
664
8,666
800,000
298
1,084
809
400
27,000
287
94
84
8,206
84,000
46
766
98
9,460
22.000
9
2»440
106
1,876
107,000
162
660
POPULATION OF BOSTON AT DIFFEREBTT PERIODS.
The following is the result of the census of Boston for 1866, compared with 1850;
Tear. Populfttion. Males. Fomalea. Years. PopuUtioo. Males. Females
I860 188,788 66,602 72,716 | 1856 162,629 78.182 84,479
FOEBIQNCaS, INGLUDINQ THKfa OHILDEBN UNDSE TWfiNTT-OMK TBAKS OP AGS.
1856. 1850. 1955. 1850.
Irish 69,289 62,923 I Colored 2,220 2,086
Germans 4.686 2,666
Other countries .. . 12,611 7,877 | Total 88,566 66,551
From the above statement it is evident that the increase of population has been
mainly on the part of the foreign population, and the children of foreigners.
POPULATION OK BOSTON AT OlFFEEBNT PEEIODS.
Populatton. Increase. Per cent. Population. Inereaite. Per cent
1820 43,298 11840 86,000 6,897 8.18
1826 68,277 14,979 34.69 | 1846 114,366 29,866 84.64
1880 61,392 8,116 5.34 1860 188,788 24,422 21. S5
1886 78,603 17,211 28.08 | 1866 162,629 23,841 17.10
Probably one-half of the biuiness men of Boston live in the adjoining towns. Tbeae,
with their families, comprise a population of at least 60,000, making a total of 212,629
aa the population of the commercial metropolis of New England. [
PROGRESS OF POPUUTION IN THE LOIIDOIV DISTRICTS.
The astonishing increase of some of the districts immediately around Uie city of
London is evidenced by the following statement made by Sir Benjamin Hall, upon
introducing his bill for improved sanitary arrangements in the metropolis : —
Districts. Pop. 1801. Pop. 1851. Districts. Pop. 1801. Pop. 1851.
KensmgtOQ 20,465 120,004 I Lambeth 27,985 139,3^8
Pancras 81,779 166,956 | Newingtoo 14,847 64,816
Islington 10,212 96,329 I Poplar 8,278 "
Stepney 84,909 1 10,776 |
Being an inoreate nearly fivefold in fifty yean.
47.162
148,475 724,367
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Statistics of Agriculture^ etc, 681
POPULATIOM OF JERSEY CITY Ilf 1850 AID 1855.
It will be seen from the returns jast made by the AseessorB — James Goepill and Ira
Clark — that the popalatioa of Jersey City has nearly doubled in the last five years: —
l6t Sd 3d 4th
ward. word. ward. ward. Total.
Native white males 1,806 1,019 1,908 1,97*7 6,206
Foreign white males 574 892 1,646 1J70 4,181
Native white females 1,289 1,026 1,849 1.964 6.078
Poreign white females. 960 896 1 ,764 1,844 4,964
Colored males. 11 7 62 61 121
Colored females 18 10 69 84 176
Total 4,108 8,860 7,172 6,690 21,716
Entire population in June, 1860, 11,478 — ^increase in five years, 10,242.
STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE. &c.
CULTURE OF COTTO.V AND TOBACCO IN ALGERIA.
The following is an extract of a letter from a correspondent of the Department of
State at Washington, dated Tunis, Algeria, May 8. 1866 : —
" It is well, in all cases where large interests are invested, to be forewarned, even
although one may not thereby be enabled to become forearmed. It is in this view of
the case that I have deemed it my duty to lay very briefly before my countrymen of
the tobacco and cotton States a very few facts in reference to the culture of those two
articles by the French in Algeria. I inclose you an article from the Moniteur^ stating
the distribution for 1864 of the prizes, amounting to 20,000 francs, offered annually
by the emperor to the largest and most successful cultivators of cotton in that country.
I do not think it necessary to translate the whole article, but give a single paragraph :
•**The Minister announces that these measures have already produced most excel-
lent results. [The prizes were first offered in December, 1858.] Notwithstanding
the occasional unfavorable condition of the climate, or rather atmosphere, the business
of cotton planting has' been relatively very considerably developed, and colonists and
natives have rivaled each other .in their zeal and effjrti«, and the prizes have been con-
tended for in the most lively manner by numbers of disputants.'
*• The report afterwards details the character of the efforts of the various applicants,
and how the jury distributed the rewards.
" The grand sum of 20.000 francs was divided between three rivals whose merits
were thought equal — two French colonists and one Arab — with a gold medal to each ;
and to the meritorious of the second rank, a silver one to each was granted. It will
be seen from this article that the amount of land in course of culture is not great ;
bnt it must be remembered that it is but a very few years since the attempt to intro-
duce this culture was made, and the success thus far has exceeded the hopes enter-
tained at the commencement I am assured also by observing travelers, that the
bosiness is progressmg rapidly and successfully. The same is true also of the tobacco
enltnre. The quality of the cotton produced is said to be good, and it brings a &ir
price in the French markets.
** Egypt has always been a cotton-growing country, and if it were in more energetie
hands, no doubt the quantity produced there would be very great. The conelusioD
of the present war wiU perhaps see it fall into the possession of more enterprising
owners. Barbary, however, has never heretofore been a cotton grower. But, from
careful examination and reflection, I am satisfied that there are no difficulties in th«
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way of making it one to an eoormoat extent when the Frendi twaj, as wtU sood be
the case, shall have extended to the confioes or Egypt A better climate for the par-
pose perhaps coold not be readily found than that of Tunis, at least the coast portio*
of it. A large portion of Algeria is equally favorable — the frosts being very light
and rare, and irrigation or rain supplying moisture, even better than in Tunis. A
more fertile soil perhaps does not exist in the world. It is as fresh as though en-
tirely virgin, much of it having lain fallow for hundreds of years, and none of it ever
cropped. The dehrtB of the works of human handicraft have manured many, nay,
most of the plains and valleys, in a manner which cannot be estimated properly ex-
cept upon being seen. The ruins left during the progress of more than forty centuries
have nearly covered the soil of a land from which the devastations of the same pe-
riod have almost removed the population.
** But the plantation needs no breaking up or clearing, like our own new groondsL
It is a light, rich soil, very easy of tillage, and ready to the planter's hand. The
energy and enterprise of the French government, c>hould that continue in the hands of
the sagacious and provident though despotic ruler who now wields it, promise to
make of Algeria, at no distant day, a very garden. Recent travelers, not at all favor-
able to the French occupation, give me the most glowing accounts of the success of
the colonial planteca. The health of the country is not bad, as has been so often re-
presented. This impulse to the colonial production of Algeria does not date beyond the
commencement of the present reign, however, and the great uncertainty of the dar»*
tion thereof for any specified period, of course, carries an equal want of confidence in
this continued progress. Howtver, while Louis Napoleon contiuues to be emptor
every muscle will be strained in the effort to create not only a great source of na*
tional wealth, but a great rival to our own fair land, toward which he seems to is.
dulge such a little enmity of feeling.
** An excellent quality of tobacco is raised in abundance, and with little cnltnre, ki
Barbary. This has ever been the case, but the Moorish tyrants, who for so long m
time oppressed their countries with their exacting sway, have even made special e&
forts to prevent the increase of this, as of some other valuable productions, lest the
land become too inviting a prey for the European powers, whom they have seen always
ready to pounce upon them when occasion offered..
** The soil of North Africa is believed to be inexhaustible, even under a constant
course of tobacco cropping. I cannot learn tljat any deleterious effect has been pro-
duced upon that which has been the longest and most constantly subjected to this
wearing crop. The following little paragraph, translated from the French paper of
Algeria, will give a little notion of the progress of the explantation of tobacco in that
fertile colony : —
"'The Akhbar of Algiers of the 27th gives the following details of the cnltore of
tobacco m that colony: From the Ist of September, 1864, the day on which the deliv-
eries commenced at the tobacco warehouse at Hussein Dey, to the 20th ultimo, the
government has purchased, from the growers in tie province of Algiers, 2,460,804
bilog., for which the State has paid 2,288,004 francs. Such results render comment
unnecessary. Six vessels with full cargoes of thib article have already sailed for
Bavre, two others are loading, and it is Uiought that twenty-five vessels in all will be
required to convey the "whole quantity purchased, to France. "When to the above
quantity is added that purchased by the trade from the growers and the natives,
which is very considerable, an exact idea may be formed of the results of the seaeoo
of 1854.'
**The amount named in kilogrammes would make over five million pounds. Tbe
rench government retains in its own hands the monopoly of the manufacture and sale
of tobacco, from which it derives a large revenae."
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Statistics of Agriculture^ etc. 688
THE HISTORY OF BUTTER.
From the xarious Btatements in history, it may be safelj ooDcluded that the discov-
•ry of butter is attributable Deither to the Orceks nor Romany but that the former
were made acquainted with it by the ScythianB, Tbracians, and Phrygians, and the
latter by the people of Germany. It appears, says Beckmann, that when they had
learned the art of making it, they employed it only as an ointment in their baths, and
particularly as a medicine. It is never mentioned by Galen and others as food,
though they have spoken of it as applicable to other purposes. Ko notice is taken
of it by Apicius, nor is there anything said in that respect by the authors who treat
on agriculture, though they have given accurate information regarding milk, cheese,
and oil. This may be easily accounted for by the fact that the ancients were entirely
accustomed to the u«e of good oil. In like manner, bntter is very little employed at
the present day in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Southern parts of France, but is
•old in the apothecaries* shops for medicinal purposes. During the ages of paganism
butter appears to have been very scarce in Norway ; mention is made by historians
of a present of butter so large that a man could not carry it, and which was consid-
«red a very respectable gift.
The yield of butter, from a very good cow, ought to be 866 pounds in the year, or
one pound per day. This is not a large daily produce, since cows have been known
to give, for a limited time, as much as two pounds per day. Mr. Harold Littledale
of Liscard Farm, Cheshire, informs the editor that he had a cow which gave eighteen
pounds of butter per week for some time during the summer months. The quantity
of milk given per day was twenty-six quarts. If the butter be calculated from this
at four per cent, the daily yield would be found to be 2.678 pounds, giving a little
more than 18^ pounds per week, nearly what Mr. Littledale stated. Cows have
been known to give twenty-two or twenty-three pounds of butter per week, but these
•re extraordinary instasces.
EFFECTS OF FREE LABOR IN THE SOUTH.
The Richmond Di^atcli says the impracticability of extensively cultivating South-
ern Boil by free labor has been demonstrated by repeated experiments. Several of
them, narrated in a speech once delivered in Congress by Mr. Holmes, of South Caro-
lina, will bear repetition, and ought to be kept before the people. One of these oc-
curred in our own county, in South Carolina, in Florida. A dii>tinguished Methodist
clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Capers, tried an experiment under circumstances peculiarly
favorable to its success. Before giving freedom to his slaves, he endeavored to pre-
pare them for their new position by moral and religious instruction. He then liber-
ated them, gave them a plantation, and left it after harvest with the bams full, stock
of cattle and sheep, and a horse to plow. He then delivered the estate into their
hands, giving them any quaniity of good advice and admonition, and took his depar
ture for his distant home. After a lapse of several harvests, he returned to the scene
of his philanthropy, and instead of the pleasant spectacle which he had expecttd, he
found uncultivated fields, cattle eaten up, and empty bams. The horse remained, but
was used not for plowing and carting, but to aid in depredations on the neighboring
plantations.
Another case occurred in 1840 in Trinidad, which had flourished under slave labor,
but the estates, in consequence of British West India emancipation, had now been
deserted by the laborers. One of the planters came to this country and induced
many colored persons in Maryland and the District of Columbia to go to Trinidad
and cultivate the lands upon the most advantageous terms. This experiment also re-
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634 Statistics of Apiculture, etc,
suited in a complete failure ; the free negroes found the sun too hot, and either re*
sorted to the towns or returned to this country.
Another case related by Mr. Holmes is one of white labor. The distinguished
William "Wirt, having purchased land in Florida, and having some scruples against
the employment of slave labor, carried down to his Florida plantation a large number
of white men. They commenced work in autumn, and during the winter and spring
seasons worked with such diligence and fidelity that Mr. Wirt began to conceive his
brightest anticipations already realized. But summer came with its hot days and
moist nights, the sinews of the white laborers were relaxed, their strength began to
fail, and finding the burning heat altogether too much for them, they threw down
their agricultural implements, and in a body left the plantation. Mr. Wirt would
have lost his entire crop, but for the fortunate circumstance that a gang of negroes
were in the neighborhood for sale, whom Mr. Wirt purchased, and thus his crop was
saved.
Another experiment with white men was tried in Florida by a New York gentle-
man, who took a large number of German laborers to Florida, and began the cultiva-
tion of New Smyrna, which, says Mr. Holmes, was a tract of land upon whidi a
German colony once settled, but finding free labor could not cultivate Southern soil,
had abandoned it With true German fidelity and industry, the new laborers began
their task, and after placing the ground in beautiful order, planted the crops. But
they, too, were abruptly driven off by the hot weather, and there being no negroes for
sale in the neighborhood to supply their place, the New York gentleman lost his crop
and abandoned his estate .
TOBACCO : THE POPULAR PLANT IN THE WORLD.
There is no plant whose history shows so many vicissitudes as that of the tobacoo.
Imported from America soon after the discovery of that continent, it was received
into the old world with a species of enthusiasm. It was not long, however, before
some of the- evils and inconveniences involved in the use of it began to appear, and a
host of enemies were raised up against it Theologiats pronounced it an invention of
Satan, which destroyed the efficacy of fasting. Councils forbade it to all ecclesiastics
under their control. Popes Urban VII L and Innocent XL punished the use of it with
excommunication; Sultan Amurath IV. with the most cruel kind of death ; Shah Ab-
bas IL with penalties almost as severe ; Michael Feodorovitch Tourie^ offered a bas-
tinado for the first offense, cutting off the nose for the second, and the head for the
third offense ; Prussia and Denmark simply prohibited ; and James of England wrote
against it.
Finding, however, that no penalties, however severe, could check the indulgence io
a luxury so highly appreciated, sovereigns and their governments soon found it much
more advantageous to turn it into a source of revenue ; and the cultivation and manu-
facture of tobacco were gradually subjected almost everywhere to fiscal regulations
or monopolies. Tobacco was in such general use in America when first discovered,
and was there so widely spread, that it is difficult to come to any conclusion as to
what precise part of that vast continent is its native country — probably »ome portion
of the Mexican empire. As to the precise date of its introduction into Europe, it has
been already stated that it followed closely upon the discovery of America. The
Spaniards under Columbus had scarcely landed in Cuba, in 1492, when they began to
smoke cigars; but they could only fully appreciate its luxuries when, in 1618, Fer-
nando Cortez occupied the island of Tobago, where the plant was found growing m
great abundance. Hernandez, the naturalist, was, it is believed, the first who bro(^;hl
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Statistics of Agriculture^ etc, 685
it into Spain from Mezioo, in 1689. It was introdnced into Portugal from Florida by
one Flamingo, and into France by Father Andre Tberet, or by some friend of his, al-
thoagfa the more common opinion is that the first seeds received there were those sent
about the year 1560 to Qoeen Oatharine of Medicis by Jean Nieol, French ambassador
in Portngal. It was probably raised also in Eagland a few years later, but received no
notice till its well known introduction by Sir Francis Drake from Virginia, in 1686.
In Tnscany it was first cultivated under Oosmo de Medici, who died in 1574, having
been originally raised by Bishop Alfonso Tornabuoni from seeds received from his
nephew, Monsigoor Nicolo Tornabuoni.
Next to salt, tobacco is the most generally consumed of all productions. The anneal
consumption here is on an average 16.86 ounces, or considerably more than a pound
weight to every man, woman, and child throughout the United Kingdom. Moreover,
this consumption is greatly on the increase. Between the years 1821 and 1831 the
increase was at the rate of about one ounce per head ; during the next ten years it
was somewhat less than an ounce ; but from 1842tol851it was three ounces ; making
an increase of 44 per cent in proportion to the population within the last thirty years.
In Denmark, exclusive of the Duchies, the average consumption in 1851 was nearly
seventy ounces per head. But this is nothing to what is used in warm countries. If
the population of the earth be taken at 1,000,000,000, and the consumption reckoned
as equal to that of Denmark, or seventy ounces per head, the produce of the whole
world will amount to nearly 2,000,000 tons (1,968,126) a year. The value of the
quantity thus reckoned, at twopence a pound, amounts to above £36,000,000 sterling.
BR00M.C0RN : THE METHOD AND COST OP CULTIVATION.
The following is an extract from a letter to the Commissioner of Patents, dated at
West Glenville, Schenectady County, New York. It briefly describes the mode of
culture, cost, and commercial value of this product of agriculture : —
"Broom-corn for many years has been cultivated to a considerable extent with us,
especially on the *flat lands' lying along the Mohawk River, and is considered a pro-
fitable crop. The principal objections to growing it on * upland * are, that it makes no
fodder or manure, except the stalks, which are but of little importance, either as a
fertilizer or for feed, lliey are generally consumed in the field after the brusli is
taken oS,
** The usual method of cultivation is to plow the land in tlie spring, harrow it until
the soil is pulverized and mellow, and then roll it down smooth with a revolving plank
or log roller. The seed is sown with a drill as early in the spring as the condition of
the ground will admit, in rows, at the distance of three feet apart, and from six to
eight inches apart in the drills. As soon as the corn is above ground, a narrow space
of ground on each side of the row is scraped with the hoe, to prevent the weeds from
hindering its growth, the remaining space being left for the cultivator, which is fre-
quently run to keep down the weeds. The cultivation is finally finished by running
the plow twice to each row.
" The brush is cut while g^en, and as often as convenient As it grows from eight
to twelve feet high, the tops are first bent or lopped to one side and cut, with seven
or eight inches of the stalk left on. Each stalk composes a brush.''
The amount of money realized by Mr. Elibu Smith, of Sunderland, Franklin County,
Massachusetts, from a crop raised on one acre and nine roods, and which was exhibited
to the Board of Agriculture for that State, is stated as follows : — '
1,025 pounds of brush, at 10 cents 1102 50
67 Dushels of seed, at 40 cents. 26 80
Total receipt $129 80
Expenses for plowing, harrowing, planting, manuring, hoeing, harvesting,
scraping, and cleaning the seed, and interest on land 88 60
Net profit • $90 80
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$9$ StatUtics </ AgrieuUare, ete.
iA5D SALES 19 THE UHTBD STATIS 19 ]6S4-(S.
Tb« regular Wasbingtoo oorreepondeDt of the New York Ckmrier and Mmquirtr
has compiled with great care the subjoined statement of tlie quaotitj of laod sold and
price per acre, together with the eutire receipts in each State reported, as followa: —
LAND 8ALS8 IN THB FRKK STATC8 AND TERRITOanS FOR 1864-66.
Acres sold. Reeetpts. At. per mer^
Ohio 62,000 $27,000 48.0 ceDta-
Indiana 866.000 63,000 17.7ceota-
Michigan 928,000 622.000 67 . 0 cent*
Iowa. 8,276,000 4,064,000 124.0 centa-
IlUnois 1,081,000 944,000 87.0ceBt8'
Wisconsin 1,672,000 1,670,000 106.0 cenU
Minnesota. 412,000 618,000 125.0 centa-
Territories 6,700 7,000 126.0 carta-
Total 7,691,700 7,916,000 102.9ceiits.
LAND 8ALI8 IN THC 8LAVR STATES FOR 1864-66.
Acres sokL Receipts. At. per men^
Missouri 2,896,000 $1,247,000 48.0ceota.
Arkansas 498,000 187,000 87.6eeiits.
Florida 266 ,000 108,000 48.0 cents.
Alabama 2,278,000 683.0C0 28.0ceot8.
Mississippi 966,000 816,000 88.0ceotB.
Louisiana 881,000 181,000 46.0 certa.
Total 7,267,000 $2,684,000 86 .0 oeots.
There was sold for cash during the preceding fiscal year 7,036,786 acres of public
lands, showing an excess of lands sold for cash during the year just closed of 7,884,000
acres, that is to say, an increase of over 100 per cent But the aggregate quantity of
land alienated by the general government was undoubtedly somewhat less in 1854-66
than in the previous year. The total sales and grants of lands in 1863-64 amounted
to 23,388,818 acres, of which three and- a- half millions were located with miUtacy
warrants, about thirteen millions of acres were granted to States and corporatiom for
yarions purposes. Of military warrants under previous acts, there remained unlocated
at the beginning of this fiscal year a number sufficient to absorb 4,807,880 acres of
land. The presumption is that this whole quantity was taken up within the year
But as all the land spoliation bills, but that for the relief of the old soldiers, failed m
the last Congress, it is probable that the 19,000,000 acres sold and located, comprised
nearly the whole of what was alienated by the government witiiin the year.
BEET 806AR OF FRA9CB.
France is the largest producer of beet sugar in the world. A favorable soil and
climate, and a rural and industrious population, contribute to the suocessful prosecu-
tion of the beet sugar manufacture. This manufacture originated during the reign of
Napoleon Bonaparte. His continental system raised colonial produce to an almost
fSeibulous price. The high rate of sugars induced many to look around for the means
of producing sugar at home, and an impetus was given to the search by the offer of a
magnificent premium by the emperor to the successful discoverer of a permanent home
tource of supply. Of all the plants tried the beet proved the most promtsii^ but
forty years elapsed before the manufiicture of beet sugar was enabled to cope socoeas-
fully with colonial sugars. From France the culture spread through Belgium, Ger-
many, and far into the interior of Russia, and now there is produced of this kind of
sugar on the continent of Europe three hundred and sixty milUona of pounds, neariy
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one-balf of which is manufftctored id FrMiee, in three hundred and thirty- fonr manu-
iactoriee. In the yicinity of Lille the arenige yield of the sugar beet is tixteeo toi»
to the acre, and at ValencieoDet nineteen ton& In some localities twenty-five tooa
are produced.
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
STEAMBOAT DISASTERS ON THE WESTERN WATERS.
The third annual report of the United States Steamboat laspectorA of the Western
Waters has been printed. The report embraces the period from September 80, 1851,
to September 30, 1856. The following is a condense J summary of the most import-
ant particulars of this report : —
Steamboats to which certificates No.
of inspection have been iaeued 91
Tonnage of same 32,958
Beceived licenses to carry gun-
powder 27
Fasseogers carried on steamboats
to and from St Louis. ...... 1,045,269
Boats repaired on marine railway
and dry docks from casualties. 18
Boats ordered to be repaired on
account of '* wear and tear.". . . 57
Boats refused certificate of in-
f^pection on account of bulls. . 4
Do. on account of boilers con-
demned : 4
Boats bunk and lost 21
Boats sunk and raised 24
Boats lost by fire 8
Lives lost by boats sinking 8
Lives loet by boats burning. ... 18
LiTes lost by injurious et«ape of
steam. 7
Lives lost by spar breaking while
aground 5
Original licenses granted to first-
clase engineers 1
Original licenseti granted to sec-
ond-class engineers 84
The total number of passengers carried was 1,016,219. The lives lost for the two
years are thus ttated : — Laat year, by explosion, 84 ; by fire, 55 ; total, 89. This year,
by explosion, none; by fire, IS ; by sinking, 8 ; by other modes, 12 ; total, 28.
These comparisons will show that while this year there have been carried double as
many passengers to and from the port of St. Louis as there were last year, not one-
third the number of lives were lost — and none at all by tbat much dreaded catastro-
phe, the explosion of a bviiler. So extraordinary a fiict of improvement cannot fail to
make a deep impreb«ion on steamboat men and on the publia They will be apt to
•sk themselves if accidents can be so greatly decreased, why may they not be avoided
altogether f Let ua hope, for the glory of science, for the praise of steamboat men,
and for the sake of humanity, that tho ensuing year shall be wholly devoid of acci
denta among steamboats, resulting from causes that steamboat men should oootroL
Renewi^ls to first and second No.
claBS engineers 246
Licenses refused to engineers on
account of Intemperance .... 8
Licenses refused to engineers on
account of incompetency. ... 10
Licenses refused to engineers on
account of being under age. . 8
Licenses to engineers revoked. . 6
Licenses to engineers suspended 6
Original licenses granted to pi-
lots. 51
Renewals granted to pilots .... 285
Refused on account of incompe-
tency 6
Refut^ed on account of being un-
der a^e. 8
Refuted on account of iutemper-
ance 5
Revocations ^
Suspensions 9
Pilots fined for non-oomplianoe
with rules I
Boilers found defective under hy-
drostatic prepsure 8
Boilers repaired under initpec*
tioo 5S
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638 BaUfoad^ Canal, amd SUtmboat SMMct. .
CAHALS AND RAIUIOAM.
Fbzbm AV Hour, Esq., Editor of the Merehantff Magmne^ etc :—
Dear Sir: — These are not rivals ; they are auxiUariea. Up to this time, <
have yielded the largest profit to their owners. In Qreat Britain there has been a
fAU trial of these modem commercial channels. Her canals average an annual io-
come of over five per cent, while her railways yield bat 8 6. 10 per cent Railways
have the great advantage in monopolizing the travel and the freight in artidea of
small weight and great value. Railway managers have smik money by cairyiqg
freight below cost. This has been done chiefly to compete with water channria It
has also been, to a great extent, with a view to show increased gross earnings. Great
deceptions on stockholders have been practiced in this way.
I have compared the results of the freight bosiness of sixteen of the prindpal tail-
roads of New York and Massachnsetta—eight in each State, having an aggregate
length of S,814 miles, and built and equipped at a cost of 1188,000,000— with the
New York canals of 800 miles in length, and which, I suppose, have ooet about
$40,000,000.
The freight carried one mile by sixteen raibroads last year, was, in tons. 859,488,837
The freight by the canals carried one mile during the season of naviga-
tiou labt year, was 668,659,048
Excess by ihe 800 miles of canal over the 2,300 miles of the sixteen
raUroads 809,170,41$
The cost of carrying one ton per mile on the canals was eight mills, and on the rail-
roads, averaged nearly three cents. Some of these roads, according to their own show-
ing, carried ireight below cost ; and every man conversant with the management U
railroads in this country a few years past, knows that this has been done in sevefil
instances to the extent of sinking the whole capital of the roads.
The canals that have their lake termination in Toledo need only to be well managed
to become profitable to the owners, as well as a rich blessing to the country through
which they pass. In (.rivate hands, they would be so at once. Yours,
J. W. SOOTT.
COST OF FUEL TO RAILROADS.
Considerable has been said of late about the substitution of coal for wood as foel
for the engines upon our railroads, and it would seem with some prospect of its prac-
ticability. The following, from the Alexandria (Virginia) Sentirulf bears upon this
point: —
From a table made up by T. 0. Atkinson, Esq., and which we have been permitted
to inspect, we gather the following statement of the expense of fuel on the varioni
railroads named lor each mile run by a locomotive on said roads for the year 1864 >—
Cents.
Baltimore & Ohio 6|-
Baltimore & Washington II
Webtero (Mass.) S6
Bodtoo <& Maine 22
Boston <b Providence 29
Boston (& Lowell 28
Boston & Worcester. 36
Eastern (Masa) SO
Old Colony & Fall River. 26
Pittsburg 19
Orange <b Alexandria. 64^
On the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad the cost of fuel is about 9 per cent of the av-
erage cost of running a train of cars. On the Boston and Lowell Road it is about SO
per cent, and on the northern roads generally, where fuel is high, it varies from thai
down lu 18 per cent.
It is evicieut, in view of the vast amount of fuel required for the locomotives, and
the growiug scarcity of wood, that coal will be brought more and more into use, both
from ecouotuy and necessity.
We Warn that Uie low cost of fuel in the expenses of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road is due m great part to the large use of coal It will readily be understood thai.
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Bailroad^ Canal, and SUamboat Statistics. 689
OD railroads doing a very extensive business, and where of coarse the engines are
powerful and the trains large, the expenses per mile run are greater than on roads
where the trade and travel are light
TRAFnC OF THE THE ERIE AHD CEllTRiL RAILROADS II 1854 AUD 18(5.
The returns of the New York Central and the Erie Railroads for the financial year
of the Companies, which corresponds with the official railroad year of the State of
New York, are complete, and exhibit the following result : —
MEW TORK CENTRAL. XRIE.
BepU, 1855. Sept., 1854. BepU, 1855. Sept., 1854.
October $688,768 $658,298 $689,019 $689,676
November 668,898 466.276 486,798 461,266
December 461,487 446,964 464,971 881,203
January 421^988 886.862 427,829 887,238
February 886,126 816,818 840,762 867,629
March 620.000 429,088 607.090 466,787
April 647,169 601,905 606,697 621,987
May «.. 620,000 609,887 476,128 600,661
June 621,710 476,679 896,888 886,867
July 466,472 426,766 876,206 407,270
August 688,896 620,076 484,145 481,826
September 722,862 646,886 664,697 617.668
Miscellaneous Not reported. 296,990
Total $6,442,824 $6,918,884 $6,498,966 $6,860,967
MORRIS'S METHOD OF STEERIITG IRON SHIPS BT COMFASS.
The Boston Atlas says that Captain Griffith Morris, of the steamer R. E Forbes,
has discovered how to detect and measure the local attraction in any ship, and how
to overcome it with absolute correctness, so that the compass may be relied upon
under all circumstances. After ten years of patient experiment in an iron vessel, he
has become thoroughly conversant with the influences which affect the compass, and
during the past six years the steamer which he commands, and which is of iron, has
been run by compasses adjusted by him, and they have never varied, even the eighth
of a point, during the whole of that time. The captains of the steamers Joseph Whit-
ney* William Jenkins, and Palmetto — the two first of which trade to Baltimore, and
the last to Philadelphia— bear testimony to the value of Captain Morris's discovery,
for he has adjusted all their compasses. In the passages between these ports and
Boston, these vessels steer every point of the compass, and consequently any deviation
from the chart courses by their compasses will be readily detected. Before Captain
Morris adjusted their compasses, they were so much affected by local attraction as to
be almost worthless.
BROOKLYN CITY RAILROAD COMPANY.
A. P. Stanton, the efficient President of this company, in reply to a note from
Messrs. E. Whitehead, Son it Morrison, bankers and brokers, of New York, states that
the ** capital of the Brooklyn City Railroad Company is fixed, by an act of the last
Legislature, at one million dollars ($1,000,000.) divided into 100,000 shares of $10
each. The amount paid in on the capital stock is $902,660.
** The cumber of shares of full stock issued is 80,682 ; the number of shares of scrip
stock issued, 19,468 — on which 60 per cent is paid.
** The number of miles of road built is about 18 of double track, or 86 single track.
The company own 116 cars and 700 horses ; also 6 stations, comprising some 80 lots
of land, with barns, stables, car houc^es, repairing and blackEmiths' tbops, <i^c.
** The company owe no debts, have given no bonds, nor incurred any liabilities."
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640 Journal of Mining and Manufactures,
JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
ORIGIN OF WIRE ROP£ : ITS QdALITIES AJVD BCONOMT.
At the British AssociatioD, Mr. Andrew Smith, C. E., of XiODdoo, (who n the
patentee of the wire rope,) read a paper ou ** Wire Rope : its various ManipuUtioni
and Appliances; its Commercial Value and National Economy.'* Amongst those
manufactures to which might be given the appellation of " things of the day/' was the
invention of wire rope, and so he claimed a few moments of their valuable time. Few
manufactures were entitled to more of their consideration than the manufacture oi
wire rope as a substitute for hemp.
It was in the year 1828 that the author of the paper first applied wire rope as m
substitute for catgut, in aid of another invention of his for ** metallic shutters." The
rats had destroyed the strength of the catgut line by eating it *, the position of tha
sheave or pully was so placed and made so narrow in the groove, that none bat a
small substance could be applied to that particular case. Necessity, after all, was
the mother of this invention. Time rolled on, and the author anxiously watched the
working of this experimental metallic cord ; four years were spent in experimenting,
m order to test its strength in comparison with hempen rope and chain, as regarded
weight, size, strength, price, durability, and economy. This required time, patieooe,
and a heavy outlay of capital. Ou the 12th of January, 1835, the first patent was
obtained by Mr. Smith, and in 1839 be had obtained his fourth patent. At this time
the wire rope had been applied to a great many purposes, but more particularly for
the standing rigging of ships, both in the navy and the merchant service. In the year
1841 other makers came into the field, and the manufacture has increased much sinoe
that time in various profitable appliances — from the working of time-pieoee to the
working of intelligence through the agency of the submarine telegraph wire rope
cable.
He exhibited two specimens, which he said formed the subject of his fifth and last
patent for machinery for manufacturing submarine cables and wire ropes generally.
In practice, they were found efficient in their operations, producing great facility in
the manufacture, with very little friction in the rubbing and bearing parts. A tabu-
lar scale which he produced showed, he said, the utility and economy of wire rope at
applied for standing rigging in the navy ; from this it also appeared that at the timA
the estimate was made, a saving might be efifected of £28,582 on £114,830, being
more than one-fourth. This was at a time when the price of hemp was less than half
its present price, it being then only £40 per ton, whilst it was now nearly £90 ; and
the rope was then nearly half as dear again as at the present time, it being then £60
per ton, and now only £40.
Mr. Smith concluded by exhibiting and describing two models — one showing the
applicability of the wire rope for standing rigging, and the other for mining pa^
poses.
WfflTEIIIia PIUS AND NEEDLES MADE OF IRON AND STBEL.
The subjoined account of the process of manufiEictaring and whitening pios and
needles, is translated from the Bulletin de la Soeietie D" E^ieouragement : —
** It b well known that pins made of brass wire are deficient of strengtli and elat*
tidty, and accordingly they have been replaced by pins made of iroa or steel ; bat ft
U necessary to tm them over. This operation, however, cannot be peribrmed eqoaUj
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Journal of Mining and Manufactures. 641
wen vitli iron m wiA brass ; the pins have a rongh, uneyen sarface, trhich renders
them iocoQveDient to use, as they are liable to tear the cloth.
"Messrs. Vantillard and Leblood, wishing to avoid this defect, formed the idea of
first covering the iron with a thin coating of copper or other metal having a greater
affinity for tin than iron has ; bat in order that this resolt shonld be satisfiictorilj at-
tained, it is necessary to poUsh and pickle the pins before coppering them.
" The above named mannfacturers have most ingentoosly effected the polishing, the
ptekling, and the coppering, by one single operation. To treat, for example, 2 kilo-
grammes (a little more than 4 lbs. ^\ oz.,) 4 litres (abont 7 pints) of water, SOO
grammes (10 ounces 9 drams avoirdupois, by weight,) of oil of vitriol, 80 grammes
(16 ounces 13 grains avoirdupois) of salt of tin, 40 grammes (1 ounce 4 drams IT
grains) of crystalized sulphate of zinc — white copperas— and 7 grammes (about 108
grains avoirdupois) of sulphate of copper, are mixed together ; this mixture is allowed
to dissolve during twenty-four hours. The bath being thus prepared, it is to be in-
troduced into a barrel of wood, made pitcher-like, and mounted upon an axis. Into
this barrel — ^which has a capacity of about 85 pints ^the pins are now to be put ; it is
then tamed rapidly during half an hour, when the pins will be found to have received
a pickling, a polishing, and a slight coppering. After the lapse of this time, 20
grammes (about 10 drams 8 grains avoirdupois) of sulphate of copper, in ci^stals,
(blue stone) are to be added, and the barrel again turned during ten minutes, when
a solid coppering will be effected, with a fiuely-polished surface. This done,^e li-
quid in the barrel is to be decanted ofl^ and may be used repeatedly for the same
purpose ; the pins are washed in cold water, then put in a tray containing a hot solu-
tion of soap, and agitated for about tv^o minutes. The soaplye is decanted off, and
the pins put into a bag with some fine sawdust and shaken, by which means the cop-
pered surface assumes a brilliant appearance. Tiie pins thus prepared may bo tinned
in the ordinary way. The articles made in this way are far more beautiful and use-
ful than those made in the ordinary way.
** This process is the more deserving of attention at present, quite independent of
the superior quality of the pins, in consequence of the exceedingly high price of brass
SUPERIORITY OF AMCRICAV IROIV.
No man, says Mr. Henderson, of the Boffalo D&mocraey, of any experience in the
working of the useful metals, will deny that our iron U better than the British. On
the Reading Road, where careful examinations have been recorded, and with a ton-
nage unsurpassed by any railroad on the globe, ZxaAa OoLSoaif says it isii found tliat
American iron wears out but from one-third to one-half as fast as English iron. The
average of six years* wear of 60 lb. English rail was above 11 per cent annually. The
average of four years* wear of the •' Erie " (English) pattern was 16 per cent annually.
Oontrast with this the wear, in the same traek^ of the Phmnix and* Danville rails. The
rails of Reeves, Buck <b Co., of Phoeaixville, wore at the rate of 6 per cent a year for
six years. The Montour or Danville rails at the rate of nearly 6^ per cent for four
years.
Whatever may be the quality of a rail, the Reading Road will prove its durability.
No other test is needed — where fifteen millions of tons of freight and cars are passed
over a road in the space of six year^. If a rail is laminated, has soft ^ts, or is made
inferior in any respect, it b bound to show itself, inside out, in a five years' test on
the Reading Road.
Bar laoN. In all rolled iron the same general superiority of American is obsorv-
TOL. zxxm. — NO. l^ 41
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942 Journal cf Mining and Hatm/aciuret*
Me. Mr. Oolbun cites the Juniata, the Sharon, the Tredegar, and other Amema
charcoal iroDs against the Lowmoor, Bowling, Kirkatall, Cable, and other English iron
— while, also, our general marks of anthracite iron are superior to ordinary English
*' refined " iron. For the same reasons that our rails ar^ better, onr bars are alse
better.
PioiRON. There is not now any difference to speak of in the general market of
Scotch pig and American No. 1 charcoal foundry pig. The American pig is both
harder and tougher. Some of the leading locomotiYe builders will use no othe/ thai
American, on account of its superior hardness, for cylinders, drlTing-wbeels, etc. For
car-wheels,' where the best iron is indispensable, American pig is used, we belieTe, ex-
clusively.
Steel. The Adirondack Sied Company have made steel in Jersey City equal to
any of English manufacture. We must, however, thoroughly get rid of foreign iron
before we can expect to dispense with foreign steeL
THB ESSBNCS OF COAL A SUBSTITUTE FOR OIL OF TUiraiTIllB. .
According to the Bulletin de la Societe d^JSncouragemmt^ M.Pe]ouze, the eon cf the
distinguished chemist of that name, proposes to use an oily floid oonsisting of a mix-
ture of carbo-hydrogens, especially of beuzoine, Ac, as a substitute for oil of tnrpc»>
tine in painting. Be obtains this fluid, which boils from 100^ to 168° Centigrade, by
the distillation of cannel coal by means of sur heated steam. This liquid is colorleBa,
very fluid, and completely Tolatile, leaving no stain upon paper, and is not altered by
exposure to the light It has a penetrating cmel), which reminds one of common coA
gas ; but this entirely disappears when it has evaporated. A number of c(»npanitiTe
experiments have been made, with the object of comparing it with oQ of turpestiBe,
by a committee of the Societe d*£ncouragement of Paris, all of whidi have resulted
in showing that walls, woodwork, <fcc^ painted with the essence of coal, dried iar more
rapidly, and the smell disappeared sooner, than where essence of tnrpentine was cm-
jdoyed.
For example, in one case where the coal essence and oi! of tnrpentine were rcfpecfe-
ively mixed with three times their volume of oil, and employed under exactly similtr
circumstances, the fmell of the essence oCcoal was completely dissipated at the end
of three days, while that part painted with the turpentine mixture had stiil a strong
smell, and was not completely dry. Hie introduction of such an oil woidd be cf
great mnportance, not only in a commercial point of view, but in a bygieoic one aka
N£W YORK HATS.
A cotemporary, in descanting upon hats made somewhere " down East," says there
is something magical in a new hat The gloes or sheen thereof seems to yield new
cheerfulness to the visage of the wearer. It appears to shed a smile upon his lip-
gives a smirk to his cheek— and superadded luster to his eye. Commend us to a new
chapeau. Tour hat of antiquity has always something melancholy and suspidom
about it; it awakens sympathy for the unfortunate man who stands under the article,
and leads to irresistible conclusions that he has seen better days. History has its ao-
oounts of hats, and of their wearers, too numerous to mention. The chapeaux &r«a,of
great civic andmilitary people, are as famOiar to the world as was Napoleco's grey
snrtont to his Wdiers. Whatever some people may imagine, there is no sati^&ctkB
— no positive enjoyment — in your real old hat It palls, after a while, makes the
forehead greasy, and resolves itself into a slouch that is unseemly to see. The dis-
grace of an ancient hat has driven many a man to despour. Who does not recollect
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Journal of Mining aTid Mmtffactures. 643
fhe namelesB and yenerable stratiger, od a promontory near New York, who, in the
patbetio worda of tlie Bong —
•'AB wildly looked— put on his #» taftt—
Then madly roahed from Weekawk'S brow,"
Thos borying his head and ita coyering in the dark watera of the Hodsoo. Undoubt-
edly it was the want of means to get a new envelope for his soooce, which impelled
that unhappy person to play Sam Patch. Bach yirtae is in a new hatr-fiuch is the
misery to be without one.
There is a moral in thia chapter. It seryes as a prolegomenon, which heralds the
way to some practical observations, and without further preliminaries, we may as well
aay, in this place, that the hats made in New York are uosurpassed in beauty and ez<
edleooe either at home or abroad. As an illustration, we may mention the &ct that
an American gentleman in London recently dropped into the estaUishment of a man-
u&cturer of hats, and while his hat was being bruahed the manu£Eu;turer took occa-
sion to remark: — "That» sir, is an American hat; we can't make such in London— so
light, so elegant. Your countrymen, who are behind the Old World in the fine arts,
teem to have transformed the useful into the fine." The hat which elicited this eulogium
was from the manu&ctory of Johk N. Gxnizc, of Broadway, New York.
ALCOHOL FROM BEET.ROOT.
It has already been stated in foreign journals and in the Merchantt^ Magazine that
the distillation of alcohol firom beet-root has been commenced on rather an extensive
scale. The apparatus employed in the operation consists : — 1. Of a distillery appar-
atus placed on a brick furnace. This costs 2,000 francs. 1. Of four wooden vats for
fermentation, costing 480 francs. 8. Of six vats for maceration, 860 francs. 4. Of a
cutter, 160 francs. 6. Of pipes, cocks, and various utensils, 2,010 francs; total, 6,000
firancs. With this apparatus 2,260 kilogrammes of beet-root are operated on daily,
and 180 litres (47^ gallooe) of aloohc^ and 1,800 kilogrammes of residue are obtained
from them. The expense per day may be thus set down : — 2,260 kilogrammes of
beet-root at 16 francs the 1,000 kilogrammes, 36 francs ; labor and fuel, 10 francs; in-
terest of capital at 10 per cent^ 2 francs 60 centimes; repairs, I franc 60 centimes;
total, 60 francs. Th» 180 litres of alcohol obtained from the beet-root are at 60 deg.
and at the present rate of that article (96 francs the hectolitre) are worth 171 francs,
The profit is consequently 121 francs a day. The residue of the beet-root operated
OD is taken hot from the vats and placed in other vats, when it is left to ferment for
twenty-four or thir^ hours. It is then mixed with small straw or hay chopped up,
and is given to cattle; they eat it greedily, as the process does not deprive it of its
nutritious qualities.
HOW LAGER BIER IS MADE.
Ao interesting lager bier trial came off in Petersburg, Yiiginia, recently, in which
lager bt*^r statistics were brought out on oath, and may, therefore be believed. Mr.
Solomon Keyser was a defendant, and was charged with keeping a disorderly bier
saloon. A very respectable German witness in Uie case defined what lager bier was.
fie said it was manufactured of malt and hops, and was made bitter by throwing an
extra amount of the latter in — that was bier. This compound was placed in a barrel
lined with a casing of rosin, and was laid in a cellar, from which laying in store was
derived the word lager. This was lager bier, or " stock ale." The witness thought it
might burst a man, but would «not make him drunk. He had known German ladies
ifi New York and Philadelphia to put seventeen to twenty glasses (pints) under their
Wftbtbands in one day, and sever fael the elfocts.
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644 JfereantiU IIueMmm.
WETTIJia BRICKS FOR BUIWIVa.
As it is important that everj one enjAged in building ahooH be well informed ia
regard to the durability of materials, we poblish the following from the Scientific
jLfncTtc€tn .•—
*• Very few people, or even builders, are aware of the advantage of wetting bricka
before laying them, or if aware of it, they do not practice it; for of the many housas
DOW in progress io this city, there are very few in which wet bricks are used. A wall
twelve inches thick, built of good mortar with bricks well soaked, is stronger in every
respect than one sixteen inches thick, built dry. The reason of this is, that if the
bricks are well saturated with moisture, they will not abstraat from the mortar the
mobture which is necessary to its crystalization ; and on the contrary, they will anite
ebemically with the mortar, and become as solid as a rock. On the other hand, if the
bricks are put up dry, they iinmeJiately take all the moistnre from the mortar, leav-
nig it to dry and harden, and the consequence is that when a building of th'is deserip*
tioQ is taken down or tumbles down of its own accord, the mortar from it is like so
much sand.^
MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
HUNT'S BIOORAPHT OF AMBRICAIT MERCHAVTS.
** The true greatness of our country lies in its mercantile history. Though we have
gained laurels io war, and h ive wntten our names proudly in the golden book of Sci-
ence, it cannot be doubled that both the one and the other were inspired by agrienU
taral, manufacturing, and commercial success, and that this forms a national pular of
which all other greatness is but the ornament Too much praise cannot be awarded
to those who sejurch out the secret springs of our history, and chronicle them for the
benefit of future generations. Every indication manifests, that history which has beeo
hitherto a mere compilation of what may be called mere objective^ or of appareot
events, will in future bo more searching, more concerned with the deeper epruigs of
human action ; in a word, more universal and scientific than it has hitherto beeo. It
is reserved for a future age to write history as it $hould be done, and to this intent we
cannot praise too highly those who collect and chronicle materii^ls which would other-
wise perish. More than one writer has regarded the antiquarian spirit of the ImI
half century 83 a special interposition, destined to preserve the memory of that which
its cotemporary ProgreM is rapidly sweeping away. But the spirit which preserves
the memory of events occurring in our own time is even more worthy of commenda-
tion than that which inspires a research int.> antiquity, for though in all respects as
useful, it lacks the romance popularly attached to the past
** Principal among those who have contributed to the record of our mercantile his-
tory is Mr. FasEUAif Hu.vt, whose magazine will always be invaluable for reference
in all that concerns every branch of statistics and industry. It is accordingly with
pleasure that we learn that Bir. Ilunt intends publishing, in the fall, a collection of the
memoirs of cur merdiants, eminent for integrity, energy, enterprise, and evocees. It
will consist partly of biographies which have already beeo published in the Merchamti
Magazine, and partly of original contributions. Among tbem will be the life of P.O.
Brooks, of Boston, written by the Hon. Edward Everett Our own city will receive
honorable attention io the lives of Morris, Oirard, the late T. P. Oope, and other mea
of note. It is needless to predict soccese for a work of this kind, which will deserve
not only reading but study from every man and boy in our oountfy.** — PkiladtffkJB
Evening Bulletin,-
The preceding extract b copieil from an article in the Philaddphia Evtidmg BrnfU-
Itn, edited by ALEXAMORa GoMMizfaa, Esq. In the MerekanU Magaxitu for July, 18M,
(vol XXX., pages 133-184,) we gave notice of our intention of publishing near the dosi
•C the present year the " Livn or ^^fn^i^ftiT MaaoaAn^" ^Tft^fMmt liar Integrity. la-
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MercanHk MiBuUomei. 646
doitry, Soergy, Enterprise, and Soocwt in Life— the " repreeentatiTe men, who may
lerre as a key to uniyersal mercantile history." The plan of this publication has been
maturing for many years, and we now hare the satisfaction of stating that the first
Tolnme is in press, and will be published early in December of the present year, and
the second during the year 1866.
The first volume will embrace several biographies that have appeared in the pages
of this Magaaioe, but these have been reyised, corrected, and enlaiged. Others were
written expressly for the forthoommg work.
That our readers may form some idea of the character of the series, we give the
names of the subjects of these memoirs, as well as the names of the contributors to
the ooUection, as follows :—
1. THOMAS HANDA8YD PERKINS. By Hon. Thomas G. Cart, of Boston.
«. THOMAS PYM COPK By Hon. Joseph R. Chahdlm, of Philadelphia.
8. PETER OHARDON BROOKS. By Hon. Edwaed Evxextt, LL. D., of Boston .
4. NICHOLAS BROWN.
5. STEPHEN QIRARD.
e. SAMUEL WARD. By Charles Kimg, LL D., President of Columbia College.
7. MATHE W CARET. CorrecUd and Revised by his son, Hrnrt C. Carry, Esq.
8. THOMAS EDDY.
». JONATHAN GOODHUE.
10. JOSEPH PEABODY. By Georor Atkikson Ward, Eiq.
11. JACOB LORILLARD. By Rev. Wiluam Brrrian, D. D.
12. GIDEON LEE. By Charlks M. Lrupp. Esq., of New York.
18. WALTER R. JONES. By W. A. Jones, A. M, Librarian of Columbia College.
14. SAMUEL APPLETON. By Ephraim P. Prabodt, D. D, of Boston.
16. JOSEPH MAY.
18. SAMUEL SLATER. By Rev. John L Blakr, D. D , of New Jersey.
17. ALEXANDER HENRY. By S. Aosnii Alubonb, Esq., of Philadelphia.
18. JONAS CHICKERING. By J. L. Blake, D. D.
19. ASA CLAPP.
20. PATRICK TRACY JACKSON. By John Amort Lowell, Esq., of Maw.
The first volume will be illustrated with nine fine engravings on steel, including
portraits of T. H. Perkins, Thomas P. Cope, Peter C. Brooks, James G. Kino, Sam-
uel Applrton, Samuel Slater, Jonas Chickerino, Asa Clapp, and Patrick Traot
Jaorson. The work, in two volumes, will be printed on fine paper and a new and
distinct type. Each volume will contain between ^^9^ and six hundred pages octavo,
handsomely bound in muslin. The subscription price is fixed at five dollars for the
two volumes, or two dollars and fiftt cents per volume, payable on delivery of each.
The Boston Evening Tranteript^ referring to our plan, alluding to the *' noble speci-
mens of the true merchant" furnished by that city, says : —
** Mr. Hunt, in this enterprise, is doing for the commercial biography of the countiy
what Jared Sparks has clone for our American biography generally. •
The plan of our work is in some respects diflerent from that of Mr. Sparks. His
collection embraces the lives of all persons who have been distinguished in America
fk>om the date of its first discovery to the present time. It includes, however, few
that were merchants, and of those few very little of the mercantile life is given. Our
work is confined to the merchants and business men of the past and present century,
and while we give prominence to the events and circumstances connected with the di-
versified pursuits of commercial enterprise, it will be an important part of our plan to
embrace whatever pertains to the merchant in his public or private career — as a citi-
xeo, a patriot, a statesman, and in all the relations of social and domestic life.
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iS^O MmmUU M$cMimm.
It has be€n well renuurked that <* the tfpo prineipal objeeto to be ftttained ia bio-
graphical compoeitioos are aocuraisy as to facta aod fioith io the literaiy ezacatioiu"
This, as to the first requisite, at least, has, we think, been attakied, and the aAoooi-
plished scholarship of the writers of several of the Uographiet, (leaTiog our ova
labors out of the question,) is a sufficient guaranty for the laat4iamed reqmattA— (lift
literary execution.
We entered upon our semi-literary and commercial field of labor some aereateaa
years since, aod the THiaTr-THasB volumes of the MtrchanU* Magtunne afford, m oar
opinion, pretty eoodasive evidence that we have not been idle in our pioneer <
to establish a commercial literature, and give it a ** habitation and a name."
THE UriAUBS OF aHIPS A BTlTfOilAL CBAEACTSRISTIC.
Let a close observer take a stroll leisurely among the shipping that lines the East
River, says the Journal of Uommeree, and he will find that the naming of their ships
is as significant an index to the natiooal peculiarities of a people, as more cooeeqoen-
tial matters. The Spaniard evinces the superstitious tendency of his mind by snch
titles aa— Santissima Trinidada, St Joseph, Mother Mary, <&& ; and one ill-lookiog
hermaphrodite brig we observed discharging cargo, bore on her stem the euphonious
appellation of the " Twelve Apostles."
The French, agam, manifest their gaite and gallantry, by such titles for their ships
as La Belle Julie, La Bayadere, La Prima Donna.
We met with but one Italian vessel, and she was small and of most primitive coo-
Btruction. Her sticks were badly strained ; instead of the modem wheel, her rodder
was governed by a tiller of rough wood, with the end carved into a grotesque resem-
blance of a dog*s head. She was also a little ^ hogged ;** and, in contrast with the
graceful outlines and raking masts of the clippers that were near her, ehe appeared to
as mudi disadvantage as a deformed man among a file of picked soldiers. We boarded
her, sought the captain ; but he spoke no English, and beyond a few phrases from the
operas, our own Italian is bankrupt We essayed German, however, aod there he
was at home — invited us to enter his cabin, and pressed up>on us his hospitalitiea
But the name of the ship was The Archangel, and it confirms our theory. We found
but two Dutch (Holland) vessels in our walk, and these two strengthened the cuorie-
tioD ; for the Dutch are an industrious, frugal people, and the names of the '
question were The Beaver, and the Gk>ld Hunter.
John Bull's crustiness and pugnacity were abundantly attested by snch
The Badger, The GUdiator, The Spitfire, The Boxer, The Julius Onsar, <fce.
And Jonathan, our Brother Jonathan, whose energies promise to revolatiooiie the
world, whose motto is speed, progrewion, and universal dominion, shows bis devotioa
to those objects by calling hia ships Sovereign of the Seas, King of the Olif^Mn,
Flying Pigeon, West Wind, Game Oock, Frightened Lightning, ^
CflOCOUTE TRADE OF BOSTOBT.
Few are aware of the extent of the chocolate business, or the supremacy whi^
Boston has obtained in its manufacture. Of the hundreds of thousands of doQars*
worth of chocolate (in its diflferent forms) sold in America during the year, nearly all
» manufactured by firms, according to the Boston CkronieU, in that city. Scarcely
a vessel leaves for a foreign port but has it on board. The business is not of suddee
growth ; by fifty years of labor only has it been establiBhed, and the names of John
Preston A Sons, and Walter Baker, rendered synonymous with the article they have
•o long made. The manufoctoriea are situated in Dorchester. A short time since we
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Mercantile Miscellanies. 04f
bftd &d pleftsore of ^itnessbg the process by which the rough bean is prepared for
nsa Iq the storehouse on the one side were heaped hoge sacks of the cocoa bean, as
H Brrivee from South America and the West Indies ; and on the other, tall sacks of
the prepared article.
There was broma for tiie invalid, and bags upon bags of shells and cracked cocoa.
There was cocoa paste, cocoa sticks and carraccos for ships* use, confectioners* choco-
ktte, and some half dosen different brands of the article whose names we do. not re-
member. In the roasting^room the beans are roasted, (not baked,) and then ground.
Alter going through the many processes of mixing and molding, cooling and sorting,
papering and boxing, the mass is ready for sale and for use, and it goes throughout
Ihe country. Boston takes the lead in many things, but in the chocolato business she
reigns supreme, and America stands to that city for the whole supply.
MA01IBTIS» Iir TRADE.
There are few of the readers of the Merchant Jfagaxine engaged in trade that
will not feel the foree of the following remarks from the pen of the cleyer editor of
the Philadelphia Merchant :—
There is a kind of magnetism in trade that goes a great ways towards explaining
the greater success of one man over another who seems to have equal opportunities.
While conversing with a very enthusiastic friend the other day, be remarked : —
** How queer it is that sometimes when a customer enters the store I feel as though
it would be impossible to sell him or her a fip*s worth, but at another time I feel as
though I could make a customer buy just what I feel inclined to sell There*s a real
magnetism about it"
" Tes,** we replied, " and your battery is not always in order."
** What r* he answered, ** do you mean the difference is all in me /**
" Most certainly, for you confess that it is all a matter of feeling," we replied, ''and
the great means of always keeping up this magnetic power is to be absorbed in
what we are doing, bv avoiding temptations to day-dreaming and hasy speculation."
We think that here s an important matter for every salesman. Whatever is to be
done well must be done earnestly — the man must be fully magnetized for the labor
before him — fully charged with eamestoess. We have seen goi>d and extensive cus-
tomers provoked, and impelled to leave a business establishment by the laekadaisioal
manner in which they were treated. They found it difficult to tell whether the sales-
man was disposed to sell at all, or had no contidence in the customer's ioteation to
buy. They like something akin to real home-heartiuess ; they want to find a man in
the full bloom of true enterprise ; and they almost instinctively catch the indifference
of the salesman, and draw themselves away without becoming purchasers.
There is more in this matter of magnetism in trade than many will be willing to
aUow; but if they will try a little while the whole souled way of attending on their
business, treating every customer as though each one might be a large purchaser, they
will find new success, and will enjoy attention to business with more relish than they
have ever known.
BUTIITG WINE BT SAMPLE.
We applaud the penetration and the management of one of our old Oommodores
m a Spanish port, years ago. He bought a cask of wine, he liked the flavor of it, in
one of those enormous celUurs, where the Spanish merchanto store their immense stock,
and where they, if the truth must be revealed, also mix, brew, and manufacture them.
'* To what place shall I send the pipe ?** inquired the merchant.
** Nowhere," said the blunt sailor ; ** I will take it with me," and then appeared a
competent number of sailors with a vehicle all ready for the purpose.
The merchant hesitated, demurred, and objected to delivering it for one reason or
other, and finally offered a handsome sum if he would toke another cask next to it,
just as good, in its room, as this particular one had been disposed of This made the
Commodore still more earnest and resolved ; so he insisted on paying the Spaniflh
trader his bill, and took away his prize without asking ** by your leave."
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648 Mercantile MisceUaniee.
It was worth doable the sum he gave for it» as it was a sample cask of the pwre
article, which he and all who went to that cellar to purchase were to taste, as a crite-
rioD of the whole. When the article was sent home, after the bargain, another was
always put in its stead. The poor merchant was thus deprived of his decoy till he
could prepare a new one, at considerable cost This time he made a poor bargain
with the American Commodore, who used to tell his friends at Washington, when he
treated them to it, that it was the best battle he ever fought, and he had seen sharp
service in 1818.
STICK TO SOME ONE PURSUIT.
There cannot be a greater error than to be frequently changing one's bosibeas. If
any man will look around and notice who has got rich and who has not, out of those
he started in life with, he will find that the successful have generally stuck to some
one pursuit
Two lawyers, for example, begin to practice at the same time. One devotes his
whole mind to hb profession, lays in slowly a stock of legal learning, and waits pa-
tiently, it may be for years, till he gains an opportunity to show his superiority. The
other, tiring of euch slow work, dashes into politics. Generally, at the end of twenty
years the latter will not be worth a penny, while the former will have a handsome
practice, and count his tens of thousands in bank stock or mortgages.
Two clerks att^n a majority simultaneously. One remains with his former employ-
ers, or at least in the same line of trade, at first on a email salary, then oo a larger,
until finally, if he is meritorious, he is taken into partnership. The other thinks it
beneath bim to fill a subordinate position, now that he has become a man, and accord-
ingly starts in some other business on his own account, or undertakes for a new firm
in the old line of trade. Where does he end I Often in insolvency, rarely in richea^
To this every merchant can testify.
A young man is bred a mechanic. He acquires a distaste for his trade, however,
thinks it is a tedious way to get ahead, and Eets out for the West or California. But,
in most cases, the same restless, discontented, and speculative spirit, which carried
him away at first, renders continued application at any one pisce irksome to him ;
and 80 be goes wandering about the world, a sort of semi-civilized Arab, really a
vagrant in character, and sure to die insolvent. Meantime his fellow-apprentice, who
has stayed at home, practicing economy, and working steudily at his trade, has growD
comfortable in bis circumstances, and is even perbsps a citizen of mark.
There are men of ability, in every walk of life, "^lo are notorious for never getlirg
along. Usually, it is because they never stick to any one business. Just when they
have mastered one pursuit, and are on the point of making money, they change it for
another, which they do not understand ; and, in a little while, what little they are
worth is lost forever. We know scoies of such persons. Go where you will, )ou will
generally find that the men who have failed in life are those who never stuck to ooe
thing long.
FiCTS iBOUT CUBA TOBACCO ARD HGABS.
A late Havana circular says the *' Yuelto Absjo" leaf, which goes into the £ihrkof
om* best cigars, and of which tbe choice (elections are rarely shipped, there being aa
market which can make profitable returns f c r it, aTerages, for selections of the several
classes, $100 to |126 per bale, and tbe quantity of really choice leaf is so small iia
proportion to the whole crop made, tbat this sale is maintained from year to year. Tbe
bale or ceroon of Ynelta Absjo weighs ircm 1 6 to 90 pounds, but in making contracts
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Mercantile MUeellaniee. 649
it is nerer weighed oach ooe makiog hit own efitimate, aa the price per bale is fixed
— eelectiooe of what are termed " Utn,** if to be purchased feparately, would cost $120
to $160 per bale— and lower qualities, classed « 2d8" and " Sds," from |90 to |160
per bale. The Windward leaf, or the meet common tobacco of inland culture, is al-
ways weighed and contracted for by actual weight, although put up m the fame class
of packages as the fine leat This goods, of inferior quality, ia frequently purchased
at from $4 to $5 per 100 pounds, from the planter directly ; and much of it is shipped
to the United States and Germany, where it is Cuba leaf at any rate. Cigars are in-
finite almost in variety, but of reputable factories can be purchased from $12 to $70
per thousand. Three or four factories that rule the taste of the smoking world are
arbitrary in their tarifis, predicated upon longestablisbed fame, and they permit no
floctuationa In the last week there were shipped hence to all quarters of the world,
2,284,600 dgars and 166,888 pounds of leaf tobacco ; and this year, to date, 178,896,760
cigars and 4,812,284 pounds leaf tobacco; of which, during the week, to the United
States, 868,000 cigars and 64.446 pounds leaf tobacco ; and this year, to date, 81,166,260
cigars and 1,871,719 pounds of leaf tobacca
HEW YORK COTTOJf MARKET FOR THE BIONTH ENDIIVG OCTOBER 26.
raSPABlD PAB THB HBBOHlRTt* MAOAZINB BT UHLHOBN & rBBDBBICKION, BBOBBB8,llBWTOBK.
A downward tendency in price has existed throughout the entire month, and since
the close of our last monthly report (September 2l8t) the decline is fully one cent to
one-and- a- quarter cents per pound on all grades. This rapid retrograde movement in
price was not anticipated, notwithstanding the very favorable condition of the matur-
ing crop and excessive receipts at the South, but is caused by the difficulties attending
our largest customer— Great Britain. The present commercial embarrassment of both
England and France seems probable to be further extended ; and to save her gold, the
Bank of England has advanced the rate of diiscount two per cent during the past
month •, while France, to save her credit, has purchased largely of gold with her capital*
The fall of Sebastopol was looked upon by many as likely to be the last act in the
bloody tragedy played by the European victors, and that peace, with its attendant
security, would again take the place of insecurity, loss of life, and waste of money.
A continuation of the war to an indefinite period seems now certain, and the vast
drain of material required to carry it on begins to affect most seriously the course of
trade both in Europe and America, and a dull state of trade in Manchester needs no
telegraph to inform the Southern planter of the fact The decline in the Liverpool
market during the past month has been ^d. to {d. per pound, while the stock on hand
on the 6th of October is represented to be only 618,960 bales, against 796,700 bales
same date 1854. The consumption since January 1st is put down at 1,618,880 balest
against 1,428,900 bales for same time in 1854. Messrs. Du Fay «k Co., of Manchester,
io their Trade Report for October, observe that " the fact is incontrovertible, that
our stocks — with the exception of goods suitable for India — are light, and that firm
prices are maintained for articles which have to be manufactured expressly for par-
ticular purposes. Our market is therefore a healthy one," <&& Yet notwithstanding
the above statement of the consumption, stocks, and course of trade in the manufac-
turing districts, a monetary distress seems inevitable, and a lack of confidence is ob-
servable which renders commercial operations embarrassing.
The transactions in this market during the month amount to 22,600 bales; of which
our own manufacturers have taken 11,000 bales, the balance being taken for export
00 orders and under advances. The month closes with a very moderate demand at
prices in fovor of buyers, and a small stock, which alone prevents a greater declme
than that quoted above.
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650 Mercantile MiscellatUee.
CftOF.
XTp to date we are without any acooonts of a killing frosty and the proepeets for
a yield exceeding that of any former period are generally admitted. The quality of
the new crop is certainly far above an average in all particulars. The ezceaa in re-
receipts now amounts to 168,000 bales.
For the week ending September 28th there was much disposition on the part of
holders to sell ; buyers, however, were not found at the rates asked, and the week
cloned with sales of i,50Q' bales, at the following quotations : —
PaiOBS ADOPTED BSPTXMBEB 28tH FOE THK FOLLOWIKO QUAUTIKS : —
UpUQd. Florida. MobUe. N. O. It Texas.
Ordinary 9 9 9 9^
Middling 9} 10 lOJ 10^
Middling £air lOi lOf lOf 11^
Fair Hi 11^ 111 12^
The quotations for the week ending October 5th were reduoed ^ to ^c per pound
on sales of 5,600 bales, principally for export ; the drouth at the Eastward etiU eoD-
tinning, the demand for the home trade was amalL The market closed steady at the
following rates: —
PaiOES ADOPTED OOTOBBa 6tH FOR THK FOLLOWING QUALITIES: —
Upland. Florida. MobUe. N.O. It Texas.
Ordinary. -.... 9 9 9 9
Middling 9| 9| 9f 10
Middlingfair lOi lOf lOf 11
Fair lOf 11 Hi 18|
The sales for the week ensuing did not exceed 4,500 bales, at a decline of ic. par
pound. The foreign advices were unfavorable, and receipts at the South large ; freights
also advanced, in consequence of large quantities of grain going forward ; and mooej
being more in demand, exchange was not in favor of ehipments. The views of holden
were beyond those of buyers. One-half of the week's operatioos were for home use*
The following represented the asking rates : —
P&IOXS ADOPTED OOTOBBE 12TH FOR THE FOLLOWING QI7ALITIE8 : —
Upland. Ftorida. MobUe. N.O.«c Texas.
Ordinary Si 8i H 8|
Middling 9i 9i 9i H
Middlingfair lOi lOi lOf 10|
Fair lOi lOf 11 Hi
Our market for the week ending October 19th was extremely heavy, at ic. to ie.
decline on some grades. The sales did not exceed 4,000 bales ; one-half for home
use. The foreign orders were generally at a lower limit, and but little dipposition was
evinced to operate at any price. The weather at the South continuing favorable for
maturing the crop, many concluded to wait for the ** good time coming." The toatket
closed heavy at the following:.—
PRICES ADOPTED OCTOBER 19tH FOR THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES:
Upland. Florida. HobUe. N.O.&Texab
Ordinary 8 8 8 8i
Middling 9f 9f 9i 9f
Middlingfaur 10 10 loj lOi
Fair lOi lOi lOf Hi
The sales for the week closing at date are estimated at 4,000 bales, the market
under the Africa's accounts being much depressed. Southern markets also show a
falling off in price ; and our small stock here alone prevents a greater reduction than
fc. to ^c per pound for the week, the market dosing in such an unsettled conditiflB
that we suspend quotations.
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ne Book Trade. ^^^
THE BOOK TRADE.
1.— 2%tf AnnalM of San Franeiseo ; containing a Summary of the History of the
first Discovery, Settlement, Progress, and Present Condition of California, and a
Complete Histoiy of all the Important Events connected with its Great City. To
whidi are added Biographical Memoirs of some prominent Citizens. By Framk
Sool* John H. Gihon, and Jamw Nisbit. 8vo, pp. 824. New York : D. Apple-
ton A Co.
The annals of San Francisco, its rise and wonderful progress, and the summary of
Califomian history, the account of the early English bucaneers, or more respectably
termed privateers, (for they sailed under formal license from their government,) such
as Sir Francis Drake, Cavendish, and others, who visited California in the sixteenth
century, the account of the early missions, and the other matter which makes up this
volume, both from its character and the ability, taste, and judgment which the trio of
authors have displayed in its production, render it a work which no student of history
can aflford to be deprived, and one which is largely interesting to the general reader.
The biographical sketches in the latter part of the volume embrace the names of the
diflferent Mayors of the city, besides Thomas O. Larkin, General John N. Sutter, Ed-
ward Gilbert, Colonel Stevenson, Senator Gwin, and several others more or less mti-
mately connected with the history of California. The work is illustrated with one
hundred and fifty fine engravings, is mechanically handsome, and will undoubtedly
earn a large circulation.
i^HUtorical Colleciiont of Georgia; containing the most InteresUng Facts, Tradi-
tioDS, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, etc, relating to its History and AnUquities,
from its first Settlement to the Present Time. Third Edition. By the Rev. GEoaoa
Whits, BL A. 8 vo, pp. 729. New York : Pndney & Russell
Much labor has 'been expended on this work, which is one of rare interest to the
residents of sunny Georgia and her sons wherever livmg. It is a work which will
furnish a large amount of matter, precious to the future historian of that State, and
forms, like the work on New EUmpshire, lately noticed in thepe pages, a contribution
to the history of the whole country. The book is compiled from official documents,
original records, and the oral traditions of some of the •* oldest inhabitants." It is il-
lustrated by nearly one hundred engravings, including public buildings, relics of an-
tiquity, historic localities, natural scenery, and portraits of eminent men, of which the
•• Empire State of the South " has not a few, who were born or lived within her limit*.
The name of John Forsyth, her eminent jurist and representative in the National
Councils, sheds luster upon the nation. We have not space now in this place to speak
further of her distinguished men. A brief sketch accompanies each portrait. Mr.
White, the reverend author of this work, published a work on the statistics of Georgia,
which was favorably received.
Z^Carrie EfMtion ; or Life at Cliftonville. By Mrs. C. A. Hatden. 12mo, pp. 360.
Boston : James French & Ca
Here is a work by that well-known authoress, who has so long delighted many rea-
ders by her sparkling tales in our popular periodicals. It cannot be doubted that
Carrie Emerson will meet with a ready sale, and give to the gifted and talented wri-
ter that due credit which such a work should. It shows, in lively coloring, the alas
too frequent manner of village gossip, so often fatal in its consequences. It delineates,
with a purity of thought and expression seldom equaled, the character of one who«
though much slandered and abused, came out pure, uke metals from the melting fur-
nace. The character of Carrie Emerson is a fine one and quite life like, and we heart-
ily commend her sentiments to the careful perusal of everj^ one, especially let it be
read by those who are apt to ** speak ill of a neighbor, thinking no real harm." The
characters are generally to the point and beautifully portrayed, while an exalted tone
pervades the whole, and blends in one compass many and various dispositions. Let
no family be without this book, but let every mother present a copy to her daughter,
telling her to beware of the faults it speaks of, while she copies with earnestness all
the good it contains. It is a story of thrilling interest, that will be read extensively,
and cannot fail to please for its highly moral tone and truthful delineation.
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<I52 Ths Book Tr^$i4.
A.^ Harper B* Clatiieal Library. The Works of Horace. Translated literal] j into
Engliah prose. By C. Smart, A. M, of Pembroke College, Cambridge. A New
Ediiiun revised, with a copious selectioo of notes. By Theodorb Alois Booklkt,
B. A., of Christ Church. 12mo., pp. 325.
6.--37/« Works of VtrgiL Translated literally into English prose, with Notes hf
Davidaoo. A New Edition, revised with additional Notes. By TeKODoas Alois
BucKLKY. 12 mo., pp. 806. New York : Harper A Brothers.
The two ToIumeR, the titles of which are qnoted above, are reprints firom Bohn's
Classical Library, published in London. The learned editor has, in the translation of
Horace, given a closer rendering of the Latin than Smart We are informed that
the text of Orelli has been generally followed. Useful annotations, ancient and mod-
em, ot various commentators, and several quotations from Hurd on the Ars Poetica,
have been introduced. This edition of the works of the great Roman lyric poet and
satirist is a desideratum to the student, whether young or advanced. In the edition of
Virgil the trauslation of Davidson has undergone revision and alteration ; there is
closer accuracy in translation, and the construction is more strictly adhered to. The
translation has been compared with the text of Wagner, and with the principal com-
mentaries. We notice that in both these volumes the English edition has freely used
the laborious researches and learning of Dr. Anthon, who has accomplished so mudi
for classical literature in the production of most excellent text and other books for onr
schools and colleges.
6.— 77«? Life of the Right Honorable John Philpot Curran. By his Son. Witk
Additions and Annotations by Dr. Shelton Idactcenzie, Editor of **Sheirs Sketches
of ihelrish Bar." Second Edition. 12mOn pp. 604. New York : J. S. Redfield.
It is admitted that John Philpot Curran, for many years the most ' brilliant, elo-
quent, and successful member of the Irish bar, was also one of the few real patriots
at a time when treachery and cowardice united to destroy the independence of Ire*
land. To this hour he is remembered as one of the most witty men of his time. Dr.
Shelton Mackenzie has taken the life of Curran by his son, published in 1819, and
added greatly, to its value, interest, and completeness, by incorporating a great deal
of new and sterling matter on the text, by adding a variety of explanatory notes, and
by giving an appendix containing ample specimens of Irish wit. There also is an
original and characteristic portrait of Curran. Altogether, this work is extremelr
readable, and while it amuses, also gives a striking and correct account of public ai-
fairs in Ireland during the last twenty years of the last century.
7. — Bits of Blarney, By Dr. Shslton Maokxmzxe. 12mo., pp. 450. New York:
J. S. Redfield.
Dr. Shelton Mackenzie, editor of the ''Noctes Ambrosisme " and several other
works, is author of this volume, which may be described as a lively melange of Irish
subjects, in which gayety and gravity alternate. It consists of Irish stories and le-
gends, eccentric characters, and sketches of two eminent publicists— Henry Grattan
and Daniel O'Connell. The biography of the latter, full of personal anecdote, is about
the best thing in the book. The author slily justifies its appearance therein, on the
ground that 0*Connell was ** one of the greatest professors of ' blarney ' these later
days have seen or heard." A story called the Petrified Piper ; another, containing
the true history of Captain Rock ; the amusing sketch of Father Prout, including a
very original sermon ; and a spirit-stirring ballad, entitled the Oeraldine, may also be
mentioned as especially worthy of praise. Bits of Blarney will establish its author's
character as a humorist, with great variety of mformation, and a wonderful recollec-
tion of events, persons, and places. It has already gone into a third edition.
8. — Native and Alien, The Naturalization Laws of the United States; also a Syn-
opsis of the Alien Laws of all the States, together with the Forms for Naturaliza-
tion, Important Decisions, General Remarks on the subject, Historical, Past, and
Present <&o., <S:c. By a Miuiber of tbe Bar. To which is added the ConstitutMA
of the United States. 12mo., pp. 102. Rochester: D. M. Dewey.
This pamphlet, as the title would indicate, contains such matters as every citizen of
the United States should be acquainted with, lliere are sometimes mistaken notioM
abroad among the many with regard to the rights of natives and aliens and the nata*
ralizBtion laws. This work will correct such notions. A compilation of this kind,
presentf^d, as it is, in a form and at a price adapted to general circulation, should have
a large sale.
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9,^^apan at It Wa$ and h. By Rtohakd HiLDRVTff. aathor of " Hi«tnry of the
HDited States," etc. 12iiio., pp. 676. Boaton: Phillips, Sampson A Go. New^
York : J. 0. Derby.
Mr. Hildreth, the author of a meritorioua and popular history of the United States,
and of some other able works less widely known, has in this book given the cream of
a good many volames, most of which would be inaccessible or uninteresting to the
general reader ; he has selected the ** curiosities, novelties, aod palatable extracts"
m>m these volumes. He has followed the historic method, and the reader can see
Japan with the successive eyes of all thoie who have visited it, and com-nitted their
observations and reflections to paper and print The complete history of the Portu-
guese, Spanish, and Dutch relations will be found here, and the Bi^lish and American
relations are very fully treated. The work is illustrated with an outline map, and is
replete with extraordinary characters and adventures. It forms a useful and mterest-
ing oontribution to historical literature generally.
10. — Kate Stanton; a Page from Real Life. 12mo., pp. 833. Boston : James French
A Co.
Here is a tale of truth — no common blending together of a parcel of characters to
make up a book, but a straightforward, earnest narrative of life. The authoress is
unknown, but her work will be appreciated wherever truth is loved and honored. The
style is beautiful and unique. The authoress copies no one, studies no model, but her
book shows a style blending that of Dickens, Thackeray, and Bulwer all in one. The
publbhers have found it extremely difficult to supply the many orders already given
for this remirkable work, so great is the call and detnand. We trust it will be found
on every table — it deserves a place in every heart, so beautiful and touching are its
eentimeots, so pure and ex:iltea its tone. Its great origin ility is striking, while its
moral is plain to every reader. We guaranty to all who purchase this work a fair re-
turn for the outlay.
11. — Ths Works of Shaknpeare ; the Text carefully restored according to the first
Editions; with Introductions, Notes, Original and Selected, and a Life of the Poet.
By the Rev. H. N. Hud3o.h, A. M. In Eleven Volumes. I8mo. Boston and Cam-
bridge: James Munroe.
The eighth volume of this edition of Shak^psare contaius the plays of " Timon of
Athens,'' '- Coriolouus,** ** Julius Csssar," ** Anthony and Cleopatra." The editorial
introductions and notes to these plays exhibit the profound research, the superior
scholarship, the clear and elegant diction of the very talented and reverend editor,
as well as a true appreciation of ** the Great Dramatist.*' The volumes are printed
in a clear, readable type, on very fine paper, and are well adapted for the shelves of
a library.
12. — The Note-Book of an Bugliih Opium Eater, By Thomas db Qoincst, author of
''Confessions of an Opium Eater," etc., etc. 12mo., pp. 292. Boston : Tickuor ik
Fields.
This is the nineteenth volume of the varied writings of De Q^'ncey that have been
issued by the American publishers. It embraces s >m8 of bis later productions. The
opening article — "Three Memorable Murders," a sequel to " Murder considered as one
of the Fine Arts" — was written last year. The writings of this author possess a
oharm that mu^t ever bo appreciated by the catholic admirers of chaste literature
and wise criticism.
18. — The Young Woman^s Book of Health. By Dr. William A. Aloott, author of
the ** House 1 Live In," " Young Housekeeper," ** Library of Health," etc 12mo.,
pp. 3 1 1. New York : Miller, Orton <& Mulhgan.
This b a Taluable treatise on all matters pertaining to the physical education and
development of woman. It treats of the diseases incident to the sex, in the most
unexceptionable manner, and as the result of much experience and long and patient
labar, is entitled to the highest respect from those whom it is designed to instruct and
benefit.
llw— T'Af Sure Anchor r or the Young Christian Admonished, Exhorted, and Encour-
aged. By Rev. H. P. ANoaaws. 12mo., pp. 316. Boston: James French tk Co.
Few religious books have been written in a style more attractive than this. The
analogy of the ship and all that pertains to the ocean is sustained throughout the
work.
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l^.—The Contrant Between Good and Bad Mm. IllwinAed bj the Biographr and
TruthB of the Bible. By Gabdnsb Spring, D. D.« LL. D., Pastor of the Brick
Presbyterian Church, in the City of New York. In 2«yolB. 8vo., pp. 417 and 412.
New York : M, W. Dodd.
Dr. Spring is among the moat popular and acceptable preachers in the American
Presbyterian Church, and is moreover the author of a number of works on reUgious
subjects, all more or less stamped with the views of the Church to which he belongs.
The present work is designed to furnish the reader some opportunity of deciding the
questions, Who are good and who are wicked men ? — a rather difficult problem for
the finite mind of man to solve. The author, however, professes to give an impartkd
view of the subject ; to look at ^food men and bad men as they are. Good men have
their weaknesses and faults *, wicked men, too, have their virtues. The author's iUot-
trations are chiefly drawn from the Bible.
16. — Plym<mth Collection of Hymne and Tunee : for the Use of Chnstian Congrega-
tions. 8vo., pp. 484. New York: A. S. Barnes & Co.
The plan of this book is somewhat unique. It combbes both the poetry and the
music of religious worship. It numbers more than thirteen hundred hymns and
nearly four hundred tunes. The compiler, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, has ran-
sacked the whole realm of devotional poetry, and, besides the common and popular
hymns embraced in the books of the past, has enriched his collection with many not
to be found in any other collection llie musical department of the work was pre-
pared by Mr. John Zundel and the Rev. Charles Beecher. Aside from the intrineie
excellence of the collection, the great popularity of the editor will insure for it a
most favorable reception in the churches of the North and East. It is a handsomely
printed book.
17. — Cora and the Doctor; or Revelations of a Physician's Wife. 12mo., pp. 407.
Boston : John P. Jewett <b Co. New York : Sheldon, Lamport <fr Co.
This volume is dedicated to Dr. John Jefifries, the highly-esteemed physician of Um
authoress, *' in grateful remembrance of his professional rervices, but \bithout his coo-
sent, from a desire to remain incognito." Ilie revelations of a physician's wife, if
truthful, would develop some curiosities that would make the uninitiated stare. We
have not been able to dip deep enough into the book to decide upon its merits as a
whole, but from the fact that during a recent visit to Boston we saw a large numba
of copies piled up in one corner of a benevolent merchant's counting-room, we jvtigQ
that the book is designed by its circulation to do good.
18. — Zettere to a Young Fhyiieian Just Entering upon Practice. By James Jack-
son, M. Dn LL. D. 18mo., pp. 844. Boston : Philhps, Sampson A Ca New York :
J. C. Derby.
These letters embrace much that will interest not only the young practioner, bat
the general inquirer. The teachings of an old and ex|)eiienced physidaD like Dr.
Jackson, cannot prove otherwise than useful and instructive to the young physician
about to assume the responsible duties of a very useful profession. Written in the
spirit of candor, in a familiar style, the work cannot fail of meeting with favor beyoad
the pale of the profession.
U.-^Words/or the Worker. Six Lectures. By Rev.W.D.HALicT,of Alton. Boston:
Crosby A Co. 1856. 12mo.
These are earnest ** words " from an earnest man to an earnest dass on an earnest
subject Steppiog out of the usual circle of Sunday meditation, Mr. Haley di^^oursei
on Labor, Capital, Self Education, Books, Character, Christianity, in a way which the
workers appredated, and with a generous, truthful, hopeful spirit We understand
he is a successful young minister of the liberal school, for whom the AUoniana are
jnst completing a substantial church.
20.— /«>ra'« Child 12ma, pp. 604. New York : J. C. Derby. Boeton : PhiUipe,
Sampson <b Co.
A pleasantly written romance, with a well conceived plot and admirably sustabed.
The heroine's history is veiled in obscurity, until by singular coinddences it b brought
to light The reader will follow the interests of Isiora's Child with earnestness, and
will find in her history, as well as in some of the o&er characters, true repreaentatteos
of life. *^
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21. — A Vint to India, China, and Japan in the year 1868. By Bata&d Tatloe.
12010., pp. 689. New York : George P. Putoam i Co.
The present volame closes the record of the author's two-and-a-half years' travel,
which was commenced in the " Journey to Central Africa," and continued in the
" Lands of the Saracen." Bayard Taylor, though a rapid traveler, has a clear, keen
eye, and a quick perception, and a power of description that comparatively few of
lu8 coteroporaries possess. There is an apparent truthfulness in his delineation of
scenes and incidents, that adds greatly to the value of whatever he undertakes to
write. The entire travels included in this hook, embracing India, China, Japan, Loo
Choo and Bonin Islands, and a long homeward voyage around the Cape of Good Hope,
were all accomplished in the space of a year, and yet few of the descriptions bear
any marks of haste. When Bayard Taylor says that he has ** conscientiously endeav-
ored to be correct or im partial ,** we, from a knowledge of his personal character, are
ready to give him our entire credence.
22.— /fiftif View of Slavery; or a Tour among the Planters. 12mo., pp. 818. Bos-
ton : John P. Jewett A Co.
This volume professes to contain little more than a record of facts eeen and learned
during an extensive tour in the Southern States in 1862 and 1863, being a journal
made by the author at the time. The manut>cript, as originally prepared for tbe press,
we are told in Dr. Parsons' preface, contained the entire names of persons and places.
These, at the suggestion of the careful publieher, have in moat instances been sup-
pressed, or the initials only inserted. This was done solely from a regard for the feel-
ings of the individuals refered to, many of whom the author counts among his personal
friends. Those who wish to test the truth of his statements can have the names by
applying to the «uthor or publisher. Dr. Parsons takes, of course, the northern view
of slavery, but aside from that^ his book contains much that interests the unprejudiced
reader, North or Sooth.
28.— ul<ptra/f on. An Autobiography of Girlhood. By Mrs. Maknkbs. 12ma, pp. 884.
New York : Shedon, Lamport & Co.
This story it written with an earnest purpose. Regarding the undefined dissatis-
&ction which creeps silently but surely into the eoul, as it makes advances in all
earthly knowledge, and the unconscious reaching out for the Divine Ideal, which marks
an earnest nature, as the unwritten history of every thoughtful student, the author's
aim has been to teach such that not wealth, nor position, nor beauty, nor intellectual
elevation, nor friendship, nor love, all good in their place, can dispel this dissatisfaction.
In a word, Mrs. Manners has aimed to be iaithful to the soul advancing into a culti-
vated maturity of woaianhood. .--•'
24. — Berriee and Bloteomt : a Verse Book for Young People. By T. Wicstwood, au-
thor of the ** Burden of the Bell," ** Beads from a Rosary," ** Miscellaneous Poems."
Cleveland: a B. Shaw.
This book affords evidence of the progress of printing in the West It would be
creditable to the press in any of our Atlantic cities. The poems are written in an
easy and graceful style, and possess charms that will enlist the attention of young
people.
26. — Habits and Men ; with Remnants of Record touching the Makers of Both. By
Dr. DoRAN, author of ** Table Traits," ** Queens of England," ikc^ <fcc 12mo., pp. 402.
New York : J. a Redfield.
A collection of essavs and sketches, the character of which is indicated in the title.
Those who are fond of rare and racy reading, who seek to blend amusement with gen-
eral information, adding capital to their stock of conversational lore, will find in Dr.
Doran a very pleasant and companionable friend.
26. — Learning to Talk ; or Entertaining and Instructive Lessons in the Use of Lan-
guage. By Jacob Abbott. New York : Harper & Brothers.
This is the first number of three volumes, called "Harper's Picture Books for the
Nursery." It is intended for very young children, and seems to be finely adapted for
its purpose. It is illustrated with 170 engravings. The pictures will amuse and fix
the attention of the child while the descriptions are read ; the stories will instruct and
amnse at the same tUne.
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^I.^Oahfield; or Fellowship in the East By W. D. AaxoLD. 12mo^ pp. 444. Kev
York: D. Appleton <fc Oo.
Mr. Arnold, of the fifth regiment of British nativ^o infantry, U a most worthy son of
the late Dr. A*nold, of Kugby. Uis descriptions of Indian every day life are qnite
inviting, and drawn with apparent accuracy. India id much talked of m England just .
now — more than since the days of Warren Hastings For, as the author shrewdly ra-
•marks, the Winchester folks want cotton, and when cotton is wanted. Eagland ii
ready to begin and consider its duty to India. Oakfield Uall has an aim, and a g^ood
one. It U Ui inspire an eame^tne^ and give a moral tone to the English mind, and
thus bring ab.iut a reform in the government of the British possessions in the East
The work is written in a scholarly style, and will bs read wiUi more than ordinary in-
terest by a large class of persons.
28. — The Physiolofjy of Marriage, By an Old Physician. 18mo., pp.?59. Boetoo:
John P. Jewett i Co.
The importance of the topics treatei in this volume will not we think, be ques-
tioned. It is ddii^ned for thj young of bith sex is. Tiiere are tho^e porh ips who will
object to one or two chapters a) not so well adapted to the wants of mere boys as to
those of youth and youig men; while tha former will ba the mast eager to read them.
We do not think so. Ignorance is the moat fruitful source of physical, social, and
moral evil. Tna volume i* divided into fourteen chapters, in whicn the true relattoot
of the sexes, premature marriage and its consequences, errors of courtship, and ednoa-
tion, are judiciously treated. One chapter is devote 1 to individual transgression and
its penalties ; aaother to a >cial errors and their punishment; another to the physical -^
laws of marriaife ; another to the laws of pre^jn mcy, <fec The work is c-alculated to Jj
do much good, and should be put into the haa U of young childrdb, that they may "
learn how to escape the evil consequences arisia^j from ignorancs.
t^.^The Origin and Hlttory of the Doctrine of JEndlets Punishment, By Thoicas B.
TuATER. Boston : James M. Usher.
The design of this little work is to show that the d )Ctrine of endless puni'^hmeot is AS
not of divine origin, but traceable directly to a heathen source. It does not prdfost "*
to be an elaborately philosophical or critical discussion of the subject, but only a pop-
ular presenutlm of the method of proof, and of the leading facts and authorities oo
vhich the argument rests. That the old doctrine of endless torment far transoeadt ^^
trangressions, scarcely requires argument in this nineteenth century. Suffering is snrs "^
to follow sin, lasting as long as that lasts.
SO. Maud, and Other Poems. By Alfred TeNNrsoir, D. L. 0., Poet Laureate. ISom^
pp. 150. Boston: Ticknor A Fields.
Maad covers one hundred and eighteen pages of this beantifnl volume, and is fol-
lowed by seven other spirited poems. Tennyson is, we believe, very generally re-
garded as the best livmg English poet His philosophy is evidently of the transoso-
dental school, but we suppose, as Poet Laureate, it must be regarded as perlectl/
orthodox.
31. — The Rag Picker; or Bond and Free. 12mo, pp. 431. New York : Maeoo A
Brothers. , ^
This popular tale has passed through we know not how many editions, and the 4»- « ,
mand for it is not yet exhausted. It belongs to the " Lamplighter,** ** Watchmao,* aa'' '
* Newsboy ** class of literature, and will not lose by comparison with either.
I
s
82. Leaves from a Family Journal, From the French of Emile Sodvestrb, i
of the ** Attic Pnilosopber in Paris." 12mo., pp. 277. New York: D. Appletov
<fcCk).
A beautiful transUtion of a very interesting journal of family life. It wiH fiat"
among the cultivated and refined many admiring readers.
tZ.—The Deserted Wife, By Mrs. Emm\ D. E. N. Southworth. author of the • Ittm^
ing Bride," ** Lost Ueirc^s," " Wife's Victory," '» Curse of Clifton," •* Deserted Da^^ '
ter," etc 12mo, pp. 68tJ. Philadelphia : T. B. Peterson.
Mrs. South worth has acquired a con-^iderable reputation for her finely-drava plQ<^"
tures of American life. The present volume equals in grace, vigor, and imiwatin |>»
lerest, any preceding publication from the same popukr pen.
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HUNT'S
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE.
Establlsbed Jnlyt I839«
BY FREEMAN HUxYT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
VOLUME XXXIIL DECEMBER. 186 5. NUMBER VI.
CONTENTS OF NO. VI., VOL. XXXIII. '
lETICLKS.
I. PROGRESS OF COMMERCE AND SCIENCE. Thoughts on Navfwtlon— War— H.iiit- 659
lug and FUhiDg—Agrlcutture—Miulng— Manufactures. Bj A. H. RvDiea, Esq., of New
Jarsey
II. THE HARTSTEIN ARCTIC RELIEF EXPEDITION. By E.MittUM, Esq., of Brook-
lyn. I* I dW
til. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CITIES OF EUROPE.— No. zir. The City of Glas-
gow, Scotland. By D. 0< Kcllooo, Ecq., late U. d. Consul at Glasgow 673
IV. UNIFORMITY IN WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND COINS, AMONG COMMERCIAL
NATIO.NS 682
V. COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES.— No. xx. Stomp DatT—PaTorlHsm toward
Jamaica— Oihcr liiiiirious Acts— .Moodures to Advantage the Colonies. By Eaoca Halk,
Jr.,Esq.,ur New York 099
VI. TOE LAW MERCIIANT.-No. ii. The Application of Volaotary Paymento. By
Abbott Brothkrs, Counselors at Law, of New York 696
JOURNAL OF HEBCANTILE LAW.
Sweating Case— Contract of Afflrelghtroent 703
Sblppera— Unseawortbiuess-Tbo American Ship Ashland before the French Tribanal of Com-
merce 707
l«ss by Fire -»* Dangers of Rlrers only Excepted" 706
GOHIERCIAL CHRONICLE AND KETIKW:
BXBKAOINO A nNAXOlA^L AND OOMMBECIAL EB7IKV OF TBI UNITBD STATES, BTC, II.LD8TBA-
TED WITH TABLES, BTO., AS FOLLOWS :
looming Confidence in the Stock and Money Market— Further Particulars of the late Deprea-
slon— Honrdin>< of Specie- Fluctuations in Slocks and Exchansv— Revraue of tiie Country
— Cumparative s^laivments of the Commerce and Navigation of the United States for tho
Fiscal Vear ending Juuo 3i, I85G— The Bank Movement in Rosion, New York, and Phila-
delphia-The Gold Product and Deposits at the Assay OOIce— Foreign Imports at Nvw York
for October, and since January l«t— Imports of Dry Goods— Bxporta frum N««w York to
Pbreign Porto for October, and fVom January 1st— Bxporu of Domestic Produce, eto.. . .708-717
IMir Tarfc C«Cira MarkeU By Umoeh * Fmmricksoji, Bitikefi, MBIT York 717
VOL. XXXIII, — NO. VI. 42
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8(8 OONTKim OV NO. VI., TOU xxxin.
JOURHAL OF BANKING, CDRRENCT, AND FINANCE.
PAfll.
Oty Taxation io the United SUte9. Tit
Banking in the UnlUHl Statea— Ua Kfli-cta..... , J*
The M>stei7 of Exchange on England <^'
Exchange in New Orleans— Bates of i^ight Exchange ou New York and the Eastern CltlM, and
New Orleans, during ihe Year.~The Hanks of eian Praucisoo X ^
Boaland Personal Property In Philadelphia. ^
Act Relating lo Bank Charters in New Jen^e/.-San Francisco Shipments of Cold for 0 Months. 7jM
Injector an Iron Currency ht China *^
COIIBRCIil RKGUIATIORS.
Cnstomt RegulatloDS of the United states T^
Bonded Goods Passing Through Canada 7S8
Actor Lonisiaoa Relative lo Notaries in New Orleans ^
Of Executions and c$ale of Property in Lfouislana.— Uf Keeping Gunpowder In New York— >n
Abstract of the Aa ofthe Legislature of New York Rtrspectlng the Ki-eping of Gunpowder
in the City of New York ^
Dntles up«in Grain Imported Into France.— Of Liens and Chattels Mortgaged in Vermont 731
Satea of Wbarfage at the Port of New York.-Tbe SUndard Weight of LlTcrpoul tfaU at New
Orleaos.-RecelptaodDeUvery of Sample Packages. 79
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.
Marine Insvance— Perils of the Sea— Master^s Negligence— Insurer^ Liability 733
COMHKRCIAL STATISTICS.
The Report on Commerce and Navigation 73S
Profits of diave Labor.— Statistics of the Commerce of the United States 731
Tkade and Commerce of Cincinnati 741
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
notice to Harinenk—Rocks on Cortes Bank, Coast of California 743
Answer to a Problem in Narigutlon 744
Petit Mennn Ught-Hoose, Maine.— Change In the Light of Greifswald Island, Coast of Praaiis,
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND 8TEAIB0AT STATISTICS.
Rates and Regalatlons for Management and Passage of Vessels through the Ship Canal at :?l.
Mary*s Falls, Established by the Slate ttoard of Control, June, IrtU 741
jnDIci' " " - . ~ —
I Dictionary, by Zerah Cotburn, Editor of the Railruad Adviicate... 748
OUrer Brans and the Steam Engine 74t
D«Ylan*s Railroad Chair and Rail.— Railroads In the State of Con iiedicut 730
Merchant ^hlps and Steamers— Proportion of Vehsels— Large Ships fur Long Voyages. 7SI
Staamboat Trudeof St. Louis TSl
JOURNAL OF MINING AND I ANDPACTUEES.
Iron Industry of the United States 73^
ImproTements in Machinery— The Steam Hammer 7S4
Greatest Depths of Mines In the >¥orld TSS
Manafactnre of Currant Wine —Some Account ofthe Zinc of Commerce 7jl
Early Mannfsctures In New England 7S7
The Inventor of Gas Lights.— Progress of Public Works In India. 72ri
Boot and Shoe Trade of Boston. 731
STATISTICS OP AGRICULTURE, kt.
TheTeaCnltore 73t
Cinnamon Fields In Ceylon ^
AgricoJluralSutlslicsofthe Untied Kingdom Til
Corn StaUstics in France. -The Guanu Trade of Philadelphia Tti
The Imperial Rice of China.— The Cultivation of the Strawberry TO
The Plainialn Tree.— Improvemeut In the Live Stock of Ohiow— History of an Acra of Land.... 764
lERCANTILB MISCELLANIES.
Phfloeophy of Advertising.— BmerMMi on Trade TO
Ladles as Clerks —New Mercantile Movemfniiu Bostoiu 7M
Spurious Indigo In Market.— fhe Rivers of Maine the >*k>uree of her Wealth »f7
Copyofanold Bill of Lading.— A txiUle of Champagne 711
Recommendation of aCabtn ISoy.— Parsimony sad Economy In Trade 791
Measures of DUfereot Cooatrlea 779
TDB BOOI TRADE.
oraOnawBoeUor BMrfidltiona , ....ni-fV
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liUM'b
MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE
AND
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
DECEMBER, 1856,
Irt L-PR0GKES8 OF GOXXERCB IND 8CIBNCB.
THOUOBTS ON NATIOATION — WAR — HUNTING AND FISHINO — AGBIOULTVBB
MINING MANUTAOTURSS.
In the present age mercantile interests are closely connected with al-
most every pursuit Very few vocations may be found that do not exhibit
A visible tie connecting them with Commeroe. Some, of course, are more
intimately bound to it than others; and these links are larger or smaller^
.<slearer or more obscure, according to the circumstances of me case.
Empire has been rare without command of the sea. To have the Medi-
terranean, in ancient days, was to govern the world. The policy of the
priest nobles of Egypt and India was to divert popular attention from
marine vocations. The same has been the case generally with Asia and
Africa. Continental Europe has allowed Britannia to rule the waves. In
1208 Magna Charta, by its regulations, gave protection to foreign mer-
chants, prohibited delays in the administration of justice, and gave new
encouragements to Commerce. International treaties followed; and a
mercantile spirit was poured forth, copiously refreshing to the country's
prosperity. Navigation acts were framed, marine facilities progressedi
.and improved ships sailed from port to port in many directions.
With China, that ancient country, how different a policy has been pur-
sued ! The Chinese may be said to be anything but economists of time
on the water. The speed of their traveling boats bears no resemblance to
that of our steamers. Though they have given practical simplicity and
effect to many mechanical powers, yet of the motor strength in the giant
arm of steam, they are altogether ignorant '* However ancient their
knowledge of the compass, the .art of .navigation among them,** says
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660 ProgrtMB of Commerce and Science,
Davis,* " has rather retrograded than advanced in later times. It is clear
that thej once navigated as far as India, and their most distant voyages
at present extend no further than Java and the Malay Islands to the
south."
We may, perhaps, attribute this apathy to the unconquerable prejudice
— forbidding alteration in their clumsy, unsafe junks ; or to the other fact
that within ner own territory she produces everything deemed requisite
for the wants of her population. *
At the present day among commercial nations, profits of enterprise de-
mand brevity of voyage. Authentic records assure us that a proportion
of wrecks and disasters annually occurring, results from errors of the
compass. These errors are attributed to the iron used in the construction
of vessels, to the presence of tanks and funnels ; or to defects in the com-
passes themselves as supplied in ordinary trade. In vessels of war par-
ticularly, the attractive power of the guns is great. As these deviations
ditt'er in vessels, there is no remedy for ascertaining the true amount bat
by direct experiment Each ship of the Royal Navy has its compass ad-
justed previous to setting sail on a long voyage. Hence, the establishment
of the ** Compass Observatory " in En^and. It remains to be fully devel-
oped whether similar precautions are soon to be taken in the mercantile
marine, so that future hazards and losses may be independent of these pre-
cautions.
The value of cargoes depends upon the nature of the voyage in many
instances ; favorable currents and fair winds facilitate progress. ^ It has
been shown that Lieut. Maury's Charts and Sailing Directions," says Dr.
Breist, " have shortened the voyages of American ships by about one-
third." The Kew Committee had lately intrusted to them for verification
and adjustment 1,000 thermometers and 50 barometers for the navy of
the United States, as well as 500 thermometers and 60 barometers for the
English service.
Hereafter, observations and surveys by scientific oflBcers of the navy aad
mercantile marine are to be rendered more available to science and mas-
kind. The British government has established a department in the Boaid
of Trade to carry out valuable recommendations for improving navieatSoB
and accumulating meteorological data. Meanwhile, the National Obser-
vatory at Washington has not been idle ; and a large number of ships,
chiefly American, are now engaged in observations, stimulated by the ad-
vice and aided by documents liberally fnmished by the United States.
The two oonntries of Anglo-Saxon ori^n are broadly proclaiming the ad-
vantages of the sea. Neither the chivalrous knight nor the warlike cru-
sader, but the courteous merchant^ is a prominent character of the a^
His main aid is the sailor. Crood-will goes forth with the sailor, and in
him you find your citizen of the world. The mission of the soldier is i^
gressive ; that of the sailor is pacific The one marches to confiict aaid
carries with him terror aad ruin ; the other bears tidings of peace and ii
hailed with pleasure and profit
Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Russia, and France, exhibit large commer-
dal tonnage, with considerable naval force ; but the great bulk of eommet-
cial tonnage is fbuml with America and England. Acquirements of Con-
neroe and its advances, aocompanying increased facilities for navigatioB,
' OMrM1IMwy«rOMntTol.fl»«M.
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mf^^ correspoikding improvemeDts in naval power. la a retrospective
view recur to Carthage, who, as she became wealtliy and influcDtial, at-
tained the most commanding position in the world ; but her avenues of
power were mainly, if not entirely maritime and mercantile — and in this
point her conqueror soon gained over her a vast advantage. The country
having resources and means of a merely commercial character, may soon
fall an easy prey to the eagerness of mercenary foes, whuse power is supe-
rior or whose main policy points to valor and battle. Mr. Wheaton, in
writing to our Secretary of State, 20th of November, 182*7, from Copen-
hagen, says : —
*' You can hardly have an adequate notion how this country (Denmark)
was impoverished by the war brought upon it. * * * When we
consider that they lost at a single blow their navigation and all their cap-
ital engaged in Commerce, we cannot wonder at their reluctance to enter
into new engagements.^'
A navy not only adds vastly to geographical discovery, but affords its
contributions to civilizing efforts and to science. It also hovers around
the paths of the merchants' ships ; and by the very exhibition of its force,
deters all attempts to disturb ** their mission of peace and brotherhood
across the seas." Our official documents exhibit prodigious growth in
trade and navigation ; and every sea bears the evidences of our increasing
maritime powers.
WAR.
In rapid succesdon, after the invention and use of gunpowder, various
war facilities appeared. Among these were cannon, mortars, muskets^
bullets, bombshells, and other materials and implements. At the siege of
Algiers in 1*304, tiie use of gunpowder first appeared. The crusades,
which were outlets for a Roman spirit, martial if not barbarous in its ten-
dencies, were attended by their peculiar influences. Provisions for outfits,
with such conveyances and other needfuls as the red cross warriors re-
quired to reach the field of action, were supplied by the merchants. The
palmers, or pilgrims, on their return, scattered knowledge of far-off cus-
toms, broke shackles of superstition ; and, while turning attention to the
celigion of Christendom, gave vitality to its literature and trade.
The use of gunpowder, invented by a mind turned to Roman tenets, ex-
hibited that a warlike spirit had almost overdone itself. Taste for torture,
as well as conflict, had reached its climax. Combat was carried to ex-
oess. The most heroic warriors fell before a trembling touch given to the
destroying engine. The veriest coward often conquered with ease. In-
genuity overreached genuine bravery. Chivalry, which had its flourishing
period, had been designed to infuse humanity in war, to foster truth and
justice, modify martial taste, and cherish that attention toward the female
sex for which the Gothic race is so distinguished. Its influence operating
with the humanizing teachings of Christianity, it diffused a spirit of com-
ity which inspired Commerce and spread through our modem jurbprtt-
dence, making it so widely distinguished from ancient systems. But
chivalry had ^so its evils : and among these were its fantastic notions of
honor, and its neglect of mental culture for mere accomplishments of gal-
lantry.
This military system was gradually modified by time. As matured and
presented by our own patriotic heroes, it has won world-wide renown^
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MS Pr^ffrtm 0f C^mmerci and Sciemx.
Out immortal general, a son of the ^ chivatroos SouU^** was not len gal-
lant than brave. Discountenancing any bnt defensive action, these sturdy
patriots blended science with bravery ; and wrought out victory in a man-
ner as honorable to their humanity as to their fortitude and heroism.
Late statistics of the military force and resources of the several nations
of Europe present a formidable warlike aggregate. But for all purposes
of offensive and defensive warfi^re, they exhibit nothing surpassing tlie in-
ternal military strength of the United States. Many volunteer companies,
scattered over the Union, subject to military rules and regulations, are
duly equipped and almost fully disciplined. A fair proportion of artilletT
force and dragoons will also be observed. Military and naval schools, ad-
mirably established and conducted, are sustained by Congress in a liberal
manner. The actual organized military force of the Federal Govemmenti
though not large, is adequate in efficiency. And, considering the total
militia force of the Union, added to the fact of an inherent military
spirit in the American, with an accustomed use of arms in field sports and
target practice, a potent array of war facilities may be readily seen in oor
republic.
Prevailing philosophy in America wisely teaches doctrines averse U>
war ; and me ruling policr encourages every pacific vocation. Humaa
nature is, nevertheless, in all ages the same ; and nations known to pos^
sess wealth are not permitted to enioy prolonged repose. In time of
peace prepare for war ; as wars are, in the nature of things, inevitable.
They are often in themselves purifying tempests to governments, and not
unfrequently, when sanguinary and protracted, emaciating and radically
destructive. Either luxury, more oppressive than the swoni, assails a peo-
ple, stirring up desires for conquest or internal commotions ; or they be-
come a prey to the race having cultivated courage and the art of war to a
greater extent than themselves. Consideration and discipline for war are
all-important
As a power in war, navies become indispensable at an early period. Vast
variations have come over these aspects within a few centuries. The flai-
bottomed vessels of the Saxons, with wicker upper works and hide saila,
have long been superseded by efficient ships and other craft Radical
changes have been wrought by science within the present century in tba
structure of sea vessels, and in modes of sea warfare. In the session of
Parliament, 1841, the Duke of Wellington remarked, in the Houae of
Lords, that ho did not remember in all his experience, except the then re-
cent instance on the coast of Syria, (siefife of Acre,) of any fort being taken
by ships, excepting two or three years before, when the fort of St Jean
d'Ulloa was captured by the French fleet That was the single instance
he recollected, though he believed that something of the sort had occnrred
at the siege of Havana in 1763. The proceeding imder consideration bad
been altogether most skillful. Not less than 500 pieces of ordnance were
directed a^inst the walls, and the precision of firing so well kept up, the
wise position of the vessels, and the explosion of the magazine, all aided
in the speedy achievement of victory. It was one of the greatest deeds
of modem times. The invention of ordnance and the application of steam
to ships of war as a motive power, render it difficult to anticipate the
verge to which naval military power may in the future extend.
The present warlike attitude in Europe gives scope to military sdenca.
Bngland, France, Turkey, Russia,, Austria, and Prussia, present na wUk
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Progrtn ef Ckxmim^rt^ and Seieiue. iM^
M6s for varied operations. The policy of Russia is traditionary. Ene*
land, with possessions reauiring watchfulness, finds herself allied wiui
France, to whom a war is out vent for military ambition. Our own ez*
tensive intercourse facilitates edification in the art of war ; and America
derives benefits from remote experience. Already our Secretary of War
has annouftced that important results among the remarkable incidents of
battle indicate that material modifications will be made in the future ar-
manient of troops.
Naval experiments with new artillery have recently been made in £ng^
land, in the presence of military and naval commanders, which practice
has been described as good. During the past year the United States War
Department ordered a substitute to take tne place of the percussion lock
on all muskets hereafter to be made at the public armories, and we thus
see that the metallic cap, which was of itself an advance, is superseded by
a still greater improvement
HUNTIKO AND FISHING.
We read of nothing of hunting as a pursuit till the days of Nimrod,
after the flood. Nomadic modes of life, with their wild and excited sports,
were introduced subsequently to the pastoral ; probably by men wearied
with the daily and nightly watchings of the plain, or the monotonous labor
of the field. In certain periods of history hunting has been in certain lo-
calities a common pursuit The goddess of the chase,* reared by My-
thology, was represented as a healthfiil-looking huntress of the woods,
bearing a quiver of arrows and a bow. Joys of the chase are renowned
in story and song. The dart added to security and comfort The Saxon
bow, with its toil of utility, was often taken in the path of pleasure.
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, bom 2d July, 1489, in his
boyhood, " was put to learn his granmiar of a rude parish clerk," and was
permitted by his father to follow " the civil and gentlemanlike exercises ^
of the day, which consisted of diversions of hunting and hawking, and
drill in the use of the bow. The hunt in Europe, &ough less common
than formerly, may often be found and enjoyed. A letter before us speaks
of the hunting lodge of Uie Duke of Nassau, located in a gorge of the
monntain which overshadows the town of Wiesbaden, near the Rhine.
Here the duke enjoys the pleasures of the chase amid extensive forests, in
which deer abound. Similar facilities are possessed by others.
The bow, spear, club, and trap, together with the more modem inven-
. tions, have been called by traders into the channels of tra£Sc. American
hunters and Westem riflemen (renowned for sharp-shooting in Mexico)
find a charm about their pursuits which creates an attachment not easily
relinquished. Inventions and contrivances have afforded facilities to this
vocation, and it is connected with the wealth of large estates. Legislative
enactments have regulated, and large companies engaged in it It has
been not only a road to opulence, but to enlarged geographical and scien-
tific observation. " In survejring the widely-extended trade of the North-
west Company," says Haskel, August 2, 1820, "we perceive evidence of
mo energy and perseverance highly creditable to its members as men of
business. They have explored the westem wilds, and planted their estab-
lishments over a tract of country some thousands of miles in extent
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W^ Proffreas 4>/ Gmnmeree 4md SmtMk
They have made the Bayages of the wildernesa tributary to the oomfoiis
of oivilized society." Science has facilitated the pureuita of huntiDg and
fishing; and they, in their turn, have added to the light of science.
The fish of the Nile, the Mediterranean, with those of the Indian Ocean
and the inland seas of Asia, are read of in history. An American writer^
speaking of pleasure, says ^' There is fishing — the contemplative man^s re-
creation. Read Walton and fish. Ye who are seeking for a cheap, quiet
{)leasure, betake yourself to a shady, retired nook, and pass a day in si-
ence and reflection. It is an occupation full of wisdom." But fishing is
susceptible of several views. The term fisherman awakens recollections ai
familiar history. Fishing is extensively resorted to as a recreation ; con-
siderable numbers pursue it in some one or other of its branches as a busi-
ness. Regulating enactments apply to our river and bay fish ; while cer-
tain international treaties pertain to the herring, mackerel, and cod fisheiies.
The latter came near involving the country, a short time ago, in conflict
Whale catching with Americans has long been a popular pursuit Science
has acquired many a trophy from our enterprising whalemen. Their
broadly extended skill and intrepidity in this branch of labor are attended
by encomium and profitable rewards.
AGRICULTURE.
The narrative with which we are favored of the early history and set-
tlement of the family of Adam, represents them as living together in one
place, or diverging to separate localities in companies, and attending in
general to agricultural and pastoral vocations.
Culture of the soil is of perpetual importance. The doctrine that agri-
culture constituted the best basis of the prosperity and happiness of a
nation, was a valued principle of the Mosaic constitution. It was held in
high esteem by many ancient nations. China, Egypt, Rome, are countries
who valued most highly the plow. Before astronomical observations
reached any great degree of accuracy, the ancient Greeks had to watdi
the rising of Arcturus, the Pleiades, and Orion, to mark their seasons, and
to determine the proper time for their rural labors. At the rising of the
star Sir! us along with the sun, the Egyptians expected the overflowing of
the Nile, at which event they were to sow their grain, or as sacred writ
has it, " cast their bread upon the waters." They also then cut their ca-
nals and reservoirs, and prepared the way for their expected harvest
Pressure of agricultural produce finds scope in trade. Calls of Com-
merce stimulate tilth. The farmer ceases to be isolated and exclusive ; he
tills his fields not for himself alone, but for others. Refuse lands are re-
claimed. Swamps and forests are superseded by farms and gardens ; and
proli6c produce seeks its way to manufactory and mart Contributions
firom the soil become commodities of trade. Invention and ingenuity
open avenues of traffic, and society arises as an arena of mutual ex-
change.
Agriculture, at the time of the conquest, was in an extremely low con-
dition in England. A gradual improvement continued with the advance
of Commerce. Tillage became less imperfect ; implements of husbandly
less rude. The roots that now smoke on our tables, cabbages, carrots^ po-
tatoes, were then unknown. Wheaten bread was rarely used — ^the com-
mon kinds being made of rye, barley, or peas. Subsequently, continenta
were brought under contribution, and agricultural science has advanced at
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Prcfjifreu (^ Oamwkeree cmd 3eimce» 9U
attapid rate, Profeeaed cbecEUSts, audi a8 Ltebeg, Joboston, Draper, Cbil-
tOD, and others, have analyzed eoils and plants. Entomologists have die-
Gpvered the nature of destructive insects ; and ornithologists ttie auxiliaries
in their destruction. It is becoming well understood that agriculture is a
Boienoe as well as an art ^^ Its successful cultivation is intimately allied
with the most profound inrestigations of philosophy and the most elabor-
ate exertions of the human mind." The broad expanse of our own coun-
try, with its practical formers, its agricultural societies and institutions,
exhibita an active prosecution of the theory and practice of this leading
pursuit
MIKIKO.
This branch of labor arose in the rude search for gems and golden
grains. The amethyst of India and the turquoise of Turkey have been of
interest to trade ; the same may also ba said of many other gems, as the
opal of Hungary and the emerald of Sweden. Diamonds of Pastael,
twenty miles from Golconda, at the foot of the Gate Mountains, have been
in great request. The valuable gold mines of California brought that re-
gion into immediate notice.
Of more or less consequence to Commerce have been the flints of
France and the copper of Siberia ; the pumice of Lipari ; the emery of
Naxos, and the gypsum of Nova Scotia. In the department of Aude, in
France, twelve hundred persons were at one time employed in fabricating
the jet found there into buttons, ear-rings, bracelets, etc. The amber pits
of Prussia, the explorations of which, exceed one hundred feet in depth,
are said to have afforded a revenue of twenty-six hundred dollars annually
to the bend of the government. The salt mines near Cracow have been
wrought since 1261. At the bottom of these mines, in some places one
thousand feet, a commonwealth of families reside, having their convenient
dwellings, carriages, and avenues, their peculiar manners, amusements,
and polity.
In 1307, coals were first used in England. Great Britain is probably
more indebted for her national aggrandizement to her mineral wealth than
to many other causes combined. Without her coal, her metallic ores
could never have been drawn from the depths of the earth where they
were concealed ; or if near the surface they could never have been profit-
ably refined. Without her coal, her Birmmgham, her SheflSeld, her Man-
chester, and other manufacturing towns would never have existed. With-
out her manufactures her Commerce would be prostrated. At the present
time (1836) the coal areas in the British Islands cover 12,000 square miles,
with an annual produce of 87,000,000 tons ; France, 2,000 miles, annual
produce, 4,160,000 tons; United States, 113,000 miles, annual produce,
6,000,000 tons.
Improvements in tools, the lise of hydraulic machines, and the steam-en-
gine, nave aided vastly in distributing mineral treasures among the nations.
The connective sciences of geology and mineralogy have been industriously
pursued. A grand source of individual and general prosperity is the de-
velopment of the natural resources of the country.
MANUFACTURES.
The raw material of the eartl^ whether it be veeetatioii of the earth or
the ore of the mine, passes through processes of <£ange. Fabrics appear
t0 suit the calls of need and of mioj^ Implements are brought i^rtk ai
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the deroaQds of emergency and necessity. Manufacturing attendants upon
trade add yastly to home comforts, fireside and social conveniences.
Intercourse is of vast benefit to manufactures. Roger Guiseard, in 1 146,
brought home from Greece certain captives, who taught at Palermo the
art of rearing the silk-worm and weaving silk. In 1831, the art of weav-
ing cloth was introduced in England, and in 1386 linen weavers appear.
In 1530, the spinning-wheel was invented; in 1690, the art of weaving
hose : all followed by a variety of valuable inventions and discoveries in
the manufacturing domains of labor. By aid of machinery, first used ia
England within a century, that country has largely pursued manufactaring
branches, and, not deterred by local differences in the value of labor, thmr
cotton and woolen goods float upon almost every sea of the world.
The advances of science are due neither to associations of ingeniouB
men, nor to philosophical societies, though these have their uses, but to
the labors of individuals working by themselves. *^ What a man earns by
thought, study, and care, is as much his own,'' says Webster, " as what he
obtains by his hands." Hence, Congress is authorized to secure to each
inventor the enjoyment of his invention as his own property. He has an
original, inherent right in it as a personal earning — an acquisition it is by
the paramount right of nature. So far as the people of our Republic pre-
sent their abilities at invention, (as at the exhibitions of England and
France,) they display, in preponderating phase, a practical tendency of
mind. They do not tarry to embellish and adorn, nor seek to sacrifice
utility to elegance. In the machinery and inventive departments they ex-
hibit most genius and capacity. Without seeking to excite artificial de-
sires, they present their object, having for its ^m creation and usefulneaa.
Art. n.— THE HARTSTEIN ARCnC BELIEF RIPEDITIO!!.
This expedition was fitted out by the government of the United States
for the search and rescue of Doctor Kane and his brave little company of
seventeen young men, who sailed in the Grinneli brig Advance, of 144
tons, from New York, on the 31st of May, 1853, for the Polar seas, in
search of Sir John Franklin. The long absence of Dr. Kane, with the
knowledge of the sad fate of Sir John Franklin, created so painful a sen-
sation in the public mind, that Congress made an appropriation of one
hundred and fifly thousand dollars at their last session to cover the oosi
of sending two vessels for the search and rescue of the ice-bound expedi-
tion.
The bark Release, of 330 tons, Lieut H. J. Hartstein commanding, and
propeller Arctic, of 250 tons, Lieut G. C. Simms, with a company of 49
volunteers, all told, sailed from Sandy Hook on the 4th day of June last
On the 5th July the expedition reached Leivelly, in latitude about 69*^ N.,
longitude 54^ 45' W., where they remained until the 9th. From thenoe
they proceeded to Haroe Island, where they obtained bituminous coal from
the mines. On the 16th they were off Upper Navick, the most northern
Danish settlement on the coast of Greenloid, latitude about 7^ N., loogi-
tnde about 66^ W. On the 29th ice made half an indi thick, iempeni*
tare on board the vessel, 81^ On the 9th <^ Angoat Oape MelfUki m
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The JBurtitetn AreHe Belief Expeditum, m*t
IfttStnde about 76^, longitude about 64^, was distant about 80 miles. On
the loth they were off Cape Alexander; and on the 17 th reached latitude
78* 21' S4" N., longitude 72** 87' W., the highest northing made, and
were then within a few miles of Dr. Kane^s vessel, the Advance, which wat
frozen in on the 10th of September, 1853, in latitude 78* 45' N.
In my appeal to the public in behalf of Dr. Kane and his companions,
published in the New York papers of the 6th of December, 1 854, 1 said :
^ He has doubtless proceeded from Cape Alexander north, without going
south and west;" and so it has proved. Lieut. Uartstein on the 17th
landed on Littleton Island, and from thence on the same day proceeded to
Erene Bay, where he landed and found a settlement of Esquimaux, num-
bering about thirty, who were living in tents made of the sails of Dr.
Kane^s vessel.
From them he learned that Dr. Kane and his party had been there
about two months previous, and had gone south in boats. From hero
I^ut Hartstein proceeded south and west, and on the 20th landed on the
shores of Possession Bay, the west shore of Baffin^s, in latitude about 73*
SC N., longitude about 77* W. After going south a little way, they
erossed Bamn^s Bay, and on the 12th of September were in sight of the
western coast of Greenland, and on the 18th, in reentering the harbor of
Leivelly, discovered a Danish brig, which, immediately on seeing them,
hoisted the American flag, which Lieut Hartstein supposed was done as
a compliment to the expedition ; but in a few moments after, two whale
boats put off from Leivelly with the Pot Rock flag hoisted, having the
aherished name of Henry Grinnell upon it, and shortly after Dr. Kane
came on board.
He and his party had made the tour from Erene Bay, over the ice and
through the water, to Upper Navick, and there found the Danish brig, in
which they had taken passage for Europe, and on their way stopped at
Leivelly^ where they providentially met Lieut Hartstein. On the 1 8th of
September the expedition lefl Leivelly, the Arctic having the bark Release
and Danish briff m tow; and on the 11th of October — twenty-three days
— -reached Sandy Hook, having been absent only four months and eleven
days, and most successfully and most fully accomplished the object of the
expedition.
The government of the United States has done itself high honor in
sending forth the relief expedition, and Lieut Hartstein has won for him-
self an imperishable fame in so promptly volunteering in this humane
service, and conducting it with such great skill and good seamanship as to
make it eminently successful.
I have been kindly furnished with a journal of the entire cruise of the
Hartstein expedition— embracing observations upon the temperature of
the atmosphere, temperature of the water, markings of the barometer,
course and force of the wind, state of the weather, condition of the ice,
latitudes and longitudes, variations of the needle, bearings of the land, <ka,
Blade and recorded every four hours, night and day.
As I record the temperature of the atmosphere every sixty minutes,
night and day, at my place of observation on Brooklyn Heights, and have
continued these observations for a series of years, I have the accurate
means of comparison with the records of observation by the Hartstein
expedition simultaneously made. I have likewise the original records of
mervaUona made hourly for me by Lieut De Haven during his cruise in
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ees Tke ffarUtem Antic lUUrf JBigHitUtim
the Arctic seas in 18^0 and 1851, also for compariBon. In 'addBtion t»
these, I keep a record of the dritl of Arctic ice reported by veaaeb crossing
the Atlantic, and this record covers fifteen consecutive years, viz^ from
1841 to 18<35, inclusive.
These recoixls, together with those recently obtained from Sir Edwaid
Belcher, commander of the British Arctic Expedition, who was in the
Arctic zone nearly Uiree years, ending with the autumn of 1854, illustrate
the extraordinary, and until now undiscovered fact, that the more intense
the Arctic cold, the greater the flow of the Arctic ice* They also iUue-
tra^ and show that in summer, heated terms here are cold terms in the
Arctic, and vice versa. The same holds good in comparing the winter
temperatures of both places of observation.
This comparison has also been extended to the observations made by
Lieut. Parry during near a yearns sojourn at Melville Island, north of lati-
tude 75° and west of the line of no variation, in 1819 and 1820, and those
of Oapt Franklin and Dr. Richardson, on the continent bordering the
Polar Sea east of Copper Mine River, longitude 117° W., in 1821 and
1822, and near the mouth of M^Kenzie's, in longitude about 137^ W., in
1824 and 1 825, all with the same results.
Neither Lieut Hartstein nor Lieut. De Haven observed any lightning
or heard thunder, while in the Arctic zone ; nor do I find any mention of
that phenomenon by any Arctic navigator within that limit Earthquakes
have not been observed there ; I have never found that phenomenon no-
ticed in any account which has been published by Arctic navigators, tf
they occur at sUl, the occurrence must therefore be very rare. High winda
and storms, however, prevail within the Arctic zone.
The lowest temperature recorded by Lieut Hartstein during his cruise,
was 26° on the 9th of August, in latitude about 76°. This was the tem-
perature on board the Arctic ; on the ice beyond the heat of the vessel, it
was doubtless several degrees lower. Lieut De Haven in 1 850, in the
same vicinity, observed the same decree of temperature on the Idth of
August, and thie lowest in that monui.
When Lieut Hartstein was entering the harbor of Leivelly on the 5th
of July, a snow storm of several hours prevailed ; imd next day, at four
P. M., the temperature rose to 76°, and at four o^clock next momijig had
fallen to 28° — a change of forty-eight degrees in twelve hours. Seventy-
six degrees is a very high temperature for that latitude, and we think it
is probable that the sun's rays may have fallen on the bulb of Uie ther-
mometer. There is, however, one fact to be stated in conneotton with this
high temperature— and that is, that it occurred within two hours of the
termination of the heated term here, which commenced on the 25th of
June and lasted till the 6th of July — durition twelve days — during which
the temperature here rose to 98°. The heat passed like the shadow of aa
eclipse, from the temperate to the frigid zone.
The aurora borealis was seen but twice during the cruise, vis., on the
11th of September, in latitude about 69° 30' N., longitude about 61° W^
and again on the 4th of October, in latitude 42° 34' N., longitude 62°
46' W. ; and on the evening of the 4th, sheet lightning was seen to the
•outh simultaneously with £at aurora.
At my place of observation there was a heavy dew on the morning of
the 11th of September. At midnight the temperature waa m efmlwrm^
smd continued ia that state for seven eoneecutive hQWt\ after whiok the
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'ieiBperature rose to W^ in tbe shade tmi 1 2(^ in the rud^ and remained
at that for upwards of three hours. The evening of the lotli and of the
12th there was much ligtitntng. A large meteor was seen from Valley
Forge, Pennsylvania, on the evening of tl»e 1 1 th. A most terrific thunder
storm visited Norfolk, Virginia, that evening, and the next day the yellow
^ver was greatly increased. A great thunder storm also visited Turk'b
Island. The ship Cowper the same day, in latitude 38^ N., longitude
66° W., was struck by lightning. In the evening of the ]2tlj there was
a thunder storm at Manchester, New Hamphire, and also at the Island of
Bt. Lucia, West Indies. Thus much for the connection of the aurora of
the 11th September.
On the 4th of October, when the second aurora w^is noticed fVom on
1>oard the vessels of the expedition, the aurora was also seen here, and was
very brilliant. Two American ships in two different docks in Liverpool,
England, on that day were struck by lightning and injured. A snow
storm prevailed for nearly an hour at Nebraska City and the surrounding
country. The morning of the day previous there was lightning at my
place of observation, and the day following a severe snow storm visited
BL Louis, Missouri ; Milwaukie, Wisconsin ; and also Fort Laramie. Thus
mdch for the connection of the aurora boreatis of the 4th of October.
Aurora Borealis was visible here on the 8th and 16th of August, and
in the vicinity of the Gulf of the St. Lawrence on the 1 1th of that month,
and meteors were abundant from 9th to I4th, inclusive. The great vol-
eano of Mauna Loa, Sandwich Islands^, was convulsed on nights of Sth^
1 1th, «nd 1 dth of that month, but neither the light of the volcano nor the
aurora were seen by the Arctic Expedition, which was then north of lati-
tude 75^, for the reason that at that time the sun shone there throughout
the twenty-four hours, but they encountered a snow storm on the 0th, and
fogs on the 9th, 10th, and 11th.
The extraordinary aurora borealis of 1 9th and 20th of February, 1 862,
which was visible during the entire night both in the United States and
England, and seen in many parts of Europe, Mas simultaneous with a great
thunder storm in France, and with a most extraordinary eruption of the
-volcano Mauna Loa. Sir Edward Belcher was at that time north of the
Arctic magnetic pole; in one of his letters to me he says the aurora was
not observed there.
These foots are interesting, and unite with our other records in bearing
testimony to the fact that the gi'eat changes in our atmosphere are from
the earth itself, in its action upon that atmosphere.
It would swell this communication to a great length were I to treat in
detail of the atmospheric changes in the Arctic as compared with the
changes here. I will therefor^ pass over them, and come directly to an
interesting matter mentioned in Dr. Kane's brief account of his expedition
within the Arctic zone, after his vessel had been frozen up. His vessel
was frozen up in latitude 78^ 46', longitude about 72^ west He proceeded
north from that to the parallel of 82^ dO', where he discovered an opett
sea, that was free from ice as far as the eye could reach. The tempera*
tores he recorded give no evidence that there exists a milder climate far*
ther north. This open water, therefore, must, it seems to me, owe its
fluidity to its great depth, or its holding so much salt in solution as to en^
able it to resist frost The Cayuga and Seneca Lakes in this State were
*«e from 106 ^tiog the intense cold o^ Febrttary, IWfr, which was as lorn
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6)0 The MarUtem Arctic BMrf Ri^M/m.
«8 30^ or more below zero in that vicinity. This exemption firom froit ii
owing to the great depth of the water of these lakes.
The Dead Sea would remain fluid in the lowest temperatures of the
Arctic atmosphere, and the same exemption from frost pertains to the
great American Salt Lake in Utah. The cold atmosphere of the Aretio
forces the salt held by the sea water in solu:ion to density in fluidity that
will resist frost; hence, pools of salt water are found on the ice within the
Arctic zone during the most intense cold, but as soon as the weather be-
comes mild, that dense salt water seizes upon the ice it has been driren
from by the cold, and melts it as rapidly as that operation could be per*
formed by red-hot iron.
In our ordinary winter atmosphere in this latitude, salt is advantageous-
ly used to dissolve ice in pumps that have been frozen up, and for clearing
ttdewalks of ice.
It is difficult to form an opinion of the extreme north from what comes
under our observation here. When Lieut Parry was at Melville Island in
1819-20, he savs that during their walks on shore a mass of rock, a{^Mi-
rently half a mile distant, could be taken up in one minute's walk, and the
frequency of the deception did not lessen its effects. Sound, during a
still, cold atmosphere, was so powerful that common c<mversation c<Hdd
be heard at the distance of a mile. Thus it is seen, that neither sight nor
hearing, in the cold Arctic atmosphere, performs the same services in its
results as here.
Sir Edward Belcher, in surveying Prince Alfred's Bav, found, when he
came to lay down his angles, he was obliged to diminish the Bay so im-
mensely as showed the delusion.
This occurred in latitude 75^ to 77° north ; beyond that, and on the
very verge of northemess, who can tell what greater differences may
exist?
In reference to differences of temperatures, our own records of observa-
tion are full of instruction. For example : On the 7th day of Februaij
of the present year, the temperature at our place of observation, Brooklyn
Heights, fell to 6° below zero ; at Randolph, Vermont, to 44° below that
line. The difference in latitude between the two places is about two de-
grees, and the difference in temperature thirty-ei^ht degrees. Both are in
about the same longitude. Between Randolph, Vermont, and Clarkesville,
Tennessee, the difference was 99 degrees of temperature. Clarkesville is
in latitude about 36° 30' N., and Randolph about 44° N. The tempera-
ture at Clarkesville was hh decrees above zero. The difference between
Clarkesville and Randolph is about the same in degrees of latitude aa be-
tween Dr. Kane's extreme northing and the parallel where theory fixes the
verge of northemeu.
There are high mountains north of 75^ north latitude ; but I find no
accounts of volcanoes north of 70°, east of Behring's Straits,
From what is here stated, we need not be surprised at anything that
may be found in the far, far North.
Lieut De Haven, on the 22d of September, 1850, in latitude about 76^
north, longitude about 94° west, saw open water, or a water sky, which he
supposed to be an open sea to the west of the posiUon in which his vessels
then were.
The unseen cannot be judged of from what is seen. A person appnMu^
ii^ the mouth of the Niagara River fr^m the placid wateii of Lake On*
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Tk$ Him-isUU AreHc Bdirf Expeditum. e7l
Isrio, would not, from anything there visible, suppose he was within 18
miles of the greatest cataract known on oar eardi ; and so with respect to
the channel of Hurl Gate, a person approaching that great ocean gorge
from New York would never, coming within half a mile of it, suppose,
from anything there visible, that he was thus near such a dangerous pass.
The expedition has furnished me with a variety of geological specimens.
The first in order is bituminous coal from Haroe Island, latitude 70^ 25'
north, longitude 54° 45' west. This coal is of an excellent quality, and
contains a great number of small pieces of crystalized naptha. It crops
out in the edge of a hill a few feet from the shore in a stratum of from four
to five feet in thickness. It is a few feet above the level of the sea, and is
very acoessible. Disco Island, near by Haroe, has also an abundance of
the same kind of coal. Captain Inglefield visited these coal mines in
1852, and states in his public report that a thousand tons oould be mined
(here in a short time. The following is the English analysis of the coal :
Specific gravity 1 . 3S48
VoUtile 60.06
Cohe, cooimoo. « • 9.84
Fixed cjtrbon 89. 5S
A vessel can reach the coal mines from here in a run of from 20 to 30
days.
Captain MK)lure found bitominous coal in latitude 75° and 76° north,
and longitude about 120° to 122° west. Lieut. Parry, in 1819 and 1820,
found pieces of bituminous coal on Melville Island, latitude 75° north,
longitude 111° west, and the captain of a whaler, who entered Behring*s
Straits with Captain Collinson in 1851, informs me that there is both bi-
tuminous and anthracite coal on the western shores of the polar seas.
Captain M'Clure found smoking hillocks on his way from Behring's
Straits to the Bay of Mercy, and Sir Edward Belcher, in 1863, ascended
a mountain that overlooks Wellinffton Channel, which he named Pitch
Mount, from its stones giving out the odor of naptha, and when the tem-
perature in Uio month of May rose to 35° in the shade, such portions of
the mountain as the sun shone upon became soft and sticky, and he re-
marked that he left it because it seemed to be in a semi-fluid state. This
mount must be as far north as 76° or 77°. In one of Sir Edward^s letters
to me, he remarks that there is no petroleum found there. That fluid, on
coming near the surface, would crystalize in the Arctic atmosphere.
It has been supposed by some that the Arctic coal was newly formed,
and they imagine they could see the grains of the wood in it. They
should bear in mind that the Arctic regions have probably been bare of
wood since the deluge, about 4,000 years ago, hence there was no wood
to produce this " recent formation,*^ as it is termed. Coal is there, as is the
case everywhere, a mineral crystalization, and has no more C4>nnection
than water has in cases where wood becomes imbedded in ice.
At Erene Bay a rounded metallic nodule of great hardness and of great
specific gravity was obtained from the Esquimaux. They use it as a sub-
stitute for steel in striking fire with quartz rock. It breaks with a bright
fracture, and is a compound of sulphur and iron. The natives value it
very highly. It is said to be plenty on the shores of Whale Sound.
From Cape Alexander they obtained sandstone of a very delicate white,
and from Haykhuyt Island conglomerate or pudding stone, in which quartz
pebbles predominate. From the shores of Possession Bay, agates and
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^72 The ffarUteid ArcOe SeUrf &pediium.
jasper were obtained ; also quarte and other pebbles. I hare also other
specimens from further north, which I hare not yet had time to C'xamino.
Among the botanical specimens are grasses, moss, and a dwarf willow.
Perhaps I may succeed in obtaining some good seed from the grass, and
the wHlow is still idire, and I think it is in a condition to grow in this
climate.
The Arctic Zone once had a climate different from that whioh now ex-
ists there, but that time was probably anterior to the deluge.
The public mind sets in a strong and broad current against any more
Arctic Expeditions, but the time will come when other expeditions will be
undertaken, and I have no doubt the Arctic zone will be found to be rich
in its mineral wealth. The great hardships that have been endured in the
polar regions is the cause of this feeling or panic, but the suffering has
oeen owing to a want of suitable accommodations. Such buikiings as are
in use in our climate, with plenty of fuel and a good stock of provisaons,
there is no difficulty in living in the Arctic climate, but when a great
number of persons are huddled together in the cabin of a small vessel, it
is impossible to be comfortable or healthy. Then, again, persons who live
in cold climates should wear warm hose clothing. Sir Edward Belcher,
in a letter I recently received from him, says : — " Your observation on the
clothing in cold climates are very correct, and acting on the same princi-
ple, or simply to have light air-proof externals, with loost woolen material
between it and the skin, I found the same clothing I donned at the Ork-
neys in May served me even in the severest cold, 63^ 5' below zero, and
until my return to this country, excepting only when traveling, when it
was merely changed for a still more air as well as water proof material —
seal $kinP
In another letter he says : — " It is the confined atmosphere of winter
between decks which is so much to be dreaded. This may be avoided if
Arctic vessels are so fitted as to afford adequate height for the escape of
the breath before it becomes so suddenly condensed as to constitute a warm
internal infection of mixed breath and cold air, which attacks the lungs
in the last stages of scurvy as dropsical. I succeeded in the winter of
1853-54 in proving how much remams to bo done in order to perfect sach
fittings."
Arctic dwellings should have deep cellars. A cellar as deep as some oi
the sub-cellars in New York would be but little affected by Arctic cold.
Nothing further is at present looked for from the Arctic except accounts
from Hudson Bay of the search ordered for the discovery of tne remains
of Sir John Franklin, or the party of near forty persons who were seen in
the spring of 1850, coming south over the ice dragging a boat after them,
by some Esouimaux sealing on the north side of King William's Land,
and who, it is said, subsequently perished by starvation. These accounts
may now be expected daily. b. m.
Bbookltn Hbiohts, November 0, 1855.
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f%» CUf 0/ fHa»sim, SeeOoMd. 6tt
Art. m.— COfflMEBCUl AND INDUSTRIAL CITIES OF EUROPE.
MUMBiR xnr.
THE CITY OP GLASGOW, SCOTLAND:
ITS OOMMEROB WITH THE UNITED STATES, ETC.
Tmt intimate and advancing commercial relations existing between the
port and city of Glasgow and the United States, it is hoped may serve to
render a brief glance at some items of the history of that city, its geo-
graphical position, manufacturing interests, and American trade, not nnin-
terestin!]r tx) the readers of an American commercial magazine. Several
years' residence there in an oflScial capacity, connecting him with the
Commerce of this country, has given the writer some facilities for such a
review, and enlisted his sympathies in that trade and for the people of
that city. Circumstances have delayed this publication so long, that the
statistics that follow may want that freshness and pertinency they would
heretofore have had. The hope, however, that this beginning may stimu-
late some other and abler hand to bring up the record for the intervening
time, and that thus it may prove useful to his countrymen engaged in the
Scotch trade, animates him to proceed.
Glasgow is one of the most ancient cities of Scotland. History informs
us that its site once formed part of a Roman province, though it does not
appear then to have been a distinguished station. A bishopric and church
was established there as early as .'.60 of the Christian era. It is pleasantly
situated near the western coast of Scotland, on both banks of the River
Clyde, which divides it unequally about forty-five miles above the firth, or
bay, of the same name, in 55 degrees 52 minutes of north latitude, and
4 degrees 16 minutes west longitude. The river flows to the west abovt.
fifteen miles, where it expands into the firth, which, running northwesterly,
in its general cx)urse, empties into the Irish Channel. Originally it was^
like most other British cities of early times, walled and fortified for de-
fense against invasion, and protection from semi-barbarous neighbors^ TJie
people were crowded together in lofty houses, having very little ope^i ,
space, and with confined and narrow streets. The buildings* of both the
old and modern parts of the city, with very few exceptions, aye formed of
a soft freestone — quarried in the immediate neighborhood — of a light and
handsome color, but the dampness of the climate, acting with the smoky
atmosphere caused by the universal use of bituminous coal, soon darkens
the external walls and gives them a somber and dingy hue. The peculiar
Scotch style of building — that of making each story a s^^jarate tenement
— formerly encouraged the multiplication of Jlats^ as t^^ separate stories
are called* Security having been a greater object thai^qomfort, the pre-
vailing policy was to huddle the population into as sina^l compass as pos-
sible. That policy has been very much modified and iipproved in the new
portions of the town.
In 1166 the city was erected into a royal borough, and in 1451 the
Pope, then head of all the western churches, authorized the establishment
of a College, which was the foundation of the present celebrated University
of Glasgow.
The repeated invasions of Scotland by the English in early times, ex^
VOL. XXXIII. — HO. VI. 48
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074 Commercial and IndMtHal (XiUs (/Europe.
tending nearly to the union of the two countries under one go^emmeBt
by the succession of James YI. to the English crown ; the frequent col-
lisions of rival clans, and the contests of the Reformation, rendered for
ages almost the whole country a battle-field; and the Commerce and
growth of Glasgow was insignificant until within the last two centuries.
Among the armed conflicts in that city, the battle of Glasgow, five centu-
ries ago, by which the invading forces of Edward I. of England were
driven out and subdued by the brave Sir William Wallace and his clans-
men, is one that Scottish bards and historians have sung and recorded
with the highest rapture.
The discovery and colonization of the West India islands and the con-
tinent of America opened a new field to Commerce. The situation of
Glasgow, its contiguity to the Atlantic, and the enterprise of its cidzeDa,
gave it the lead, and it has always been the principal mart of that trade
in Scotland. But in the prosecution of a maritime trade she had obstacles
to overcome that would have been insurmountable to a people wboee
energies had been less persevering and indomitable. The river prop^
was narrow and shoal quite to the firth, and the head of that for several
miles more or less obstructed. Although the high tides of the British
seas swell the volume of the river to the rapids above the city, yet before
its enlargement by modern improvements, only the smallest coasting ves-
fids could ascend to it, and such only on flood-tides. Indeed so shoal waa
the river until within half a century, that at ebb-tides schoolboys forded it
at pleasure where now is a harbor capable of floating ships drawing twenty
feel. Persons now living in no very advanced age have assured the writer
of having done so in their youth.
GneejQOck, some twenty miles below, on the firth, was then con»dered
the head of navigation for sea-going ships. That is also an ancient town,
and from early times has been engaged in foreign trade ; but with all its
natural advantages numbers now but about 50,000 inhabitants — lees than
one-seventh that of Glasgow. Merchants of the latter place, then engaging
in foreign trade were compelled to lade and unlade their cargoes at Green-
ock, subject to traoshipment and transit to their own warehouses at borne.
Desiring to have their Conmierce more fully under their own control, the
citizens of Glasgow^ through their municipal authorities, set about estab-
lishing A harbor that should be accessible to heavy ships, and governed by
themselves.
In the selection of a point for the location of the new harbor, the ch<Hce
first fell on the small but ancient borough of Dumbarton, five miles above
Greenock, on the opposite shore, at the estuary of the Leven Water, the
outlet of Loch Lomond. This town, lying directly at the base of the
craig whose summit is crowned by the castle of the same name, so fismou
in ancient warfare, being one «tf the few places in Scotland that by a pro-
vision in the union with England is forever to remain a fortified poet, has
a good natural harbor, with a sufSdeot depth .of water. The good people
^ of this borough^ after ^vely considering the proposition of their ndgfa-
bors, sagely declined the ofier of improving their harbor and using it for
the Glasgow trade, because it would be apt to induce a large increase of
population, and thus ruse the prices of provisions, already — as they argued
— sufficiently high. Thus baffled, the Glasgowians chose the seat of an
old titled femily nearly opposite, improv^ and r^ulated its harbor,
erected wharves, dry docksi and 4>ther ccaivenienoes, aid j^e it the i
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I%$ <hiy of GktMffow, SeoOMud. 670
«f Port Qiasgow. Tb« oociipation of this port for their trade oommenced
in 1662. For nearly 160 years it remained the harhor and port of th«
Glasgow marine.
As Commerce increased, the inconveniences of a distant harbor were
more and more felt and appreciated. At length, measures were matured
and plans adopted for clearing out and improving the whole bed of the
river from Glasgow to the firUi, for removing obstructions in the channel
of the latter, and erecting barriers, buoys, lighthouses, and all the necesr
sary requirements of navigation. To carry out tha>e objects eflSciently,
proper acts of Parliament were obtained. The municipal government was
invested with authority to make the contemplated improvements, on ac-
count and at the expense of the city ; to levy taxes and borrow money to
provide for the expenditures ; and to collect transit duties on all vessels
ascending the river, to supply the means for paying interest, continuing
the improvements, and reimbursing the loans. This important work, de«
nominated the " Clyde Navigation Trust," is managed by a board of trus-
tees from the City Council^ whoee decisions are subjected to the approval
of that body.
One of the city magistrates is especially assigned to the dutj» of trying
and adjudging all causes arising on the waters under the jurisdiction of
this board. The work has been prosecuted now for many years by dredg-
ing machines to deepen, and excavations to straighten the channel, and
Cit broader widtn. Year by year it has progressed, until the river has
me an immense canal, free from locks and obstructions, capable in
fiood-tides of floating vessels of twenty feet draught, quite to the Broom-
ielaw, or lower bridge, in the city of Glasgow. Above that bridge th^
river remains in its original condition, shoal, and navigable only for boats.
The work of improvement is still progressing, and every year the capacity
of the river is more or less enlarged by increasing its depth, cutting on
projecting points, and enlarging its width.
In addition to improving the navigation, the trust embraces the erection
of wharves, of sheds for protection in loading and discharging cargoeSf
and all the modern labor-saving fixtures for facilitating such business.
The wharves are chiefly of stone, substantially and permanently built Fov
the use of these improvements a tariflf of charges is established on all ves*
sels arriving and on all articles laden and unladen. The wharfage on
merchandise is small in detail, but produces a large sum on the wholn
trade of the port
These charges vary from one to two pennies on each package, and on
each ton of heavy goods. From a small beginning, the income of th^
tru»t has been annually advancing, until, from all sources, in 1852 it exr
eeeded £600,000 sterling. It is estimated that ultimately it will provide
lor paying otf the debt of the trust, and become a source of revenue for
general purposes
The removal, by these improvements, of business from Port Glasgow
has left that place dull and declining, with a stationary population of about
10,000. The colonial timber trade of Glasgow is nearly all that remains
to it. A large proportion of its present inhabitants are hand weavers. It
has a few pleasant residences for gentlemen doing business in the city.
The regular increase of population being one of the highest evidences
of prosperi^ and advancement, the following table, collated from the n»-
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tip Ctmmmml and JMrn^triaJ Ottte tfEuropi :
teonal ceti«ns !br the ^venl yean refoned to, is g^Fen to exhibit the pof>
tilar growth of the city : —
1801. 1811. 1811. 1811. 1841. 18SI.
88,769 110,460 U7,04S 203,426 282.184 858,9(1
The chief elements of the Commei'ce which Glasgow gathers and dis-
tributes are the manufkctures of Scotland. For these she is the great and
principal depot The iron trade almost all centers in it. The iron of the
country, in its different forms, is principally shipped from this port direct
to foreign countries, or sent coastwise to Liverpool and other porta for
transhipment or a market
A few small ports, Ardrossan, Troon, and Irrine, on the west coast, aad
Leith and Grangemouth, on the east, riiip comparatively small quantities^
Next to the landed, the iron manufacture is the most important interest in
Great Britain. No part of the realm enjoys better facilities for prodncinff
this staple, cheap and in abundance, than Scotland. Her ores, her ooa!^
her lime, and all other materials for smelting it, are usually found in the
same fields. The supply of these materials is probably inexhaustible, at
least for generations to come. The contiguity of navigable waters, and
the general extension of railways, cheapen transport charges to the most
moderate rates.
Manufactures of cotton, flax, and wool, being so much lighter of more-
ment, find their way in greater proportion, direct from the workshops, by
railway to Liverpool and other English ports, for export Notwithstand-
ing, the direct shipments of these fabrications from Glasgow is very large
and highly valuable.
Ship-building has grown to be a leading interest on the Clyde. More
iron ships are annually built, equipped, and launched, from Glasgow to
Greenock, inclusive, than from any other place in the commercial world.
The number on the stocks in progress generally exceeds twenty, and many
6f these, steamers and ships of the first class. At the same time a large
number of wooden vessels — some of these, also, of first class — are con-
stantly produced. Here all the fine and powerful steamers of the Cunard
line, so triumphantly successful, and here many of the best ships and
ateamers in the British merchant marine, have been built and equipped.
Chemicals, for use in the manufacturing arts, oonstitute an important
department in the manufactures of the city and its vicinity. Theae pro-
ductions being generally heavy, are, like iron, chiefly. shipped from home.
Coal raised in the immediate neighborhood, and in other portiona of the
western part of Scotland, where it abounds, is exported from this port in
targe quantities.
The number of mills and factories in operation in the city, for different
kinds of manufacture, exceeds one hundred — all, or nearly all, operated by
steam. The only fuel in use is the bituminous coal of the counUy already
mentioned. The dense smoke dischaiged from this agent is justly deemed
a great nuisance, and many experiments have been made to discover a
means to consume it, as yet with very little success. All these erectiona
have lofty chimneys for raising it to a jOTeat height, but its density causes
it to settle and unite with the smoke ofthe less towering structures of the
eity, and the atmosphere is constantly surchaiged more or less with its
impurities, but is not believed to be rendered unhealthy.
It may not be uninteresting, in passing, to remark briefly on the exten-
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tive ctkemioal .worl» of jthe Mossre. Tennent, ooyering qn^ of the beigbta o(
the city, doubtless the largest of the kind in the world. They occupj
some fifty acres of ground, and turn out a variety of articles in lar^ qaanr
titles. Among the multitude of erections composing the works, Uie great
chimney, belie?ed to be the highest ever built, is a curious and conspicu*
ous land-mark — the first seen in approaching Glasgow from any quarter.
Before its erection, certain gases discnarged from the works were found to
be noxious to surrounding vegetation, and a nuisance to the people residing
near. The municipal authorities were appealed to for redress. They or-
dered the offensive works to be removed, or a chimney raised so high aa
to carry the obnoxious vapors beyond the eity. The latter alternative
was chosen and the chimney erected. It is circular, 50 feet diameter at
the base, rises conically 460 feet high to a diameter of 6 feet at the top.
Three millions of bricks, and about thirty tons of iron for bands and sup-
ports, were employed in its construction, and a cost of £10,000 sterling
incurred.
But to return to the subject of iron. The many fumaoee and iron works
in the vicinity of the city and in the adjacent neighborhood roll up their
constant columns of smoke and fiame, Jike the pillar, of cloud and of fire
of old, obscuring the heavens by day, but lifting up the horizon by a
resplendent and far-reaching illumination by ni^t, significantly indicating
a path to individual and national prosperity. It is well known that the
crude metal, in pigs, is the staple of that manufacture in Scotland. Glas-
gow being, as alr^y stated, the grsat depot for the country, the general
statistics that follow, it is hoped, may not be thought irrelevant to tho
purpose in hand :—
mi WOLIJOWWQ TABLK KZBISIQ THB PSOgUSSIVl mCSKASB OT TBI MAHUPAOTURS, AS
INDIOATID BY TOB NUMBBR OT rOSIIAOBS IN OPBEATION IN SOOTLaMD, AT DIFFBBBKT
PBRIODS FROM 1788 TO 1846.
1788. 1896. 1811. 1810. 184f.
Number of furaaces « 8 17 22 27 M
Large as the increase apparentiv was during the fifly-seven years hers
represented, the actual results will be found to have been much greater,
when we consider the well-established fact, that by the lights c? expe-
rience and the developments of skill, the average quantity produced by a
trngle furnace per annum, rose, from 1790 to 1640, to more than three-
Ibld. The ibliowing will illustrate this : —
nriMATBD ANNUAL PRODUOnON OT PIOIRON PRR FORNAOB AT TBR FXRIODj^ BTATBD.
1796. 1817. 1840.
Totts l»0S3 2,429 8,478
The authority firom which these estimates are drawn asserts that the
yearlv production had risen in 1840 to 6,100 tons for each furnace, being
an advance of nearly 100 per cent in nine years, and of about 500 per
eent since 1796. Statistics hereafter given corroborate the (act that this
is now only an ordinary yield.
This progressive and enormous increase should no doubt, in some meas-
ure, be referred to the introduction of the hot blast in smelting, and to a
general enlargement of capacity in the eonatnxction of furnaces, Yt^
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678 Commermtl €md Industrial 0%tie$ cf Europe :
after every possible allowance of this nature, it will be found that the raUo
ef production from the raw^ material, during little over half a century, has
been wonderfully augmented, and the cost of production vastly reduced.
But to proceed ; the following table exhibits the number of furnaces in
Scotland, erected and in blast, for the dght years ending December Slst^
1852:—
Paraaeet. PnrvMeft.
Kreoled. Jo biMt Erected. In UmL
December, 1845 109 94 | December, 1849 14S llS
1846 125 97 I « 1850. 148 r06
1847 180 89 «* 1851 148 114
«* 1848 140 108 I ** 1858..... 144 118
The following table exhibits the total production of pig-iron in tons for
the same years, together with the direct and coastwise shipments, and the
market prices in December of each year : —
Prodnetioa. Bblpmenti. Piriee.
December, 1845 500.000 £8 16 0
- 1846 580,000 876,000 8 15 0
- 1847 540.000 870.000 2 6 6
•• 1848 690,000 895,000 2 8 0
•• 1849 692.000 874.000 2 7 6
1850 680.000 825,000 2 6 0
- 1851 775.000 450.000 1 17 6
1852 780,000 424.000 8 12 6
Competent merchants estimated that in the latter year 210,000 tons
shipped was exported, and 214,000 tons sent coastwise, and that of the
exports 100,000 tons were shipped to the United States.
The production of malleable iron in Scotland is comparatively much
less than in several districts of England and Wales, and bears no corre*
spondinfi^ proportion to the pig-iron produced. In 1852, the number of
malleable iron works had risen to 11, which employed 120,000 tons pig-
iron, and produced 90,000 tons of rails, bars, ship and boiler plates, sheets,
Ac The increase of production of these descriptions of iron will be fbnnd
to have been rapid during the last few years, as the following statistics will
show: —
TABLE OP nmi ATI8 OF MAUSABLB IBOa PSODVGBD DVEIMO TBC TBAaS STAnB.
1845 torn 85,00011849 tone 80,009
1847 60,000| 1852 90,000
A much larc^er proportion of these irons find their way into the mar-
kets of the United States than of pigs, but in the absence of authentio
data the quantity cannot be conclusively stated. Considering, bowevw,
that our improvements absorb the greater part of the Scotch railway inm,
the estimate is ventured that one-third at least of the production, or 30,000
tons, was shipped to our markets.
In the same year there were in operation in Scotland 157 foundries,
melting 170,000 tons of pig-iron. A much smaller proportion of the
manufactures of these works enter into the American trade, yet no incon-
siderable amount of castings will be found to have been consumed in this
country.
Estimates from the data already presented, adoptii^ Uie probable afe^
age prices of the year, will present the value oi Scotdi iron imp<^ted into
tus country during 1852, as follows : —
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S%$ OUy of Gkagow, ScoOand. 070
Pigiroo $MOO,000
JiAlleable 1.000.000
Total. ezcIosiTe of foundry productions . . . • v $2,600,000
It might be instructive to present similar reviews and statistics of the
other manufactures of that country, and of their relations to the Commerce
of this, if materials equally authentic for careful estimates were available,
but they are nowhere distinctly and fully collected and preserved ; besides,
it would lengthen the present article beyond the purposes in view.
In considering more directly the Commerce of Glasgow with the Uni-
ted States, we are indebted to the records of the American Consulate at
that port and its dependencies, for the statistics illustrating it, hereafter
presented. These embrace a period of two-and-ahalf years, during which
the writer was charged with the duties of that office.
The following table exhibits the number of vessels arrived from the
United States at Glasgow, American and foreign, for the periods named :
AMBRIOAN.
From
fVom olberU.S. IVom
VeMetau Tonoage. N«w York, ports, for. phs.
18S1 45 38.487 Zt 12 1
1852 88 21.856 20 17 I
1858. 8 mouths ending July Ist. 28 18.760 11 11 4
Total 109 58.908 68 40 6
FORXIGN.
1851 41 19.477 24 17
1852 84 19.577 12 22
1858, 6 months ending July 1st.. 88 17,850 15 18
Totfd 108 56.404 51 57
The following table exhibits the number of American vessels departed
firom Glasgow, chiefly for home ports, and of foreign, or British and co-
lonial vessels, for United States ports, with their tonnage, and the ports
for which they cleared, during the same time : —
AMSEIOAV.
for For For Otber Fortlpi
Tcswis. Tonnsg*. New York. Boston. Plillsdel'a. U.S. pti, ports.
1851 46 28.904 88 2 1 8 2
1852 80 17.868 26 2 2 1 .
1858* 85 19.840 28 I . 11 1
Totol.... Ill 60.602 86 5 8 15 S
rOBIIQIi.
1851 118 59.414 84 89 * . 40
1852 187 72.712 44 40 • 58
1858* 77 86,060 84 28 . 8 •
'IV>tal.... 827 168.176 112 107 . 101
Her Majesty's custom-house records ^t Glasgow do not present, in a
complete and aggregate form, the articles nor value of the cargoes arriv-
ing. An accurate statement of deliveries by American vessels could, there-
• BIsBoiilkseadl^inljlst
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§Bfi Commercial om^ JMu9ifintl£^ ^^rape :
fore, only be obtained by reference . to the United States dttton-booaes,
whence the clearances were made. No efficient effort had, consequently,
been made by the United States Consulate to gather and record the statis-
tics of inward cargoes from the United States, until the year 1852. Since
that time such returns only as could be collected there have been registered.
These, though imperfect, may not be without interest as an approximatioii
towards true results in investigating the Commerce of our country with
that port.
The following table exhibits such statistics of cargoes arrived from the
United States as could be collected from the record of deliveries in the
Consulate ;■ — •
BT AMERIOAN YBSSSLS*
Bl>l8. PhdORM
QQarten Rbte. TIeroeB Daval Balet applsi
wheat. fl«iur. proTtoloiit. atores. ooUom. €heete,ftc
1862 10,669 20,609 640 2,828 24,841
1868* 10,469 27,616 1.021 2,829 21,881
BT rOBKIOir TXS8KLB.
1862
1868* 1,108 44,814 11,111 8,677 18,888 2.711
The British customs returns for exports are more full and explicit, and
the uniform courtesy of Her Majesty's officers in that service enables the
Consulate to obtain statistics of outward cargoes much more compreben-
nve and satisfiactory.
The following table exhibits the value of cargoes departed from Glas-
gow for the United States, together with the number of passengers, and
the quantities of pig and maUeable iron shipped for the same penod :—
IV AMKEIGAN VB88BIA
ToMiaQi
Tons andoiber
Value. Pasaengen. plg-lroii. mallfthtelwa.
1861 $1,087,861 4.691 19,662 700
1862. 674,067 8.689 14^69 1.849
1868, 6 months ending July 1* 710,792 2,876 14,266 725
Total $2,422,210 10,766 48,096 8,214
IN FOERIGN TB88BL&
1851.., $1,278,294 6,118 28.059 4.644
1862. 8.768.202 6.186 28.618 6.411
1863, 6 months endiBg July K U49.711 2.466 21.669 1.167
- Total $6,981,207 12,709 78,241 12.212
The revenue laws of the United States require that the owner of mer-
chandise imported should make oath before a collector of customs or other
competent officer .of his ownership, the corrootness of the invoice, and the
identity 6f' the goods. Wherever, therefore, the owner resides or sojoam
here, that verification is made here, usually at the custom-house where the
goods are entered. If the owner is in a foreign country he then verito
his invoices before an American Consul, previous to forwarding them to
his agent, to whom the goods are consigned. Consequently, alT invotc«s
bearing such consular verification, represent only mercnaadise shipped ftr
account of foreign owners, and consigned to agents or commiaaon houses
• Wxm<nthit»4ii€4nfar lit
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here, and a record of them gives no light on importations for Aroericaii
account, or on the relative proportion of goods entered for foreign ao-
count. It is believed, notwithstanding, that the following statement may
not be without its interest
Tlie aggregate value of merchandise, invoices of which were verified at
the Glasgow Consulate for export to the United States by British owners,
for the period already referred to, a moiety of which, probably, was
shipped from Liverpool, with an occasional shipment from London, Hull,
and other porta, was as follows : —
1851 $2,088,647
1862.. 8.118,82»
1868, six mootbs to Joly 1 1,890,818
Total $7,997,689
It would be a useful investigation to inquire into the proportions exist-
ing between the imports of merchandise for foreign account and those on
account of our own merchants, and of their relation to the aggregate of
importations into the United States, not only in reference to this trade,
but to the general Commerce of the country, were not available statistics
so entirely insufficient as to forbid it. The records of the customs, pub*
lished annually by the government, give the imports in detail and their
whole value. Explicit and faithful returns from all the American Consu^
lates, carefully arranged and consolidated, can alone enable us to arrive at
the amount and value of merchandise received for account of foreign own-
ers. If such returns were required, let their results be deducted from ih%
aggr^rate exhibited by the customs reports, and the balance would repre-
sent the amount of imports for American account Returns provided for
from Consuls, however, do not furnish the necessary data for such an ezr
hibit Again, were their returns copious enough for this object, only gen-
eral aggregates would be obtained, without a more comprehensive systeni
of reports. The value of imports from any given port, though deducting
the amount of invoices verified before the Consul at the same port, and
comparing their sum with the difference, would not give the true relations
of home and foreign ownersbipt in the trade of that place, for in many,
perhaps most Consular districts, these verifications embrace merchandise)
shipped from other, often several different porta. Were it required that
such returns should distinguish and consoliaate the values of the invoices
verified for each shipping port^ then customs reports, and Consular records
together, would furnish materials for the comparisons and results in (|uefl^
tion« Such comparisons would be highly important to the intelligent
merchant) in governing his foreign orders^ by showing to some reliable
extent, from the facts collected through a series of years, the competition
to be expected from foreign adventures. But until government shall di?
rect the collecting of suitable statistics, through these channels, we must
be cpntent with uie imperfect estimates, in this regard, now in our power.
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Irt. ir.— UNIFORHTI IN WEIGHTS, HE18DRE8, AND COINS 1I0N6
COMMESCHl NATIONS.
UNiFORMnr in the instrumentalities of exchanges, like the formation of
roads, is both the cause and the effect of advancing civilization. As there
cannot be weighta, measures, and money where there are no exchanges, so
there can be no exchanges where these are wanting, and where they are
imperfect exchanges must be imperfect There is a necessity that thej
should advance with an equal step ; if the instrumentalities of exchanges
are wanting, Commerce must languish till they are supplied and m»de
equal to its requirements, and where Commerce is absent or extremely
limited, it will be found that its weights, measures, and coins are of the
rudest character — imperfect and inexact.
In barbarous ages, when a rive^ or a mountain formed an almost insur-
mountable barrier to intercourse among the scattered populations, every
tribe had its peculiar language or dialect, its peculiar customs and laws,
and its petty traffic required only such measures as enabled the members
of the community to make among themselves a few simple exchanges. If
an individual, more adventurous or curious than the rest, undertook the
hardships and dangers of travel beyond the natural boundaries of his tribe^
he soon found himself, if not among enemies, at least among those with
whom intercourse of any kind was almost impossible, and was glad to get
back among his own people — by the history of his adventures, confirming
rather than lessening their hostility towards all who lived remote. Non-
intercourse produced diversity in language and custom, and diversity in
these tended to promote non-intercourse, mutual hatred, and savage wars.
Incalculable waste of the earth^s products was the consequence of non-in-
tercourse. Abundance and famine existed at the same time in contiguous
States. Agriculture and Commerce remained undeveloped, and man him-
self remained, century after century, ignorant, superstitious, and savage,
at once the instrument and the victim of priestcratl and misrule.
The use of Commerce being to transport commodities from parts of the
earth where they are in abundance to tnose parts where they are wanted,
whatever hinders this transportation, or renders the interchange difficult
or dangerous, is detrimentaJ to the service of humanity, whether the ob-
stacles arise in the form of vast mountain chains, or spread themselves oat
in the shape of tempestuous oceans, or whether they appear in the form
of diverse languages or customs, or confused and irregular measures of
quantity and value. So long as any of these obstructions remiun to be
overcome, so long will Commerce imperfectly accomplish its beneficent
work — that of taking from every man nis superfluities, and giving him in
exchange those things which ne needs but cannot produce witn advan-
So long as traffic was petty and internal only, comparatively little in-
convenience was felt from the diversity in weights and measures, but the
rapidly extending Commerce of the present day, bringing nations into a
reuiUonship as close as was that of tnbes or clans in the earlier ages, ren-
ders imperative the demand for a universally uniform system — a syston
that shall be at once so excellent that its superiority over all others shaO
be freely admitted, and so simple that it can be easily acquired.
In the United States a decimal currency needs no advocate, experienea
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Among Commercial Na^oma. §88
hayiog sufficiently shown to all its efficacy and simplicity, notwithstanding
its anomalous connection with a system of weights and measures, in whicn
all the articles of Commerce are sold in other than decimal proportions.
While our currency is in tenths and hundredths, everything bought or
told is divided into halves, quarters, or thirds, or into the arbitrary and in-
extricably confused proportions given in Troy weight, avoirdupois weight,
long measure, dry measure, liquid measure, <S;c. — a complicated system
which has come down to us from the " good old times " when feudal princes
tinkered with weights and measures as well as with the currency*; from
the rude ages when the length of the inch was determined by the dimen-
sions of ** three barley corns ;" and when king Henry III. enacted thai
^ An English penny, called a sterling, round and without clipping, was to
weigh thirty-two wheat corns taken out of the midst of the ear, and
twenty pennies were to make an ounce, twelve ounces one pound, and
eifl^ht pounds a gallon of wine, and eight gallons of wine a London bushel,
which is the eighth part of a quarter." From such a standard, it is ob-
vious, that absolute accuracy was unattainable, even if the exigencies of
those times had required more than an approximation to definite propor-
tions. The accuracy and permanence attainable by means of the metrical-
decimal system of France is seen in striking contrast with the above in
the history of the establishment of its base, Uie metre, a forty-millionth of
the earth's circumference.
Having adopted a decimal currency, and at the same time retained a
system of weights and measures which, from the constant occurrence in it
of the divisions of twelve — halves, thirds, and fourths — may perhaps pi^o-
perly be called duodecimal^ reform in this particular is worthy of attention
here more than in those countries in which the reform has not commenced.
The fact that in retail trade the sixteenth, eighth, fourth, and half of a
dollar are constantly required, while the occasion for the use of any deci-
mal portion is comparatively rare, may show the tendency of our " duo-
decimal " system of weights and measures to bring the currency into agree-
ment with it ; that is, to make the parts of a dollar, like the parts cf
commodities they are used to purchase, to be sixteenths, eighths, fourths,
and halves — an inconvenience not experienced in those countries where
the currency and the measures are alike irregular, or '' duodecimal."
Another reason for its special claim upon our attention is the consider-
ation that its adoption by a country whose Commerce is growing so rap-
idly 88 ours, would, even if the expressed intention of doing so did not in-
duce other leading nations to adopt it simultaneously with ourselves, finally
insure, nay, even necessitate its adoption throughout the world.
It is thus evident that reform in our measures of quantity and value will
be only half complete till we adopt a decimal system of weights and
measures. Fortunately, its adoption alone is necessary ; we are Spared
the labor of its formation. There exists ready to our hands the French
system, simple, beautiful, and complete, at once adapted to the wants of
science and of Commerce, and to which it can no longer be objected that
it has not been tested by experience, or that its general adoption is attended
with insuperable difficulties from the attachment of the mass of the peo-
ple to old customs. For more than half a century the scientifically formed
metrical-decimal system of France has been in advantageous use not only
in that country, but in several of the minor States which, in the course of
the last hfdf-century, have come under the influence of France.
France was not always homogeneous as now. Consisting for many ages
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€94 UniformUf m WngkU^ MBomrei^ and Caim^
fd Aereral grand divisions, worthy of being conndered as so many petlj
kingdoms — ^as did England in the days of the Heptarchy — it has only been
l^ a slow and gradual series of changes and developments that the various
elements of the nation have become thoroughly united. Down to 1789,
the year of the first French Revolution, France was sdll divided by local
customs, dialects, and natural boundaries, into a number of half-cemented
provinces. Though now, for a considerable length of time, making in
some sort integral parte of one great nation, Brittany, Picardy, Normandy,
Champagne, Guienne, Burgundy, Provence, Languedoc, Anjou, and some
<^her districts, retained peculiar systems of weights and measures, which,
when at last the old landmarks were broken up by the Revolution, and
internal traffic throughout France sought new channels and became more
eitensive, were found to be sources of endless confusion. A conflict of
systems amon^ the various provinces would doubtless have finally resulted
in the establishment of one to the eidusion of the others, bnt not before
the lapse of considerable time, or before much inconvenience had beea
Uki, The Constituent Assembly saw this and resolved to apply a remedy
at once prompt and radical, and upon the motion of Talleyrand, charged
the Academy of Sciences with the task of devising a system of weights
amd measures which should not only meet Uie exigencies of France, bnt of
which the simplicity and excellence should lead to its adoption by aU
other nations.
The result of their labors was the present metrical-decimal system of
France, a description of which follows, the substance of which, together
with some suggestions for iU farther simplification, and better adaptation
to t^ wants of this country and the world, are derived from a memoir by
William W. Mann, Esq., prepared at Uie request of Alexander Vatts-
M ARE, and by him transmitted to the Hon. Hannibal Hambun, Chairmaa
of the Committee on Commerce in the United States Senate, in connec-
tion with the Reports of MM. Silbermann and Durand on the ^ Standard
weights, measures, and coins exchanged between ^e governments of Franoe
and the United States."
The system is called the fMtrical-deeimal system, metrical because it ia
based upon the m«lre, the unit of measures of length, decimal because in
all the multiples and divisions of the metre and of the other units of the
system, the process is by decimals ; that is, by tens, hundreds, thousands,
tens of thousanda; and in the descending seri^ by tenths, hundredths^
thousandths, and so on. The metre itself the base of the whole ^stem,
was obtained as follows :r-*-The Academy of Sciences, resolving that the
unit of lineal measure should be the basis of the new system, determined
that it should be the ten-millionth part of the distance from tiie equator
to the pole^ or a forty-millionth part of a line drawn round the earth
through the poles. Adopting temporarily a metre, the length of which
was deduced from he measurement of the meridian made forty yeu« be-
fore in Peru by the French geometrician Laeaille, for greater certiunty the
Academy ordered a new trigonometrical measurement of the meridian, whiA
was made. From this measurement was deduced the metre now in use.
The meridian selected passed through France from Barcelona to Dunkirk,
thence northwardly through England and Scotland, and towards the south
through Spain to Formentura, one of the Balearic Islands. The ^venn
tnent of France invited foreign nations to unite in this great acientiie
work, by sending deputies to a congress of the nK)fft lear^ men of all
countries. From this body a commission was formed whioh, having eare>
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Among C^mmireial.Nuiumf. Q8ft
folly examined, tested, and verified what bad been already aeoompUsbed
by the Academy, finally sanctioned the system as now established.
The provisional metre derived from the measurement of Lacaille was
found to be for all practical purposes as correct as that derived from the
great trigonometrical measurement of the meridian ordered by the Acad-
emy of Sciences. For all purposes not purely scientific it is the same.
The length of the metre as now established is very nearly thirty-nine
inches and a third, or exactly 39.370091 inches of the British imperial
yard.
The word metre is derived from a Greek word signifying measurey and
the names of its multiples and divisions are also adopted from the Greek
and Latin languages, being thus neither French nor English, but belong-
ing equally to all nations. Notwithstanding the learned nomenclature of
the system, it is at once simple, ingenious, and convenient. It is easily
learned and retained in the memory. The name instantly suggests the
amount and the nature of the measure. It is only necessary to fix in the
memory twelve short words with their meaning, and the diflSculty is mas-
tered. Probably no nomenclature could be devised more simple or more
universally applicable. Of these twelve words four, from the Greek, of
the ascending scries, are the multiples or augmentations of the units.
They are —
Deetif sigDifjiDg tm; htcto^ a hundred; kilOf a tk<m$and; and myria, ten thoueand.
Next we have three words, from the Latin, of the descending series^
which express the divisions or diminutions of the units. These are —
Decft signifying a tenth ; eenti, a hundredth ; and mitti, a thousandth.
These seven words prefixed to the term m£tre give us the complete
nomenclature of the long measure under the French metrical system.
Thus—
Myrtaroetre aignifiea • Ten tboupand metres.
Kilometre One tbouMiDd roetres.
Hectometre • One hundred metre&
Decametre Ten metrea.
Metre One metre.
Becimetre One-tenth of a metre.
Centimetre ...» One-hundredth of a metre.
Millimetre Ooe-thousaodlh of a metre.
The instruments of long measure are — a double decametre, a decametre,
a semi-decametre, a double metre, a metre, (used in Commerce as our yard-
stick,) a demi-metre, a double decimetre, and a decimetre. The kilometre
is the term generally used in speaking of long distances, as we use the
term mile. The kilometre is equal to 1,093} yards. Our mile is equal to
1,609 metres, or 1*609 kilometre.
SUPERFICIAL OR LAND MEASURE.
In superficial measure the unit is the are, from the Latin area. The are
u a superficial extent of which each side is ten metres in length, contain-
ing consequently a hundred square metres. We have, therefore, by the
combination of words above described —
The hectare containing • . .Ten thousand tqnare metres.
The are .One bandred square metres.
The ccDtiare One square metre.
The hectare is used in measuring land, as the acre is with us. It is
^Qid to neariy two-and-a-half acres, or exactly 2*471143 acres. The
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680 Uniformity in Weiffhtif Measures, and CMns^
chain used id ineasuriDg land iii a decametre, (e^tial to 82 feet and9*T00910
inches,) of which each link is two decimetres m length.
SOLID MEASURE.
In solid measure the unit is called a stere, from a Greek word signifying
tolid. The stere is the cuhe of a metre. By combination with deca, ten,
and deciy a tenth, we have its nomenclature as follows : —
The decRttere contabiog Ten cubic metres.
The fitere One cubic metre.
The decistere Ooe-teoth of a cuImc metre.
The stere is equal to 35*31658 English cubic feet The instruments of
measurement are the demi-decastere, the double stere, and the stere. These
instruments are used chiefly for measuring firewood. The demi-decastera
is a little less than 1 1 of our cord.
LIQUID AND DRY MEASURE.
The unit of liquid and dry measure is called litrey from a Greek word
for a measure of liquids. The litre is a vessel containing the cube of Uie
tenth part of the metre. It is a square vessel a decimetre in depth, d
which each side measures a decimetre. Its multiples and divisions are
formed and named as above explained. They are —
The kilolitre containiog One thousand litres.
The hectolitre One hundred litres.
The decalitre Ten litres.
The litre One litre.
The decilitre Ooe-tenth of a litre.
The centilitre One hundredth of a litre.
The liirey which is used as the quart is with us, is rather less than a
Suart, being -220097 parts of the British imperial gallon, or a little more
ban a pint and three-fourths. The hectolitre, used in measuring laige
quantities, is equal to 22'009663 imperial gallons. The legal measures in
use are the hectolitre, demi-hectolitre, double hectolitre, decalitre, deroi-
decalitre, double litre, litre, demi-litre, double decilitre, decilitre, demi-de-
cilitre, double centilitre, and centilitre. These measures have variooB
forms, according to convenience, but their capacity is certain and gradu-
ated upon that of the square litre.
WEIGHTS.
In. weights the unit is the grammey a term adopted from a Greek word
iignifying a small weight 1 he gramme also is based upon the metre.
Its weight is the thousandth part of a cubic decimetre of distilled water
taken at its greatest density, which occurs at a temperature of four degrees
above zero of the centigrade thermometer, (30^ 2' Fahrenheit,) weighed
in a vacuum. The nomenclature of weights is as follows : —
Iffy riagramme is. , Ten thousand grammes.
Kilogramme. One thousand grammes.
Hecti'gramme One hundred grammes.
Decagramme Ten grammes.
Oramiiie One gramme.
Decigramme One-tenth of a gramme.
Centigramnoe Oue-huodredth of a gramme.
Milligramme • One thousandth s( a grammsi
The weight of one cubic metre of distilled water, 1,000 kilogranuiN^
is the French ton, used in stating the burden of ships. It ia equal to niae-
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Ammg Oommfereial yiaUhni. 09f
teen Hundred and seventy pounds avoirdupois. A hundred kilogrammes
is the metrical quintal, and equal to 1*97 cwts^ 220*5500 pounds avoirdu-
pois, or 268*0300 pounds Troy.
There are in use weights of fifty, of twenty, of ten, and of five kilo-
grammes, the double kilogramme, the kilogramme, demi-kilogramme,
double hectogramme, heclogramme, demi-hectogramme, double deca-
gramme, decagramme, demi-decagramme, double gramme, gramme,
weights of five and of two decigrammes, the decigramme, weights of five
and of two centigrammes, the centigramme, weights of five milligrammes,
of two milligrammes, and of one milligramme.
The kilogramme is used in Commerce as our pound avoirdupois. It is
exactly equal to 22055 pounds of that weight The gramme and its di-
visions are used by apothecaries and jewelers. It is used dlso in philo-
sophical experiments. It is exactlv equal to 15*434 grains Troy weight.
Thus it is seen that the nomenclature of the whole system is composed
of twelve words. Seven of these are the numerals of multiplication and
division, as before stated ; the other five are —
The metre^ the unit of long measure.
The cue, the unit of superficial or land measure.
The atere, the unit of solid measure.
The litre, the unit of liquid and dry measure, or capacity.
The gramtM, the unit of weight
The combination of these, as has been seen, supplies all the names re-
auired in the system, the termination expressing the kind of measure, and
tie prefix its amount
Standards of the metre and of the kilogramme, made of platinum, as
the metal least liable to alteration, have been most carefully constructed,
and are deposited among the archives of the State. The standard metre,
at the temperature of freezing water, indicates the true length of the metre.
The standard kilogramme, weighed in a vaccum, gives the true weight of
the kilogramme.
THE COINS OF FRANOB.
WiUi characteristic ingenuity the French have connected the coinage
with the metrical-decimal system. The franc^ the monetary unit, is equal
in value to eighteen cents and seven mills of our money. It is divided
into decimes and centimes^ (tenths and hundredths.) Accounts are kept in
francs and centimes. The franc is a coin of which nine parts are silver to
one of copper, and weighs ^ve grammes. Gold coins are nine parts pure'
gold and one part copper. The centime and all the copper coins are made
of an alloy, of which ninety-five parts are copper, four tin, and one zinc
The centime weighs one gramme. The proportional weight and dimen-
tton of the coins of France are exhibited in the following table : —
— OOLD.
DUm.
Diam-
, OOPPBR.
Diam-
Deaom-
eUH*.
Deoom-
eter.
Denom- eler.
ioation.
Weight.
Milll-
iButiOD. Weight.
Mllli-
limlkm. Weight Milli-
Frtnot.
GramiiMM.
metrea.
Frmica. Grmmmet. metres.
Oentiraea. Grammes, metres.
20
6.46161
21
6 26
87
10 10 80
10
8 22680
17
2 10
27
6 6 26
6
1.61290
14
1 5
Centlmei.
28
2 2 20
60 2^
18
1 1 16
20 1
16
No other coins than the above are now struck, and all old coins are be-
/ Google
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#88 Uhifarrmif in Wngikts Medsttrw and CMm»
ing gradaally withdrawn from circuhttion. Of the three metals used for
the coinage, 8,100 franca in gold, or 200 franca in silver, or 10 franca in
copper weigh one kiloOTarome, so that the coins may be used for ordinary
purposes as weights, instead of the regular weights of brass and iron.
Thus, by decimal division, by weight and by diameter, is the coinage of
Fntnce intimately connected with its weights and measures. This connec-
tion is so complete that the length of the metre may be obtained with
correctness enough for all practical purposes, by placing a number of coins
together in a line, of which the various diameters, as may be seen by the
preceding table, are regular proportions of the metre. The absolute ac-
curacy, however, of this method of measurement is destroyed by the let-
ters in relief on the edges of some of the coins, which is to be regretted,
as impairing though to an unimportant degree, the beautiful harmony and
close connection of parts for which the system is so remarkable.
The above description, imperfect as it is, may serve to show that the
system is immeasurably superior to every other that has been in use in
ancient or modern times. Connected with an unchangeable base, the
forty-millionth part of the earth^s diameter, it has at the same time the
recommendation of introducing into all calculations of weights and meas-
ures, the facility and rapidity which already characterize our calculations
in dollars and cents.
In the adoption of this system, however, by the United States and Eng-
land, and almost necessarily afterwards, by all commercial nations, it
might be desirable to modify it in a few particulars, though radically it is
perhaps not susceptible of improvement. The modificktions of which it
IS designed here to speak relate only to such a trifling change in the
nomenclature of the system as would secure a similar proitun<:iation in
all countries, and by adapting it more fully to the uses of actual Cora*
merce.
The change suggested in the nomenclature relates not to its etymology,
but to its orthography. The names of the units as they now stand are
liable to be differently pronounced even in the same country. It is pro-
posed to apply to all of them a rule of modification, whiih, without
changing their derivation, will make monosyllables of them all, and estab-
lish their orthography in such a manner that tlie same sounds must be
necessary in all the langua^s of £urope, and make variation in the saaie
country unknown. Thus, if the spelling of metre were changed into nutty
are into arr^ stere into sterr^ gramme into pramm, and litre into l*it, every
Frenchman would at once pronounce these words exactly as we do. He
could not, by the rules of his language, do otherwise. In Great l^ritain
and this country there would be no variation ; neither is it possible to
conceive how any other pronunciation could arise in Germany, or in any
part of Europe, if the final consonants were always doubled. The names
of the units thus modified should be without change, or even the addition
of the sign of the plural, which the numeral prefixed would indeed render
unnecessary.
The denominations of the multiples and divisions of the units, and of
the weights and measures of the system, are unnecessarily and inconve-
niently various ; for instance, the kilolitre. Why not say one thousand
litres — or ten hectolitres? Instead of the terms double decalitre, decalitre,
demi-decalitre, double decilitre, decilitre, demi-decilitre, would it not be
more convenient in practice to aay twenty litree, ten Htrcs, fite liW,
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Am/omg Oommtrcial Nktwrn^ i99
twenty centtlitreB, ten centiHtrefl, and fire centilitres f As the franc is di-
vided into centimes, so should the litre be divided into centilitres. In
monetary divisions there is no use for the terms decimes and demi-decimes
— neither is there any more necessity for the terms decilitre and demi-
decilitre. The same remarks are applicable to the multiples and divisions
of units throughout the series composing the system. What is intended
not for scientific and learned men exclusively, but for constant popular
use, should be reduced to the simplest form consistent with perfection in
practice. All technicalities not necessary should be carefully avoided. To
the existence of these learned technicalities is to be ascribed the difficulty
experienced in some parts of France in making the system take root In
this respect the system bears evidence of its paternity. Devised by purely
acientific men, it needs to be perfected by practice and experience. It is,
therefore, suggested that when other nations adopt this system they wilt
fix the denominaUons of the various measures, and of the multiples and
divisions of the several units, as follows : —
LONG MBASUBS.
The minam«tre Ten thousand metres.
The kilometre One thousand metrea.
The metre One metre.
The centimetre One-hnodredth of a metre.
The millimetre One thousandth of a metre.
The myriametre is for the statement of astronomical spaces ; the \S\o^
metre for geographical and itinerary distances ; and the millimetre for
scientific and other purposes. The measures of Commerce would be tbA
same as now — being, however, simply called measures of twenty, ten, five>.
and two metres ; of one metre, of a demi-metre or fifty centimetres, and
of twenty and of ten centimetres.
SuPiiiRFiciAL Measure not being probably capable of further simplifica-
tion, need not be here again given. ^
In Solid Measure, the following denominations would be iound more
<K>nvenient in practice tlian those now used ; —
The bectoetere One kaodred cubic metres.
The «/«r« One cubic metre.
The centistere .One-hundredth of a cubic metre.
The measures in use now would remain, only being called measures of
five steres, of two steres, and of one store.
In Weiqhtb the following denominations would be found sufficient: —
The kilogramme « One tboutand gtammes^
The gntmme ^ One gramme.
The milligramme One-thousandth of a gramme.
The ton, of one thousand kilogrammes, for stating the burden of ships,
would be retained, as would also the metrical quintal, of one hundred
kilogrammes, to be used in measuring large quantities. The weights of
Commerce would be the same as at present, but called simply weights of
fifty, of twenty, of ten, of five, and of two kilogrammes ; of one kilo-
gramme, of a demi-kilogramme, or five hundred grammes, and of two
hundred, one hundred, fifty, twenty, ten, five, and two grammes ; of one
gramme, of a demi-gramme, or five hundred milligrammes, and of two
hundred, one hundr^, fifty, twenty, ten, five^ and two milligrammeB, and
of one milligramme.
VOL. xzxui. — KG, VI. 44
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In LiQinB and Drt M basubb the dmominations would be-—
The hectolitre One bnndred litres.
TbeHtre One litre.
The cmtiUtre Ooe-hoodiedth of a Utre.
The measures now in use would remain, but would be denominated the
hectolitre ; the demi-hectolitre, or fifty litres ; measures of twenty, ten,
five, and two litres ; of the litre, the demi-litre, or fifty centilitres ; of
twenty, ten, five, and two centilitres ; and of one centilitre.
A short comparison of the above denominations and numbers must
satisfy any one, that while they belong as rigorously to the metrical sys-
tem as those actually in use, they are at the same time more convenient
and simple, aud therefore better fitted for universal adoption.
It is suggested that a rule may be found for the establishment of the
five units of the system, that shall have the advantage of greater sim-
plicity, and at the same time be more rigorously systematic Instead of
the present expression of the units : —
Metre f a certain portion of the earth's meridiaD..One metre.
Ar«t sorffLoe of One hundred square OMtres.
Stertt a mass of One cubic metre.
Oramme^ a weight of distilled water .' .One cubic centimetre.
lAtre^ a veseel containing . • One cubic decimitre.
it would be better to say the imits are : —
Metre^ a certain portion of the earth's meridian.. One metre.
Are^ a surface of. One metre square
8iete^ a mass of One metre cube.
Oramme, a weight of distilled water ......... .One metre cube.
LUre^ a vessel containing One metre cube.
The length of the metre, however, as actually fixed, renders this mode
of determming the value of the other units impossible in practice. This
difficulty may be removed by reducing the metre to the length of the
present decimetre, making it, not a ten-millionth part of a fourth of the
earth^s meridian, but a hundred-millionth. The nomenclature and prinei-
ple of construction of the system would not be affected in the slightest
degree. It would only necessitate a partial shifting of names. Thus —
The mvriametre would become the deca-myriaroetre.
The kilometre • . .the myriametre.
The metre the decametre.
The decimetre ; the metre.
The centimetre .the decimetre.
The mittimetre ..••••* « . the centimetre.
The same yard-stick would be used, only being called decametre instead
of metre. Itinerary measure would remain as it is, only the kilometre
would be called myriametre. The iand-measurer*s chain would be calM
a hectometre, instead of a decametre.
The hectare wotdd become .the heoto-mjrarew
The are , the myriare.
The centiare the hectare.
In Solid Measure : —
The decastere would become the myristere.
The stare the kilostara.
Tbedeoistere .the I
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Amm^ Ckmmuwl NrnHuu, wMl
In Weigiit8>-
The kflogntinme would becoRM the ^ramiiM;
The gramme the mtUigrainHM.
The milligrainme » . the mille-miUigrtmm&
In liquid and diy measure ^ere would occur no change whatever, ex-
cept that we should say of the litre, it is a vessel of which the capacity is
one cubic metre, instead as now of one cubic dedmetre ; for, under the
new arrangement, the decimetre would have become the metre.
With regard to the coinage of France, so intimately connected with the
metrical-decimal system of weights and measures, it is desirable that there
should be an important modification of the monetary unit before its uni-
versal adoption. The actual unit of French money, the franc, is too small.
Let the five-franc piece, nearly of the same value as the dcSIar, be divided
decimally into cents and mills, and be made the unit of the universal cur-
rency. It would be necessary to give it a new name, which should not
be either franc or dollar, as these names would be liable to create co^Ca-
sion in the ideas of those who had been in the habit of attaching them to
a difi!erent value, besides having a national character might on that ground
excite prejudice, and cause delay in the adoption of the system. A name
might be taken for this as for the other units from one of the dead lan-
guages, which, being equally the property of all mankind, would be free
from all these objections. The name of the old Greek silver coin stater
might be adopted without change, or it miriit become statre^ conforming
with metre and litre, or in accordance with the modified nomenclature
suggested above, it might become statt The three denominations of mo-
ney then being statre^ centistaire, and millietatre^ might be annexed to the
five series of weights and measures, each series being composed of three
denominations only, except that of long measure, in whicn, for scientific
purposes, two supernumerary terms, myriametre and millimetre, are re-
tained. It might be convenient for the stating of very large values to add
the term decastatre.
Though few persons could be found to deny the advantages of a unifohn
system of weights and measures throughout the world, there may arise
with many a doubt as to whether the universal system to be adopted
should be a decimal system. It may be objected, that as the various
weights and measures now existing are the natural growth through a
series of ages of the necessities of trafl[lc, and being thus founded on expe-
rience, are therefore likely to be better adapted to practical purposes than
any artificial system, the work of merely scientific men. It may be said
that it is not from accident or arbitrary arrangements that in all the va-
rious proportions of the old English weights and measures, ten or a tenth
never occurs, while twelve and its divisions and multiples are constantly
occurring, from which it may be argued that there is a natural fitness in
the number twelve to be used as the numeral base of measurements. But
to this there is the satisfkctory answer, that in France the decimal system
has been found, after an experience of more than fifty years, to work well,
and that if any inconvenience has been felt from parts of the system, it
has been much more than compensated by its general superiority.
As for any difficulty that might be experienced in causing its adoption
in this country from the attachment of the masses of the people to dd
customs, it is likely that much less opposition would be made to it here
than in other countries, partly from the experience afaready hid in a 4«ci-
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092 CommtM pf tkt UniUd StaUs.
mal curreDcy, and partly from our being much more aoctislxnned to the
adoption of new improvements and inventions than any other people.
There will, therefore, when this subject shall be taken up for action by the
great commercial nations, be found in this country but a united voice in
Its favor. The merchant as well as the philanthropist will welcome this
as one of those measures whose tendency is to bring the nations of the
world into a universal brotherhood.
Art. T.— COHHERCE OF THE UllITEIt 8T1TES.
RVMBBB ZX.
•TAHT Dimr— TATOBmilt TOWAB» JAMAICA— OTSBK IBJVB1«VS ACT»— ■BABVBBS TO ABTABTAVS
TBB 09L0BIBB.
After exhausting their eloquence in petitions and temonstrances, the
colonists resorted to their first practical measure with reference to the
acts lately adopted and impending. In July, about two months before
the new Sugar acts went into effect, about fifty of the leading Boston
merchants signed an agreement, in the shape of a formal resolution, to
curtail largely the use of those superfluities of dress obtained from abroad.
Laces and ruffles were to be laid aside ; no English cloths were to be pur-
chased but at a fixed price ; and most of the articles used in mourning
habits were to be laid aside. They further agreed to encourage every
species of home manufacture. This spirit spread widely in Massachusetts
and some other colonies ; a very considerable retrenchment was made in
the amount of foreign purchases, and the manufactures, especially of the
coarser kinds of clothing, took such a start that the colonists were em-
boldened to the belief that, in case of necessity, they could manage to live
comfortably without depending on outward trade for any of me neoet-
saries, or even the real conveniences of life.
This measure was, partly, what it appears on its hce — retaliative — and
was also partly the dictate of necessity. By the powerful adverse influence
it would exercise upon British Commerce, it was hoped the ministry might
be compelled to retrace their steps. But if ineflective to that end, it was
still necessary, when the means of purchasing from England were so
largely cut off, to limit their business with her in a corresponding d^ree.
Even in the ordinary course of things, a considerable retrenchment in their
foreign purchases was imperatively demanded. The great fault of the
colonial merchants had always been a disposition to buy beyond their abil-
ities— an evil which was much facilitated by the easy credits they ^ere
allowed by the merchants of England. To the latter a great part of the
provincial traders were already so much indebted, that they could obtain no
rarther credit, and must therefore, perforce, alter their style of business
and of living, or go into bankruptcy.
The two revenue acts went into operation at the appointed time, and
the most vigorous efforts were made to secure their full enforcement The
naval officers, being also customs officials under them, exerted the same
vigilance and energy they had lately employed in capturing prizes from
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Oommtrc$ of the United Statee. 698
the enemy. In this new employment, their serviees were advantageous to
the interests of neither party. Being, of course, mainly unacouainted with
the rules and customs pertaining to the service, which consiaerable atten-
tion and experience were required to understand, and still less aware of
the particular irregularities which it was for the advantage of all to over-
look, as it had been the authorized custom, they ei^erly and indiscrimi-
nately pounced upon every vessel found infrin^ng in the slightest degree
upon the strict letter of the law, of which they were necessarily, in a great
degree, the rude interpreters.
The proper customs officers were also sufficiently decided in their sup-
port of the new acts. Perpetual collision occurred between them and the
New England merchants, especially in the ports of Boston, Salem, Glouces-
ter, Newport, and Falmouth (now Portland.) The excitement rose to a
high pitch. But the officials, under the strict injunctions given them and
the new and efficient authority brought to their aid, were indomitable. It
was in vain to complain of even the palpable illegality of many of the
seizures. The only redress for such improper violence was in an appeal
to the boards of admiralty or the treasury in England ; but this was a re-
sort so distant, the delay and expense of action were so great, these arbi-
ters were, besides, so mutually prejudiced against the cause of the colonists,
and the latter were so utterly repugnant to the transfer to England of the
jurisdiction of cases which should have been, as always before, at least
primarily settled in the colonial courts, that the privilege was of little
avail to them.
Macgregor finds one instance of a oase tried before the Superiorr Court
of New York in 1766, but it originated from a seizure made m 1763 — the
year before the acts in question were enacted. The suit was for illegal
seizure of ship and cargo by a captain in the royal navy, and a verdict
was rendered, in favor of the owner, of 4,046/. with costs.
Under these proceedings, the important trade of the Northern colonies
to the foreign West Indies was soon almost entirely annihilated, and all
branches of tbeir Commerce and of internal trade and industry suffered
severely in sympathy. The drain of silver in the payment of the duties,
80 far as the trade was still continued, soon exhausted the colonies of the
little specie existing in their circulation. To add yet more to their em-
barrassment. Parliament had also, but with less questionable propriety,
perhaps, than in the other cases, interfered in reference to their paper is-
sues. A few days only after the passage of the new duties, a hill was
adopted, inhibiting any farther emissions of the colonial credits, their in
being made le^al tender for debt, and enjoining the prompt redemption,
hard money aJone, of all those in circulation at the time their payment
became due.
But the North Americans were not the only sufferers by the new tariffs.
Jamaica, the favored West India colony, which was principally to derive
the benefit of these acts, felt their evil results most severely.*
In the impartial and indiscriminate exercise of their duties, the naval
officers cut off as well the trade between this island and the foreign West
Indies, as between New England and the latter. The colonists of Spain
* The popnlatlon of Jamaica waa eatlmated in 1764 at 15,000 wbitea, exduatre of the mUttary and
naral eaiabllabnieni and ibe tea*farlug people ; and 4^)00 free people of color. The alavea, by oeo-
ana io 1763, oambered 146,461 The total would about equal ibe population of Conaeaicutj^Neir
York, or Maryland, and waa exceeded nmong the oontineotal oolonlea only by^Maaaachuaetta, PaiiB-
^ylfanUi and ViivinU.
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ifl the Wert Indies aad ob the oontiBeDt^ had lomg beea aecostcNDed to
resort claodesthielT to the EngUsh islaiids for the pofdune of Eivopeaa
merchandise, which Spsin, attemptiBg the monopolj of their market, fat-
Dished thera at most exoriNtaat prices. Jamaica had always beoi tha
mat center of this intercourse, ud had profited extremely hj it The
bpaniards came thither in small coasting vessel^ hrii^ng mnles, csttiei,
cochineal, indigo, some medicinal drugs, and great qnaatities of gold and
silrer. They entered under pretence of stress of wcAther, accident, or for
refreshments — the only adnussible causes — di^esed of their cargoes, and
took back, at the risk of confiscation and eoiportl punishment from the
Spanish antbcHities, almost ail species of British manufiieinre. The Eag^
lish government had connired at this trade, thoodi under its own int^*
diction, on account of the mat advantage to £e islands, to the British
manufacturers, and to Britii£ Commerce.
The naval ofiScers, with uncalculating impartiality, fdl upon these Span-
ish contrabandists, sod the Governor cl Jamaica, b^aff also compdled by
the letter of his instructions to assist these xealous administrators of this
law, this most advantageous trade was speedily extinguished, and the sup-
ply of the Spanish colonies passed into the hands of the Freneh, tha
Dutch, and the Danes, all esffer to accept the fortunate oppcMrtunity ; and
the latter, endeavoring to make most of the advantage by throwing opea
their little islands for the importation, free in effect^ of all European
goods.*
Thus the British navy, becoming in efiect guarda castas for the king of
l^ain, effected in his behalf what the ntmost efforts of his own fleet bad
been unable to aocomplislL The effect upon the prosperity of JaoMica
was seen in a diminution of 168,000^, in its expc»rts, and of a still laiger
veductton in its imports, bero^ fully ptoportional with the loss of tha
Northern colonies m>m the tariff acts.
Another occasion of injury to a portion of the British West India colo-
nies was an attempt of the king, by letters-patent issued in July of this
year, (1764,) to impose upon the tided iskmds ; namely, those eaptured
from France during the war and confirmed to England at the peace, the
four-and-a-half per cent duty. This tax upon export had been originally
granted by the Assembly of Barbadoes, and had afterwards been extended
to the other British islands. The plea for enforcing it upon the ceded
islands against the will of their inhabitants, was the principle that the
orown possessed absolute dominion over them as c&nquerei territories.
The planters opposed the claim, on the ground that such dominion, if ii
ever existed, was relinquished by the proclamation inviting British set-
tlers, and assuring them of the enjoyment of all the rights aad iromunitiea
secured by the British constitution. The contest lasted until 1774^ irhmk
it was decided by the judiciary of England against the pretensions of the
sovereign.
* By deor^ of Jaly 7, Uie kloir of Den»ark opened bit liliiDde of St. TboaiM uA St Jolin for the
admiaslon of Kuropeao nerohAndlM In DnDtsli Testels, pnyfcif two per cent ad Tatoren ; unI of
ABMrieaa produce In veoMle of my natloB, paying flv« P^r cent, ench veteelt Mug attov^d toes^
port any foreign foods fret o/ 4utf ; but eiporte to £**rope to be made only in Danlata TeMelai and
to (CO direct to Denmark. Tbe»e Manda were occnpted nnatly by BHtMi planters and mwetiiiii,
tbe latter mostly engaged in eontraband trade, and tbeir newspapers were prfnic^ bodi ta Daaisb
and BiiRllsb. tlie opening of tbese Islands was of mucb beneflt wlerward to the North Am '
who pvoOted also somewhat by a decree of the king of fYance in 17S4, allowing all veaisili
frt^iy along tbe shores of the French islands, and eren to enter them in ease of neeeieity.
Teasels, by treaty, not being before permitted to sail within a leagne of those Waada-'ite
rwtrlctK>ni applying to Preach TMkelt regarding the EagUah Istattda.
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Chmmeru ^ iU VmUi SUUm 6M>
Nor was England wiUiout ker fall sbaie of the evik of ber late iiopoli-
tic measures. Without materially improving her revenue, these act^
through their disastrous influence upon the colonies, inflicted serious inju-
ry upon her own interests. To the surprise of the ministers, the exports
of the kingdom to hoth the North American and West Indian possessions
experienced an alarming diminution, and while expecting the complete
triumph of their policy, the cabinet was stunned with a cry of reprobation,
no less boisterous and general from the distressed merchants and manu-
&cturer8 of Britain than from the habitual grumblers of the colonies.*
But, worthy of all attention, and admonitive of high danger as was the
former voice, it was not yet the design of the government to make thai
speedy and inglorious retreat from meir ruinous error which they were
called upon to perform. Nor had they even abated their intention to push
&rther onward in their infatuated policy. They were not disinclined, in-
deed, to relieve, as far as possible, their &vorite Jamaica, and to partially
obviate thereby the embarrassments of England, but they would suffer all
rather than mitigate the atrocity of their measures toward the turbulent
plantations of North America. Instructions were accordingly sent to the
governors, collectors, admirals, and other officers of the land and water,
within the latter, to maintain all that rigidity and vigor in the execution
of the recent laws which they had before displayed, while to the same
officials at Jamaica and the other West India islands orders were simulta-
neously dispatched, that Spanish vessels entering therein by reason of dU-
tret0y or far- supplied, as formbblt, should receive all the cusistance ihej
had formerly received, provided — as a seeming regard to law made it ne-
cessary to except — *^ they did not attempt to oring in foreign merchan-
dise.''
But it was too late to retrieve the blunders of the naval zealota, or at
least to restOTe matters entirely to their former condition. The Spanish
smugglers were disgusted with the conduct of men who had first encour-
aged them to violate the laws of both countries, and had then so shabbily
turned upon them. The Dutch, Danes, and French had quietly seated
themselves in the lost position of Enffland, and were determined to main-
tain their acquisition by every effort m their power. While the trade had
been m the possession of England, it had owed its success mainly to the
^et and unobserved method in which it had been conducted. When the
evils of its strangulation were discovered, the matter of reviving it was
publiely discussed ; the jealous government of Spain took cognizance of
the designs of England, and to <kfeat the scheme of the intended restora-
tion, the trade of all the Spanish West Indies was, for the first time, opened
to all Spanish subjects, on the European or American continents, on the
payment of moderate duties on importation into the islands. Hitherto^
all the trade of the Spanish colonies had been a close mon(^>oly of the
erown, or of associations formed under the royal charter. The Spaniards,
indeed, in both hemispheres, lacked the spirit and the ability to profit
p^eatly by this indulgence, in competition with English tradera; but the
uicreased advantages hr contrabandism thus opened were equally avail*
able by other nations as well as the English, and though the demand for
British fabrics still maintained the ascendant in the Spanish colonies, the
lost ground was but partially recovered.
' h 1761, MiflreirsraMl buikraplilM te GmH SlttalB, s vtmhm iMqailid te aay pivfiof*
jMrol Brttiahblitory.
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Md Oom$Mere$ cf the UnUed Simtes.
Othvb ComfERCiAL Lkoislation. Another measure of Parfianent in
1764, calculated to injure the trade of America, was a statute for the eo-
couragement of the kat manufacture in Great Britain. By this act, the
drawback before allowed on the re-exportation of bearer skins from the
kingdom was repealed, and in its stead a duty of '/d. on each skin and la.
6d. for every pound of beaver wool was imposed on such export, the skins
on their original importation paying a duty of only Id. each. The design
of this act was to cut off the European market, which the colonies had
hitherto indirectly enjoyed, for this species of fur, to cheapen the price of
the raw material to the English hatters, and to suppress tne manufacture
elsewhere in Europe. The effect of this act was more unfavorable toward
America from the increase that had taken place in the value of furs through-
out Europe. After the conquest of Canada, large orders for furs and skins
were' forwarded to England from Flanders and other parts, and even from
Russia, which, though largely producing them, was unable to supply the
wants of its own inhabitants.
Another measure, about this time, not calculated to advantage the col-
onies, or to lessen tiie occasions of diflSculty with the royal officers, was
an order from the king to the Surveyor-General of Woods in America, to
set off at places near the sea or navigable rivers in New England and Can-
ada 300,000 acres of the best woodlands for the uses of the British navy,
and to be preserved, under heavy penalty, as provided in former laws, from
the intrusion of the inhabitants. The attempt to guard similar reserva-
tions had long before been occasion of difficulty between the officers and
the frontier people ; and the prospects of collision increased as the popu-
lation of the wooded localities augmented, and as the multiplication of
towns, and the extension of the shipbuilding interest in New Eoglandy
began sensibly to exhaust the more available forests.
But the legislation and the other imperial influences of the year were
not entirely vicious in regard to what affected colonial interests. There
were, indeed, several measures adopted during this and the two or three
preceding years that deserve favorable mention, as intended^ in at least an
mcidental manner, to confer positive benefit upon the colonies. In 1761
and succeeding years, large grants of money were made as compensatioa
to the North Americans for their expenses in the war. These amounts
were paid in specie, and were a most important relief especially to the
New Englanders in the disordered condition of their finance, and the mis-
erable state of their currency. The annual grant for the support of Geor-
gia in 1701 was £4,057, of which sum £1,000 was appropriated for pur-
chasing the cocoons of the silk-worms, and for the farther enconragemait
of that branch of industry, Mr. Ottolengi, an Italian, was sent out under
salary to instruct the Georgians in the management of the culture. The
same year, also, the society instituted under royal auspices in London for
the encouragement of arts, manufactures, and Commerce, offered large
premiums to those who should import the largest quantity of Pot and Pearl
Ashes from the colonies. Treatises were also distributed among the cole-
nbts, giving instructions relative to the best method of manufiu^turing those
articles.
In 1763, the act granting a bounty on the production of Indigo in the
colonies was continued for seven years from uiat time, although the f^e-
mium was reduced to 4d. the pound. The newly acquired regions were
•pened to settlers from the older oolonies or elsewhere on the most libenl
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tenuB, and with assurance of the utmost political privileges. Extensive
donations of land were made to officers and soldiers serving in the late
war, and free grants, also, were made in the Floridas and oUier parts to
such persons as would undertake the culture of silk, cotton, wine, oil, co-
chineal, indigo, madder, (fee, regarding all which there were existing en- <
couragements in the shape of bounty or otherwise.
The offensive measures of 1764 were accompanied by several acts of
protection and encouragement To stimulate the cultivation of Hemp and
Flax in America, Parliament granted a bounty of £S on every ton of clean
merchantable hemp or rough flax imported from the colonies into Great
Britain from June 24, 1*764, to June 24, 1771, descending to £6 for the
years 1771-8, and £4 for the third seven years, 1778-85. The act en-
couraging the import of Timber and Lumber from the colonies, being
about expiring, was renewed for seven years more. Another act permitted
Rice to be carried froip South Carolina or Georgia, in British or colonial
vessels, to any part of America lying to the southward of Georgia, on
paying one-half subsidv, eouivalent to the duty remaining in the treasury
if the rice were carried to England and thence reshipped with drawback.
The grant of this privilege, however, involved again the principle of tax-
ation. For the encouragement of the colonial Whale Fishery, already
rapidly increasing, another act made a great reduction in the duties on oil
and whale-fins imported into Great Britain from the colonies. This act
had a most beneficial influence on that branch of American business. To
increase and secure the safety of the Cod Fishery, vearly grants, avera^ng
about £10,000, were made to the young colony of Nova Scotia, to relieve
its population of the expense of government ; and the import of Salt into
Canada was now permitted for one year from any part of Europe, as al-
ready allowed in New England and Newfoundland. These latter measures
were positively beneficial to the colonies chiefly concerned in the pursuit,
in so far as they tended to secure the fisheries against capture or competi-
tion by the French, but were, in another view, regarded as adverse, as suc-
coring a new and important rival. Another measure, calculated to be
positively beneficial, was a resolve for a complete survey of all the coasts,
narbors, bays, and rivers of the grand colonic empire in North America,
rnider the authority of which two Surveyors-General, Messrs. Samuel Hol-
land and William De Brahm, were appointed, the former for the region
from the St. Lawrence southward to the Potomac ; the latter for that lying
between the Potomac and the extremity of Florida. The act regarding
paper-money, though apparently adding to the present embarrassments of
the colonies, must on the whole be regarded as not only a legitimate use
of power, if England could at all properly legislate for America, but as a
judicious restraint upon a very dangerous system in which the Americans
were too much inclined to adventure.
Such were the beneficial or least objectionable measures recently adopted
bearing on colonial interests. If some were of indifferent or questionable
policy, the intent of all was good, and there were some among them cal-
culated to be productive of positive advantage. But whatever beneficent
results might accrue from this embodiment of good intentions, they were
engulfed in the gigantic mischief of the last-named year's legislation.
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Irt. fl.— TIB liW lEBCIilT.
! mniBBs n.
THB ipPUOATIOV OF VOLUNTABT PAnCSMIB.
Haviv& in the last number explained the debtor's right to apply a toI-
untary payment^ we proceed to tne second division of Ute subject: —
lU THB creditor's RIGHT TO APPLY THE PATMEVT.
It* a payment is unaecompanied by any directions as to its application,
it is called a general or open payment ; and the rule of law in respect to
payments of this kind is, that the party who receiyes them has a right to
apply them. That is to say, whenever a debtor has made a payment witlfc-
out communicating to the creditor his wishes respecting its application,
the right to apply it passes to the creditor.
In exercising this right the creditor may follow his own interest; he it
not bound to ^llow that of the debtor. He may select that one of his
claims which it is most for his interest to have paid first, and i4>ply the
general payment upon that Yet he must not make a harsh, unreasonabla
application, or one which the debtor, if he ^ had thought about it» could
not reasonably have expected that he would make. The oase of Ayer m>
Hawkins illustrates these principles.
Ayer brought this suit against Hawkins to recover the amounts of three
promissory notes made by Hawkiiki. The defense was that the notes were
"outiawed."
It was evident upon the trial that the notes of Hawkins had been doe
more than six years before the commencement of the suit To meet thia
difficulty Ayer undertook to show that Hawkins had made a part*paymeai
upon each of the notes within six years. To'^do this he called a witness
who was present at a conversation between Ayer and Hawkins, in the
eourse of which Hawkins admitted that in 1841, which was about five
years before the trial, he had paid Ayer twenty dollars.
*' Well," said Ayer, continuing the conversation, " I indorsed the moa^
«pon the notes; was that right T
" I don't know anything about any notes," replied Hawkins.
Ayer then showed, after this vritness had finished his account of the
oonversation, that he had divided the twenty dollars between the three
notes— ^ndoraing a part of it upon each of them. Thus, as his ooansd
contended, there had been a part-payment upon each of the notes withos
six years, and so they were all taken out of the Statute of limitations.
Hawkins tiien ofifered some evidence tending to prove that he had lemt
ihe twenty dollars to Ayer instead of paying it to hmu He was not very
successful, however, in his endeavor to make this out
After the evidence was all given. Judge Bedfield charged the jury. He
told them that if they were satisfied that Hawkins paid Ayer twenty dol-
lars to apply towards debts which he owed him, and gave no directions at
the time of payment upon what debt it should be applied, it thereby be«
came the right of the plaintiff to make the application upon such claims
as he had against the defendant in any of the ordinary modes of making
such applications, but not in an extraordinary and unreasonable manotf.
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Aa there was no evidence that Ayer had any other demands against Haw-
kins, to which this payment could apply, except the notes in suit, they
mifi^ht infer that it was intended to apply on the notes, or one of them ;
and if so, it would remove the bar of the Statute of Limitations as to such
note or notes. But the plaintifl^ Ayer, could not apply a part of the pay-
ment upon each note, and thus take all out of the statute. The most he
could do, would be to apply it to that one of his demands which would
be most favorable to himself ; and as all the notes were barred by the
statute, Ayer would be justified in making the application upon the largest
note, though that was the most recent, if there was nothing from which it
could be ascertained upon which particular note the defendant, HawkinB|
intended the application to be made.
The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, Ayer, for the amount of the
largest note. Both parties were dissatisfied with this decision, and they
botu appealed.
Ayer contended that he ought to be allowed toVecover upon all three of
the notes ; Hawkins that he ought not to be compelled to pay either of
them.
The Supreme Court decided that the instructions which Judae Bedfield
gave to the jury were correct. After concisely stating the nues of law,
which we have already considered, Judge Royce, who delivered the opin-
ion of the Supreme Court, concluded it as follows : —
" But although it is usually said that the creditor may apply a general
payment as he pleases, there are many cases where he is not mdulged to
this extent, even in the absence of any express direction from the debtor.
The right to direct the application being universally conceded to the debtor
in the first instance, regard is still had to his intention in the matter where
the facts and circumstances render that intention sufficiently clear and
certain. And if the debtor silently waives the right in favor of the cred-
itor, it should be intended that he does so relying upon a mode of appli-
cation to which he could not justly or reasonably object But the cuurse
which the plaintiff pursued in this instance, by distributing the payment
among all Lis demands, and thus seeming to preclude all defense under
the statute as to either, was such as he doubtless knew was not anticipated,
and would not be approved or sanctioned by the defendant. It is entirely
without precedent, as far as I have discovered, among the numerous cases
reported on this subject, and we are fully convinced that it has not pro-
duced the effect desired. The plaintiff was at liberty to select any one,
even the largest of the notes, and apply the payment upon it, for so much
had been yielded to him by the defendant. And the defendant must be
taken to have understood that his legal liability upon such a note would
be therebv revived, but beyond this his presumed intention cannot justly
be extended. As the charge of the judge was in accordance with these
views, and the plaintiff was enabled to recover to the extent of his legal
right, there is no apparent error to be corrected, and the judgment below
is affirmed."
It is not easy to define the limits of the creditor's right much more dis-
tinctly than is done in the above decision. He can make no applicatioa
which is harsh, unreasonable, or unjust toward the debtor ; but whether
any application violates the rule, is only to be determined jupon a review
of the circumstances of the particular case.
One or two principles have, however, been laid down which will guid^
creditors to avoid manifestly objectionable applications.
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?00 The Law Merchant :
One 18 that the creditor, as'a general rule, can only apply the payment
to legal, valid claims, capal)Ie to be enforced against the debtor. He can-
not employ a general payment in satisfaction of a claim which the law
will not enforce.
The case of Ayer vs. Hawkins is perhap an apparent exception to this
rule, for, though it is not distinctly stated, it appears from the report to
have been the case that at the time when the general payment was made
all three of the notes were outlawed. If so, then in that case the creditor
was allowed to apply his payment to a claim which could not at that time
have been enforced at law. But we must remember that Ayer had no
other claim capable to be enforced against Hawkins upon which he might
have applied the paym^t He had only the three outlawed notes ; at
least there was no evidence of any others, and it is very probable that if
it had been proved that at the time when Hawkins paid the twenty dollars
he owed Ayer a debt which was then legally collectable, it would have
been decided that the payment ought to have been applied to the valid,
collectable debt, insteatl of to either of the outlawed notes.
Another limitation upon the creditor's right of application is this : that
he can never hold a payment in suspense until a new debt accrues and
apply it to that, leaving a prior indebtedness, which was subsiding at the
time of the payment, unsatisfied. The creditor need not, as will be more
fully pointed out, make his application immediately upon receiving the
money, but whenever he does make it he must choose among the various
debts existing at the time when the money was naid. This principle is
explained in an English case, (Hammersley vs, Knowleys, 2 Espinasse's
Rep., 665,) which was tried between fifty and sixty years a^o.
The facts of that case were these : — All readers of Engli^ history know
that George IV., when Prince of Wales, was a very extravagant and dis-
sipated young man, and although the income allowed him was fifty thou-
sand pounds, be ran very heavily in debt ; so much so, that the kmg, his
ftither, finally refused to assist him, and application had to be made on his
behalf to Parliament for relief. After some temporary aid, which was in-
sufiScient, an arrangement was made for the payment of the Prince's debts
and the increase of his allowance, it being made a condition that he should
marry the Princess Caroline of Brunswick. This he accordingly did.
A jeweler named Nathaniel Jeflfreys, who had a high reputation for
skill in his trade, was engaged to provide the jewelry for the marriage be-
tween the Prince of Wales and the Princess Caroline. The expense of
such jewelry as was considered suitable was fifty-five thousand pounds, or
about two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Of course, to prepare
these jewels required the expenditure of a large sum in advance oy JeflT-
reys, and either because he had not sufiScient capital for the enterprise, or
was not suflSciently cautious in the employment of it, or more probably
because payment was not made to him for the jewels so soon as he had
reason to expect, he became very much embarrassed. He was indebted
to his bankers, the Hammersleys among others.
Anxious to protect the Hammersleys ft'om loss, Jefilreys procured from
his brother-in-law, Knowleys, a promissory note for eight hundred pounds,
which note he indorsed to the Hammersleys, and paid it, together with
two others, into their hands. This was early in Februaiy, 1797. On the
27th of February the notes fell due. Before that day, Jeffreys explained
to one of the Hammersleys that the note of his brother-in-law was only
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The Application of Voluntary Payments. 701
what is called ah '' accommodation " note, that is, a note made as a favor
to the payee and i^ithout bis paying value for it, and asked him if he
would not hold it over after it fell due, until he, Jeffreys, should receive
payment for the royal jewels. To this Hammersley consented.
On the 27th of February Jeffreys paid to the Hammersleys two thou-
sand pounds, and said that as soon as he received his money he would
pay the balance that he owed them, and would also leave a deposit in
their hands for use, sufficient to repay them for their favors to him. The
two thousand pounds was paid in generally, and the Hammersleys carried
it generally to Jeffreys' account There was then remaining due about
three hundred and two pounds.
After this, Jeffreys incurred new debts to the Hammersleys by borrow-
ing or drawing money, until finally he became entirely insolvent It then
occurred to the Hammersleys that by employing the two thousand pounds
to pay off the debts incurred by Jeffreys after the 27th of February, and
then collecting the notes from the persons who made them, they should
be paid ; whereas if they allowed the two thousand pounds to go towards
the payment of the notes, thev would have no means of collecting ;the
subsequent debts. Accordingly, they brought a suit against Knowleys,
the brother-in-law of Jeffreys, upon his note for eight hundred pounds.
Erskine, the distinguished English lawver, was counsel for Knowleys.
He maintained that the Hammersleys could only apply the two thousand
pounds to the debts subsisting at the time when it was paid ; and that
therefore they could not recover from Knowleys at most only three hun-
dred and two pounds, the balance which remained due from Jeffreys after
the payment of the two thousand pounds.
Lord Kenyon, the judge before whom the case was tried, sustained this
view.
" The grounds of the law as to payments," said he, in his charge to the
jury, " are very clear. When a person pays money on one account, it
must be so applied, and cannot be changed ; but the rule is not so strict
as to say that the application must be made at the time the payment is
made — it may be done at a future time in pursuance of a foregone trans-
action. But when there is a subsisting demand between two parties, and
the debtor makes a payment generally, it would be too much to say that
it was not a pavment but a deposit It does not appear to me that it can
be so taken, unless the parties agree that it should be so. That this was
not so taken by the plaintiffs themselves, (the Hammersleys,) appears. I
therefore think that as the subsisting debt on the 27th of February, when
Jeffreys paid in the two thousand pounds on account, arose on the note in
question, and the two others mentioned in the case, the plaintiffs were
bound to ascribe it to that account"
And, according to these instructions, th^ jury found a verdict for the
plaintiffs for three hundred and two pounds only.
It has already been explained that the debtor must make his applica-
tion, if at all, at the time when the payment is made. The rule is differ-
ent with respect to the creditor. He is not required to make his applica-
tion immediately on receiving the money. The reason for this difference
is twofold — first, the debtor has full opportunity to consider and decide
upon the application which will best advance his mterests during days and
weeks before he makes the payment The creditor has no such previous
opportunity. In many cases the payment may take him, as it were, by
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1 702 7^ Lav MerektmL
sQrprise. And it la but reasonaMe that he should have leisure after the
time of payment to reflect upon and determine his course. Second. The
right of the debtor must be terminated whenever the right of the creditor
attaches ; else there would be continual conflict between the two. There-
fore, if the right of the creditor is to attach immediately after the payment,
the right of the debtor must then cease ; but no such reason applies in the
creditor's case.
But how long a time is allowed a creditor ? Different Courts have an-
nounced different rules upon this subject
He may make his application at any time after payment, say some.
At any time before the commencement of suit^ say others.
At any time before a controversy respecting the application arises, s^
the Supreme Court of Vermont
At any time before a settlement of account between the parties, saysim
early English case.
lie may make it within a reasonable time, say a majority of the cases.
Probably the true rule is, that the creditor may exercise his right at
any time before a controversy arises between the parties respecting the
proper application ; but cannot claim it after that time.
We have said that an application on the part of the debtor may be im-
plied from circumstances. The same remark applies in the case of the
creditor. It is not necessary that his intention respecting the paym«it
should be expressed in distinct words ; and as he does not lie under so
strong a necessity to notify the other party of his determination, as doe«
the debtor, it is not so strongly to be urged upon him to define his inten-
tion with distinctness, though this is usually to be recommended. Any
facts which show clearly that the creditor did in fact decide upon a partic-
ular appropriation of the fund — as a credit given for it upon an account,
an indorsement of it upon a note, and the like — will suflSce. And by
crediting it upon an account he is understood to apply it to the items in
the order of time in which they accrued. There is, moreover, an import-
ant difference between the effect of the charge of a sum paid by the debtor
in his account-books and the credit given by the creditor. The entry .
made by the debtor is not, if standing by itself, a circumstance from which
his application can be implied, as has been already explained. But the
entries made by the creditor in his books of account, if shown to have
been made at their dates, and before the controversy sprung up, are evi-
dence to show his application. Even the commencing a suit upon one of
two demands, has been held to be a proper act on the part of the creditor
to evince that he has applied a previous payment to the other.
Although the creditor has liberty to defer his application for some time
after the payment, yet he is bound by any application which he has once
made. He cannot change his mind as his interest changes, and because
no controversy has as yet arisen, release his first application and deter-
mine upon a new one. On the contrary, when a legal and valid appro-
priation of a payment has once been made, it can only be changed by
assent of both parties. Neither one can make any alteration in it
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JOURNAL OF MERCANTILE LAW.
SWEATING CASE — COKTRACT OF AFFREIGHTMERT.
We give below the opinion of Jodge Hoffman, of the United StateH District
Conrt, (California,) in the case of the ship " Live Yankee." The case is one of
especial importance to shippers to California, and will be read with interest not
only by those engaged in the North Pacific bat the India and China trade :-*
Adrian & Story V5. the "^live Yankee."
This was a libel on a contract of affreightment The goods were shipped
onder the u^mal bill of lading, but on delivery were found to be saturated with
moidtare, and much damaged.
It was proved thai the goods were stowed in the usual and proper manner,
but on the top of the between-decks cargo, and immediately under the upper
deck, and that the damage was caused by moisture in the hold of the vessel, or
what is usually called sweat On the general principle by which this cause must
be determined this Court has already expressed its opinion.
In the case of Levy V5. the ** Caroline," it was considered that the carrier is
not liable for damage arising from sweat, unless he is proved to have been guilty
of negligence. That so far as relates to damage from this cause, all goods
transported on voyages like that from the Eastern States to this port must be
considered perishable, or liable to injury, and the genera! rules with regard to
perishable goods must be applied to them. That where damage is attributable
to the intrinsic perishability of goods, the carrier is not liable^ unless it appear
that he has neglected to take proper care of them. These principles must, I
think, govern Uiis case.
In the case of Conroys V5. Scarr, 19 Carr. and P. R., 383, whicli was an ac-
tion Bguinst a carrier for damage to goods arising from their bad stowage, it was
held ihat, if on the whole it be left m doubt what the cause of the injury was,
or if it may as well be attributable to ^ perils of the sea " as to negligence, the
plaintiff cannot recover. Lord Denman said, in summing up, that ^ the jury were
to see clearly that the defendants were guilty of negligence, before they could
find a verdict airainst them." (Angell on Car., sec. 212.)
In Cariss vi. Johnson, in the New York Superior Court, 1848, Judge Oakley
said: —
^ I do not consider that common carriers are in all cases responsible for not
delivering property In a sound state. They are not warrantors that the properly
shall remnin saf) and sound. They are only warrantors for its safe delivery, and
their further responsibility depends upon whether they use due care and dilli-
gence in carrying the property, or that negligence can be proved against them by
any omission to do what prudent men should do under such circumstances."
Undoubtedly, when goods are given to a carrier in a sound state, and are dam-
aged when delivered, the presumption of law is that it was by his negligence.
But if he can Hhow a peril of the sea sufficient to account for the injury, or a
natunl cause, such as the leakage, evaporation, or fermentation of liqutds, or the
rotting or decay of fruits, &«., the burden of proof will then be on the plaintiff
to show uctunl negligence or defective means. If, in such a case, the proof leaves
it doubtful what the cause of the injury was, or " unless the jury," in the words
of Lord Denman,** see clearly that the defendants have been guilty of negligence "
the plaintiff cannot recover.
The degree of diligence to which, in respect of perishable goods, carriers are
bound, is stated by Judge Oakley in the case already cited. Their responsibility
depends upon whether Uiey use doe care and diligence in carrying the property;
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704 Jaiwrml cf Mercaniih Law.
or that negli^nce can be proved against them by any omission to do what pro*
dent men should do under such circumstances.
In the case at bar, the injury is shown to have arisen fW>m sweat or moisture
collected in the hold during the voyage, it appears that sweat is incidental to
all voyages around the Horn ; that^ in a greater or less degree, it almost invari-
ably occurs; that it is a cause of damage well known to both shippers and ship
owners, and that as yet no certain means have been devised to prevent it ; that
it is caused by the great variations in temperature necessarily occurring on such
voyages; that it depends, in a great degree, upon the nature of the cargo, and
is affected by other circumstances, the nature and operation of which are not
clearly explained.
It appears, therefore, that damage by sweat arisos from natural causes inde-
pendent of the agency of man, and that it is to be likened to the damage by
fermentation, evaporation, spontaneous combustion, &.C., which are all more or
less owing to the heat or other conditions under wliich cargo i>< carried in ships,
but for losses by which the carrier is not liable, unless negligence can be proved.
The negligence attributed to the carrier in this case is alleged to connist in his
not having provided sufficient ventilation for his ship. 80 mr as his means ex*
tended, the master is shown to have used all diligence in ventilating the cargo.
The hatches were frequently taken off, and everything was done which during a
voyage could be done to preserve it. The ship was provided with one lam
ventilutor, going down to the hold, and communicating with the between-dccks
by air-holes. She seems, in the opinion of some of the witnesses at least, to
have been as well ventilated as nhipa ordinarily are; but her means of ventila-
tion were inferior to those usually provided in clipper ships — the latter being
generally furnished with one or two pairs of ventilators of Emerson's construc-
tion.
It is contended that the carrier was negligent in not having had more venttU-
tors, or a system of ventilation such as that recently adopted in most clipper
ahipH.
The carrier in this case undoubtedly supposed that the ventilation provided
by him wns sufficient to secure all the good effects which ma;^ attend ventilation.
The question is, has he been guilty of negligence in not having adopted a more
thorough system ?
On tbo part of the claimants it is contended that the only preventive of sweat
which has been suggested, is of extremely uncertain efficacy! That sweat fre-
quently occurs in well ventilated ships, and that sometimes' no traces of it are
observed in the least ventilated vessels ; that it depends more upon the nature of
tlie cargo than upon any other circumstance ; but that it is affected by oausea
the nature and mode of preventing the operation of which are not ascertained.
In support of these allegations they have called many witnesses of the highest
respectability, and possessed of the largest opportunities for observation. Some
of them have not hesitated to declare that they consider the ventilation of sbipsi
as commonly practkred, of no use whatever, or positively injurious.
On the other hand, the libelants have attempted to show by the testimony o(
an equal number of witnesses, that the sweating of ships can be, and is, pre-
vented by the use of a thorough system of ventilation; that such a system has
been generally adopted in the clipper ships of recent construction, and iliat ita
efficacy has been proved by the condition of the cargoes of several ships now or
recently in port Tbey further showed that ventilation is required by Lloyd*8
agents in China, in ships taking cargoes of tea and silks, to prevent the efieeta
of steam. It was suggested, however, that the steam thus intended to be pro-
vented was a dry and noxious exhalation, impairing the flavor of teas and injur-
ing the fabric of silks, but was wholly distinct from sweat, which m condensed
moisture collected on the lower side of the deck. This point, however, was not
dearly established.
Had the libelant in this case clearly established the general recognition of the
fact, that a particular svstem of ventilation will prevent damage by sweat ; thai
tliat system ia univeraallj adopted and is usually effectual, he might olain that
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Journal of Mercantile Law. 106
the maaler in omitting to adopt it had shown a want of ordinary diligence and
eare. But although he has shown that the clipper ships which frequent this
port are usually ventilated in some way more or less thorough, he is met by the
fact that cargoes are frequently damaged in the best ventilated ships, and by the
testimony of numerous witnesses, who express their disbelief in the efficacy of
any system of ventilation whatever.
Before the Court can say that the omission of any particular means of pre-
venting this damage is negligence in the master, it must be satisfied that those
means are generally recognized as effectual.
Does, then, the testimony establish this fact?
Whether or not ventilation is of any service, seems to be a mere matter of
opinion, nor is it possible for the Court, on the evidence, to come to any certain
conclusion, whether the advocates or opponents of ventilation are in the right.
The whole subject seems involved in doubt and obscurity, and the systems of
ventilation that have been resorted to appear to have been adopted as experiments
or attempts to remove the evil, rather than as a certain and ascertained means of
preventing it.
It has been urged with great force by the advotate of the libelants that it is
the duty of the Court to exact from the carrier the employment of the latest in-
ventions, and to demand that he keep pace with the last improvements in me-
chanical art; that by so doing the Court will cherish, promote, and stimulate the
application of science to the useful arts, and contribute to their growth and im-
provement. But the difficulty in this case is that it does not clearly appear that
ventilation is an improvement.
On the eontrarVi several witnesses, whose great experience entitles their opin-
ions to much credit, affirm that in their own ships, and for their own cargoes,
they would not adopt any system of ventilation whatever.
Emerson's ventilators, the employment of which was most stronglv insisted
on by the advocate of the libelants, have been in use for the last nve or six
years. If they had been found so effectual a remedy as to justify the Court in
pronouncing the carrier who fails to adopt them guilty of negligence, is it cred-
ible that so many and so respectable persons connected with shipping would
be found to disbelieve in that and all other systems of ventilation 1
The testimony brought to show a prevailing usage in this port, that the ship-
per bears a loss by sweat, though it failed to establish a usage in the legal sense
of the term, proved this at least: that the general opinion of persons connected
with Commerce, shippers and ship owners, is that the ship is not liable. Surely
such an opinion would not prevail if there were any well-known, usually-adopted,
and generally-recognized means of preventing sweat And yet the Cfourt most
find such to be the fact before it can declare this vessel to be liable.
If it should be determined in this case that every vessel which is not provided
with a ventilating apparatus is liable, the principle would include many ships
which have avoided injuring their cargoes, though wholly unprovided with ven-
tilation.
In the case of the •• Thomas Watson," for example, the rule would operate
vrtth peculiar hardship. That vessel, it appears, has made five voyages to this
port, and has never damaged a single package, and yet she is not ventilated at
all. Surely her owners are justihed in assuming that ventilation in her ease
would be no improvement If then, on her next voyage, some of her cargo is
injured by swe^t, her master would be held liable for negligence, under the prin-
ciple the Court is asked to adopt
With what propriety can the Court call upon her owners to adopt a system
which experience of their own ship has proved to be unnecessary, it not injuri-
ous; and how can it make a similar exaction of any of the numerous witnesses
of intelligence and experience who profess their aisbelief in the efficacy of all
systems of ventilation ?
It may be said that ventilation may not be requisite in vessels of the size of
ihe *• Thomas Watson," while in clipper ships to omit it would be improper.
But this, after all, is but an opinion opposed by many of the moat experienced
VOL. XXXIII. — ^HO. VI. 45
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906 Jimmal qf MneanUU Zcm.
witnesses, ond affordinff no solid basis for the jndgment of a Coort. Beddea,
in the uncertainty ana obscurity in which this subject is involved, how can
the Court discriminate between vessels of various sizes? When is a vessel
Inr^ enough to require ventilation ? When is she small enough to dispense
with it?
Even the witnesjies for the libelants^ who are the strongest advocates for ven-
tilation, confess that damage by sweat is of constant and daUy occurrence; that
few ships arrive whose cargoes' are not more or lens injured by it, and that a still
more thorough system of ventilation is required. Could this be so if there did
exist, as claimed by the libelants, any generally-known and usually-adopted
remedy ? If the ship owner is guilty of negfligence in this case, for having
failed to adopt a generally-recognized remedy for sweat, it should appear that
cargoes can be, and usually are, protected by it — and yet the reverse is tho fact.
How can this remedy be said to be generally recognized as such when it fails so
often as to leave the question as yet undetermined whether it is of any use
whatever.
It is urged that the ship owners in this case have themselves recognized the
expediency of ventilation by introducing it into their own ships, but that the
means adopted by them were incomplete and insudicient. But the fact that tbej
have tried what they no doubt considered a sufficient system of ventilation, at
least shows that they were not reckless or indifferent on the subject, and the
question still recurs — Are there any well-known and generally-recognized means
of preventing this kind of damage which they have been guilty of negligence
in omitting to use? If there had been any such, it is but fair to suppose they
would have been adopted in a ship whii*h the libelants in their letter to the
master pronounce ^ a noble specimen of the merchant marine."
Ills to be observed that in the very letter in which the libehmta annonnee
their intention to test the question of the ship^s liability for damage by sweat,
they make no complaint of insufficient ventilation, or auggest the use of Biore
efficient means to that end. But they propose *^ the idea of experimenting upon
the prevention of sweat by ceiling the between-decks overhead.** They thus
aeein themselves to admit that no certain or established means of preventing
thin damage exist, and the remedy is suggested merely as an experiment.
On the whole, I consider that under the evidence in this ease it does not ap-
pear that the damage has occurred from causes originating in theaseney of man;
nor that it could, like damage by rats, injuries by worms, eto, nave been pre-
vented by proper care; that the injury has arisen from natural causes, the effect
of which the Court cannot affirm tho carrier could or ought to have guarded
against; tlmt it is not to be likened to the case of some unknown and infernal
' defect in the particular vehicle of conveyance, for which the carrier in liable,
but it is a risk to which every sliipper knows his goods are liable, and which be
aljK) knows there are no ascertained and established means of preventing; that
he is as couipetent as the carrier to determine which of the various modes of
preventing it are most likely to insure the desired result; and that in shipping
in tliis vessel he assumed the ri>«k of her system of ventilation, as he would have
assumed the risk of damage without any ventilation whatever had he ahipped
bU goods in the ** Thomas Watson ** — and that, inasmuch as he knew the daa-
gers to which his goods would be exposed, he might, had be chosen, have pro-
tected them by packinnf them in a different manner.
But while 1 feel called upon so to determine in this case and with the preseet
imperfect knowledge of this subject, it is not to be inferred that the same decis-
ion will always hereafter be mude. On the contrary, if it should hereafter ap-
pear that science has suggested, or experience has shown, a remedy or preventive
of damage from this aoua'e, which shall be generally recognized and adopted, it
will be negligence in the carrier to omit its use.
But as at present it cannot be said with any certainty tliat such a remedy has
been discovered, I cannot find the carrier guilty of negligence in having failed to
roHort to one that has been suggetited and used to some extent, but the utility
or efficacy of which is still a matter of didcuasion and dispute.
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Jwrnal qf Hv^misi^ Lam. 1^
SHIPPBRS — UIS£AW0RTaUIS9S — ^XHB AMBBICAK SHIP ASHIiAIlD BEFORB THB
FBENCH TRIBUNAL OF COMMERCE.
The Tribanul of Commerce, of Uafre, has recently had before it for a<!(jadioa-
tion, a Mtiit inHtituted by the captain of the American ship Ashland, against a
commercial house in that port, under the -following circumstances: —
Thf Arthlnnd, Capt Robert B. Benson, sailed from New Orleans for Havre on
the 3 J of February, 1854, with a enrgo of flour, cotton, and staves. On crossing
the b.ir ofilie Mi-ssinsippi the vessel heeled twice, and each time was injured by
the lowbouL The Attbloud, however, continued her voyage till, after some days,
it was discovered that she leaked more than usual, when she put back to New
Orleanx. iSUe remained there for five months undergoing repairs, and left on
the l5;h of Au'iust, under the command of Capt Afoore, with her origin.il cargo,
Having that 4.UUU barrels of flour were replaced by 3,360 bags of maize and to
ber merchandise.
Ill her voy.'ige the Ashland received fresh damages — had her rudder head bro-
ken, and had in hold two feet ei^ht inches of water, which readied the maize
and bur^^t the bags containing it; and (he captain, in order to get at the pomps,
had io elevaiB them six inches. The Ashland again put back and returned to
Norfolk, whern an examination of the ship and cargo was made by experts, re-
piirs. direced, and the maize and 127 bales of cotton, which were damaged,
ordered to l»e un-ihipped.
8he li'fi Norfolk on the 7th of December, and arrived at Havre on the 27th,
wliiMi C.ipL Moore made a demand on the connignees of the cargo for their
qiiotii of the repairs of the vessi*!; and a eommirssioner was named to estimate
tlie menhu iidi.se and the value of the vessel at the time of her two returns. In
tile nie.uiiinie EiUvnrd Barlow & Co., the consignees of the maize sold at Nor-
folk, sui'd the four insurance companies in which it had been injured. The. in-
surers itttervi'ned in the suit, and, conjointly with the consignees of the cotton,
conieiided tiiat in the flrst place it was the raiding of the pumps which had
d;iuiai^<'(i liiu ninize and cotton ; and in the second place, that the raising of the
pumps having bi'cn voluntary, it either had taken place for the common s:ifety,
ill wfiicii case the damages sustained by these goods should be classed as gross
d inijiL'es, or that it was not necessary to do it at all, in which case it was a fault
for vviiiVh the captain was re.Mponsible.
The c'jiisigiiee.H, on their side, contended that the vessel on its flrst setting out
w.is nil seaworthy, and that consequently they were not liable for the repairs at
New Orleans. Capt. Moore, in accepting the intervention of the insurers,
lornied agMin»*t them an incident.il demand for payment of the freight which re-
m.iiued due oit the maize, contending that they were responsible for the obliga-
tions of the siiippers,and that tlie sale of the maize not having produced ouoiu^
to piy its frelgiii for Uic whole voyage, they should be compelled to pay the de-
tiftr. lo this the insurers replied that the freight eould only be charged to Nor-
folk, where tlie maize was sold, and that even if the demand was eatertabed, the
shippers whom they had reimbursed for its value, were reaponaible.
The Court held :*^
Th.it there were no reasonable presumptions to soppoae the vessel nnsea*
worthy when she (ii'st left New Orleans; that the elevating of the pumps was an
<irdiimry operation, and did not constitute either a sacriflce made for the common
Siifuiy, or .1 fault on the (Kirt of the cjiplain ; that the shippers, not the consignees
ur insurer.^, are^ responsible for the balance of the freight on the maize for the
whole voyage ; that they are liable for the repairs done in Norfolk, but not fof
the txpenses of the relnrn to New Orleans; that the captain is entitled to the
whole of the freight on the cotton and maize sold in the course of the voyage on
iici'ount of damage ; that tiie private damages to the vcAsel, recognized and
pr(»ve.i at Norfolk, were 77,8i0 francs, and the general damages, 26,{$87 francs:
;uid luat towards the latter sum the vessel and freight should contribute 6,237
fraiies, and the cargo 20,650 francs.
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708 Commercial CknmieU and Review.
• LOSS BT FIRE— ** DAJTGERS OF RITER8 OHLT BXCEFTBD.**
An important legal decision was made at St Louis in October, 1865, touching
the rights of steamboat owners and merchants The parties were — ^Memphis
Insurance Company vs, Oliver Garrison and Daniel R. Garrison. The ease is
thus stated :—
In the year 1849 a large amount of cotton, valued at $16,290, was shipped at
Memphis and other points in Tennessee, for New Orleans, on the steamboat
Convoy, of which boat the defendants were owners.
A bill of lading was given by the boat, under which the cotton was to be car-
ried and delivered, ** dangers of rivers only excepted."
The boat and cargo were destroyed by fire, which, it was admitted, did not
arise from any fault or negligence of the master, crew, agent, or owners.
The Memphis Insurance Company had insured the cotton against " loss by
fire." They paid the loss, and brought this suit against the owners of the boa^
to recover the Value of the cotton, claiming to l^ equitably subrogated, or en-
titled to all the rights of the original owners of such cotton.
The Court held:—
1st That the comolainants were entitled to sue in equity, to recover, if the
defendants were liable.
2d. That the exception in the bill of lading of " dangers of the river only,"
did not include fire — fire was not a danfi^er of the river within the meaning of the
bill of lading, though it did not proceed from any fault or negligence of those
managing the boat
A decree was accordingly rendered against the defendants for the value of the
cotton.
The St Louis Democrat says of it : —
** This decision is highly important to our commercial people generally, and
will occasion much comment among steamboat owners and others. North and
South. The case hangs upon a very nice point, and perhaps a majority will not
be willing to admit the distinction made between dangers of the river and dan-
gers on the river. The question will, doubtless, l^ carried to the Supreme
Court"
COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW.
RBTURHUItt CORnPlXCB tH TBI STOCK ANO XONKT XARKKT— P1TRTHB& PA&TICVLARt OT TEC LATt
BBPSKMIOR^BOAaBIllS Or SPtai^rLUCTVATIOMl IK STOCKS AKD KZCBAKOB— ItBTBMtnE OT
TBI COUNTRT^COMPARATiyi STATBMKim OF TBI COMMIRCB ABD HATIOATIOII OF TBI lilHIIB
STATU POR TBI PISOAL TSAR IRDUfO JtTRB 30, 1SS5~TBB BARK HOYIMIRT IB BOBTOR, RRW
TORK, AHD PBlLABRLnnA— TBR SOLD PRODUCT ARR DIPOSITS AT TBI RRW YORK AMAT OTPKB
— PORKIOR IMPORTS AT RRW TORK POR OCTOBRR, ARS SIRCR JAMUART IST — IMPORTS OP RRT
eOORS— IZPOiRTS PROM RRW TORK TO PORRISR PORTS POR OCTORRR, ARS PROM 4ARUART IST—
RXPORTS OP DOMISTIC PRODVOB, RTO*
Thb general distrust, almost amounting to. a panic, which ushered in the first
days of November, has given place to a more cheerful feeling, and the fore-
bodings then heard on every side from the timid, have none of them been real-
ized. There has been no real scarcity of money, and the only suffering was
from " looking for evil," proving the truth of the adage that ** ills which never
happen chiefly make us wretched.** The advance of interest to 6 per cent by
the Banks of EngUnd and France, with the brief excitement it occasioned in the
foreign market, led at once to the prediction of a suspension of specie payments
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Oomm$reial ChrcmcU and Benew. 109
in both countries; and the bear party in car leading commercial markets, for
their own purposes, rang the changes upon this alarming theme, until the public
mind became feverish and excited, and securities of all descriptions rapidly de-
clined. In New York there seemed at first to be no bottom to the depression-*
stocks daily declining, and all holders who owed borrowed money pressing their
sales. There came with this decline a general distrust of foreign commercial
bills, and a wide difference was made for specie remittances. Many bankers also
preferred to ship specie with the chances of an increased premium for it in Eu-
rope.
The alarm first originated in London, owing to the constant current of specie
to France, even when exchanges were against it, as noticed at the close of
last month's review. This drain continued, and many have accounted for it
by supposing that it was the result of a gigantic movement on the part of
Russia, either to obtain a supply of specie for her own uses, or to cripple the
Allies by drawing off their resources. It appears to us, however, far more prob-
able that the disappearance of the precious metals is owing to the hoarding by
the people — a process accelerated by the excitement it occasioned. The fall in
the prices of stocks in this country was, as we have said, very rapid, some of the
leading raihroad shares falling $12 to $13 per share in about t^o weeks; but the
recovery has been nearly as rapid, although the former price has not yet been
reached.
The drain of gold from hence is now checked, the increased demand for pro-
visions and the shipments of cotton having furnished an ample supply of foreign
exchange. The bullion now arriving from California will be turned into coin,
and go to swell the aconmuUtion in our banks and the amount in circulation
among the people. Whether the price of exchange will fall so low as to war-
rant the importation of specie, is not yet clear. -This would undoubtedly be the
case, but for the dread of losing specie in London, which will affect the demand
for our produce, and espedally our cotton, the moment the current sets in this
direction.
The government have large payments to make from the Treasury this fall^
but the revenue of the country is ample, and is now increasing. The cash du-
ties received at this port for the month of October are largely in excess of the
corresponding total for the same month in either of the preceding years. The
aggregate since January 1st, however, is $5,609,286 66 less than for the first
ten months of 1864, and $8,266,470 71 less than for the corresponding period
of 1863:—
OASH DUTUS maonvxD at niw Toax.
im. 18U. 18M. 18iS.
First quarter $7,617,88'7 73 $11,126,600 47 $10,878,699 81 $7,688,888 21
Second quarter. .. . 6,682,426 16 10,041,829 08 8,864,26146 6,711,667 60
Third quarter. 10,281,190 03 18,618,106 14 12,699,868 06 11,601,617 60
In October 2,892,109 67 2,705,694 88 2,402,116 10 8,829,194 96
Total from Jan. Ist $26,928,612 48 $87,486,128 97 $84,889,948 91 $29,280,668 26
The foreign imports at all the ports of the United States, (including, of
course, California and Oregon,) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1866, were
$261,382,960, against $306,780,263 for the preceding year, showing a decline
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no
OofJimercial (^ronkle aihd 'Reif^.
of $44,397,29d. The total exports from the UnHed Statea to fbrei^ porta for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1855, were 9275,156,846, agninst C278,^l,064
for the preceding year, showing a decline of only $3,084,218. It will be seen
from this, that while for the year 1854 the imports exceeded the exports
927,539,189, for the last year the exports exceeded the imports 913,773,886.
IMPORTS INTO THE UmTBD STATIS FBOH FOBSION TORTS : —
Tear eodlng Jmie 30. Dutiable. Free goods. 9pee1e<tbiillloo. Totet
1846 $96,106,724 $18,077,698 $4,070,242 $1I7.254,5M
1846 96,924,068 20,990,007 8,777.782 l2J.6vl,797
1847 104,773,002 17,651,847 24,121,289 146,646,688
1848 182,282,326 16,866,879 6,360.224 164,9&8.928
1849 196,479,774 15,726,425 6,661.240 147,867.489
1860 166,427,936 18.081,690 4,628.792 178.I$8,8I$
1861 191.118.845 19,662.996 6.453.692 216.224.982
1862 188,252,608 24,187.890 6.606,044 212,945.442
1868 286,695,118 27,182,162 4,201.88* 2rt7.978,647
1864 272,546.481 26,827.660 6.906,162 806.780.268
1866 221,292,624 86,480,624 3.659,812 261^82,960
^he above shows an increase daring the last year of 910*102,864 in the im.
ports of free goods, but a falling off of 9^1 1^^3,807 in dutiable mertsbsndtse,
and 93,246,350 in specie. The course of the import trade for the lust three
years is worthy of especial notioe. The year ending June 30, 1853, shows an
increase over the previous year of $55,033,305 ; and the year 1854 showed an
increase over 1853 of 93*7301,606 — making a gain of 992,834,911 in two years.
For the last year the decline, as already stated, is 9^4,897,293, which brings the
imports below the total for the year 1852-3. We annex also a comparative
table of export b —
EXPORTS FROM THB UNITED STATBS TO FOBEION F0ET8.
Domeetic Foreign Specie and
Tear ending June 30. produce. produce. bullion. TotaL
1846 198,466.330 $7,584,781 $8,606,495 $1 14,646,60<
1846 101.718.042 7,866,206 8.906,268 113,428.616
1847 160,674,844 6.166,764 1,907,024 158,648,622
1848 180,208,709 7.986.806 15,841,616 154,032,181
1849 181,710,081 8,641,091 5,404,648 145,766,820
I860 184,900,388 9,476,498 7,622.994 161,898,720
1851 178,620.138 10.295.121 29.472,762 218,388.011
1852 164,981,147 12.087,048 42.674,185 209.668,866
1858 189,869,168 18,096,218 27,486.875 880,976,167
1864 216,167.604 21,661,187 41,422,423 iUMlfi^
1865 192,751,185 86,158,368 66,247,343 275,156,846
While the imports of the last year have fallen below even the total for 1852--3t
the exports are nearly forty-five millions greater than for that year. Of the t^tii
exports of specie for the last year, $53,957,418 were of domestic production, and
92,289,925 of foreign. The shipments of domestic produce, exclasive of specie,
were $22,406,369 less than for the preceding year, while there is an increase of
94,497,231 in the exports of foreign prodaoe, and $14,824,930 in the exports of
specie.
We have also prepared from the same official source full statements of the
tonnage statistics, showing the Commerce with foreign ports at all of th6 ports
of the United States :-^
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Cbmmerdal Cknmide and Review. 711
TOVBCft or TS88BL8, WITH THMR TORVAOB AVD OBBWt, WBIOB BlfTBEBD IICTO TBB
POETS or Ta« UMITBD BTATI8 PEOM FOEKIOM fOETS, POE TAB TBAE SMPIKO JUXB
SOra, 1865.
Number. Tom. Men. Boji.
American vewela 9,816 8.861.191 187,261 667
Foreign vessels 10.012 2.088.948 99.891 916
Total entered 19.827 6,946,889 287,142 1»478
SnnLAE 8TATE1IKKT FOE TEAE KNDINO JDNB 80, 1864.
American Tessela 9,466 8,762.116 186.927 72«
Foreign vessels... 9,648 2,182.224 100,248 1.212
Total entered 19,108 6.884,889 286,170 1,988
XUMEBE or VESSBtS. WITH THBIE TONMAOB AVD 0EEW8, WBIOH OLBAEBD FEOM ALL THE
FOET8 OF THE UNXTBD ETATEB FOE FOEEigif POETB, DUEIMQ THE TBAE ENDINO JUHB
80th, 1866.
/ OEBW. %
Namber. Tom. Men. Boyt.
Amencao vessels 9,669 4,068,979 142,988 739
Foreign vessels 9,921 . 2,110,822 101.978 900
ToUl cleared 19,490 6,179,801 244,716 1,689
BIMILAE aTATBHEMT FOE TBAE ENDING JONB 80tH, 1864.
American vessels 9.670 8.911,892 141,028 797
Foreign vessels 9,608 2.107,802 98,617 l,l«6
ToUldeared , 19,078 6,019,194 289,646 1,998
We alHo annex a statement showing in what class of vessels the imports and
exports were carried daring the year ending Jane 30, 1866 : —
In Amer. vessels. In for. Tetsels. Total.
TmpoHs $202,284,900 $69,288,620 $261,468,620
Exports 208,260,662 71,906.284 276,166,846
Total $406,486,462 $131,189,904 $636,626,866
This shows that out of $636,625,366 in valne transported between American
and foreign ports daring the last year, over three-fourths were carried in Amer>
can bottoms, the freight on which is to the credit of this country, whether col-
lected here or abroad.
The loans and discounts of the banks have generally decreased, and the specie
basis is almost uniformly lower. The New York city banks have nearly one
million of dollars more specie than on the last of September, and yet their
discount lines are five millions lower. The deposits have run down also, owing
in part to the drawing down of country bank balances. We continue our state-
ment of the weekly averages from the opening of the year: —
WXXKLT AVXEAGBS NEW TOEK CtTT BANKS.
Loans and
Date. Capital. Dtaeoonts. Bpeete. dreolatioo. Deposits.
Jan. 6, 1866 $48,000,000 $82,244,706 $18,696,968 $7,049,982 $64,982,168
Jan. 18 48.000.000 88,976.081 16,488,626 6,686,461 67.808.398
Jan. 20 48.000.000 86.447.998 16,872.127 6,681.866 69,647,618
Jan. 27 48,000,000 86,664,667 16.697.260 6,739.823 20.186.618
Feb. 8 48.000.000 88.146,697 17,489,196 7.000,766 72,928,817
Feb. 10 48.000,000 89,862,170 17,124,391 6,969,111 73,794,342
Feb. 17. ... . 48,000,000 90,860,081 17,889,086 6,941,606 76,198,686
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712
Commercial Cfkromeh and JUview.
Date. OtpltaL nid dteeoants. flpcde. Clrenlitioii.
Feb. 24 48,000,000 91,690,504 16,870^76 6,968,562 74,544,721
March 8.... 48,000.000 92,886,125 16,581.279 7,106,710 75,958,844
March 10... 48.000,000 92,881,789 16,870,669 7,181,998 76,259,484
March 17... 48,000,000 92,447,846 16,988,982 7,061,018 76,524.227
March 24... 48,000.000 98.050.778 16,602.729 7,452,281 76,289,928
March 81... 47,688,415 98,634,041 16,018,106 7.887.688 75,600.186
AprQ 7 . . 47.865.665 94.499.894 14.968,004 7,771,584 77,818,908
April 14 . . . 47,866,665 94,140,899 14,890,979 7,528,528 77,282,242
April 21... 47,855,665 98,682,893 14,865,041 7,510.124 75,744.921
April 28.... 47.856,665 92,505,951 14.282,424 7.610,985 76.219.951
Maj 5 47,866,666 98^)98,248 14,825,050 8,087.609 78,214.169
May 12 47.855,665 91,642,498 14,585.626 7,804,977 75.850.592
Ma7l9 47.855.665 91,675,500 15,225,056 7,688.680 77,351,218
May 26 48,684,780 91.160,518 15.814,532 7,489,687 75.765,740
Jane 2 48,684,780 91,197,658 15,897.674 7,555,609 76.348,286
Jane 9 48.684,730 92,109,097 15,005,155 7.502,568 77.128,789
Juoe 16 48,688.380 98.100.885 14.978,558 7.452,161 77,894.454
June 28 4,8.633,880 94.029,425 14,706,629 7,335,658 79,1 18,185
June 80. 48,688,380 95,673,212 15,641,970 7,394,964 81,908.965
July 7 48,633.380 97,852,491 16.881,098 7.748.069 85.647,249
July 14 48,883,880 98,521,002 16,576,506 7,516.724 85,664,186
July 21 48.833.880 99,029.147 15,918,999 7,407,086 82.079,690
July 28 48,883,380 99,083,799 15,920,976 7,409,498 81.625.788
At^. 4. 48,833,880 100,118,569 15,298,868 7.642.903 88,279,990
Aug. 11 48.833.880 100,774.209 16.280.669 7,714,401 88.141,820
Aug. 18 48.833,880 101.154.060 14,649.246 7,610,106 81,948,671
Aug. 26 48,883,880 100,604,604 18,326.878 7.682.096 81.278,558
Sept 1 48,838,880 100^36,970 12,862,828 7,620.178 81.057,310
Sept 8 48.888.380 100,278,738 12,006,625 7,861,148 80,442,478
Sept 15 48,833,380 99,897,009 12,218.240 7.721,825 80,510.806
Sept 22.... 48,883,380 98,681,784 11,665,891 7,716.492 80.105,147
Sept 29.... 48,883,880 97,886,225 9,919,124 7.724,970 76.818,109
Oct 6.... 48.888,380 95,516,021 11,110,687 7,868,217 77,582,626
Oct 13 48,883,880 95,069.420 11,188,878 7,840,114 76.615.807
Oct 20.... 48,883,380 95,103,376 12,461,723 7.888.164 77,852.551
Oct 27... 48.888.380 94,216,872 11.168.521 7.828.489. 76,974356
Nov. 8 48.888,880 98.869.079 11.106,298 8,071,608 77,787,570
Not. 10.... 48,838,880 92,464,290 10,855.526 8,088,608 75,762,408
New York State Baxks. The following summary shows the aggregate re-
aourcea and liabilities of the banBe in this State, as exhibited by their reports to
the Superintendent of the Banking Department, of their condition on the morn-
ing of the 29th September last At that date there were 284 banks, including
one branch, and the Camden and Farmers' Bank of Mina, which reported, al-
though closing np and doing no business :—
RBSOUaOKS.
Loans and discounts $166,946,989
OverdrafU 450,116
Due from banks ^ 12,666,517
Due from directors, including absolute and cootmgent liabilities* 18,744,148
Due from brokers* 4.588.661
Real estate 5,857.587
Specie 10,910^80
Cash items 18,090,545
Stocks and promissory notes 20,590,160
Bonds and mortgages 7.886.828
Bills of solyeot banks 2,958,088
Bills of suspended banks 617
Loss and expense account. 1,164,466
* ThSM Uems, txoDpt $55,122, do not go Into the aggregate amoant of resoaroes.
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Oamfnercial Chrcniele and Bmew, 718
UABILITCEB.
Capital $85^89,690
Oirculation , 81,840,008^
Profits 11,078,981
Due to banks 26,046,489
Due indiTiduals aod corporations, other than banks and depoeitora. r . . 1,097.744
Due Treasurer of the State of New York 8,241,469
Due depositors on demand 86,610,926
Due to others, not included in either of the above heads 2,617,758
The Boston banks show a very moderate change in the same direction : —
WXBXLT AVSBAGBS AT BOSTON.
^ . October 82. October 29. NoremberS. NoTeinberl2. Norember 19*
OapiUl 182,710,000 $82,710,000 182,710,000 $82,710,000 $82,710,000
Loans and discounts. 64,289,600 68,646,465 68,118,989 62,267,900 61,840,000
Specie 2,645,000 2.674,999 2,426,147 2,127,600 2,128,000
Due from other banks 8,411,858 8,688,264 8,764,818 8,874,000 8,664,000
Due to other banks. . 6.878,400 5,676,768 6,122,880 4,943,000 4,685,700
Deposits 16,970,000 15,489,090 16,847,107 18,980,600 18,694.600
Oirculation 8,607,000 8,614,889 8,690,980 8,651,900 8,448,000
The Philadelphia banks, with the exception of the Bank of Pennsylvaniai
and North America, (whose regular period is later,) have declared their usual
semi-annual dividends, which we annex in comparison with the last two : —
Not., '54. May, 55. Not.,»55.
Capital. Percent. Per cent. Percent. TotaL
Farmers* and Mechanics' $1,250,000 6 5 6 62,500
Girard 1,250,000 8 8 8 87,500
Philadelphia 1,150,000 6 7 6 67,500
Commercial 1,000,000 5 6 6 50,000
Mechanics' 800,000 6 6 6 48,000
Western 600,000 10 6 7 85,000
Northern Liberties 850,000 6 6 6 21,000
Manufacturers' and Mechanics' 800,000 4 5 5 15,000
Southwark 250,000 5 6 5 12,000
Kensington 250,000 6 6 9 22,500
Bank of Ck>mmerce 250,000 5 5 5 12,500
Penn Township 225,000 6 6 6 11.260
Tradesmen's 150,000 5 5 5 7,500
$7,725,000 70 69 71 892,250
The Western Bank, in the jear-and-a*half that our table covers, has divided
23 per cent; the Kensington Bank, 21 per cent ; the Northern Liberties, 18; the
Mechanics', 18; the Philadelphia, 17; the Farmers' and Mechanics', 15; Com-
mercial, 15; Southwark, 15; Bank of Commerce, 15; Penn. Township, 16;
Tradesmen's, 15 ; Manufacturers' and Mechanics', 14; and Girard Bank, 9.
The goldproduct of California is undiminished, but the mint at San Francisco
is in condition to coin several millions per month, and large sliipments are made
direct to Europe, so that the receipts at our ports are not quite as large as for
last year. The Philadelphia mint has been closed for repairs. The following
will show the receipts at the Assay Office in New York for October : —
DEPOSIIB AT THE ASSAY OmOB, MKW TOBK, FOB TUB MONTH OF OCTOBBB.
Gold. Silver. TotaL
Foreign coins. $8,000 00 $10,400 00 $18,400 00
Foreign bullion 21,000 00 9,800 00 80,800 00
Domestic bullion 8,626,000 00 26,094 00 8,652,094 00
Total deposiU $8,650,000 00 $45,794 00 $8,695,794 00
Total deposits payable in bars. $2,960,000 00
Total deposits payable in coins 785,794 00
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714 Commercial Chronicle and Review.
Included in the deposiU were $230,000 California mint gold bars, and $94 in
native Like Superior silver.
The foreign Commerce of the country is increojiing, as already noticed in our
general remarks. The imports at New York from foreign ports for the month
of October are $4,573,993 larger than for October of last year, $3,422,106 larger
than for the same period of 1863, and 9^,957,158 larger than for the same lime
in 1852. Tills itjt in accordance with the intimation given in our last month's
report, and with public expectation. The imports toward the close of last year,
following as they did the extreme activity of the previous twelvemonth, were un-
usually sm.ill. The increase for the month is about two-thirds of it in dry
goods, and the remainder in general merchandise.
rOBBIGN IMPOaTS AT NEW TOBK FOR OCTOBKB.
18a 1851. 18S4. 18SS.
Entered for cnnsumption $7,776,614 $9,637,601 $7,645,071 $12,088,621
Entered for warehouping 694,426 1,866,866 2,210,646 2,379,886
Freegwils 215,148 422.166 1,086.467 1,082,125
Specie aud buU'on 62,690 266.802 88,864 64,899
Total entered at the port $8,647,878 $12,182,925 $11,031,088 $16,605,031
Withdrawn from warehouse 1,266,670 1,188,988 2,070,644 1,6'*7,487
Notwithf^tanding tie increase during the last month, the total foreign imports
aince January 1st are $33,034,253 less than for the corresponding ten months of
last year, nnd $37,194,902 less than for the same period of 1853, and $19,574,867
less than for the same period of 1852, as will appear from the following: —
rORKIGH nCPORTB AT NSW TORK FOR TEN MONTHS FROX JANUARY IST.
1851. 18M. 18(4. lUi.
Entered for consumption $91,080,891 134,775,790 120,408,905 96,753.67$
Entered for warehousing 7,134,816 19,268,112 26.780.869 21.667.S88
Freegoods 10.884.818 11,886.972 14,204,625 11,886,119
Specie and bullion 2,214,644 2,168,669 2,029,995 788,898
Total entered at the port... $110,814,664 167,684,433 168,428,784 180,889^81
Withdrawn from warehouse. 18,468,496 12,871,001 19,607,761 21,068,896
There has been a steady falling off in the receipts of specie and bullion, bat
this is a very small item. The entries for warehousing have also decreased, bat
the withdrawals for consumption have increased.
More than half the increase in the imports for the last mon*h is in dry goods.
One record of the latter item is kept in even weeks, and the total is given for
the four weeks ending October 31^t. This shows an increase for the month of
(3,1 18.330, as compared with the same period of 'ast \ ear; t\ 016,894, aa com-
pared with the corresponding period in 1853; and $2,218,709, as compared with
October, 1852. This increase extends to all descriptions of goods, as win appear
from the following comparative summary: —
IMFORTS OF FORBION DRY GOODS AT NSW tORK IN OOTOBBR.
BNTBRRD FOR OONSUMPTION.
18St. 18SS. \m. 18Si
Manufactures of wool $1,077,608 $1,270,014 $678,508 $1,738«40
Manufactures of cotton 887,464 606.323 266,96$ ' 770^74
Manufactures of sHk 1,317,806 1,397.424 681.969 1,666.267
Manufactaresofflaz 418,464 486,069 842,655 718.110
MiacellaDeous dry goods 168.879 292,485 245,998 426,027
Total entered for ooDBomption . $8,864,210 $8,901,805 $2,066,071 $5,819,218
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WITHDRAW raOH WAEKB0U8B.
1851. 186S. \m. 18$i
MaDufactureBofwool $49,986 1114,678 $336,435 $59.1U
Manufnctures of cotton 28,798 49.881 62,319 67,360
Mauufacturesofaiik 141.266 68,824 166.019 136,661
ManufHCtures of flax 30,619 22,697 46.483 43.912
MUcellaneooa dry goods 82,666 17,964 18,863 82,447
ToUl $283,075 $268,844 $629,119 $329,483
Add entered for consumption 8.364,210 8,901,305 2,056,071 6,819,218
Total thrown on the market .. . $3,647,285 $4,160,149 $2,686,190 $6,648,700
BNTIRBD FOR WARIHOUSINO.
18SI. 186). 1854. I86f.
Manufactures of wool $86,195 $208,609 $193,851 $120,675
Manufactures of cotton 57,130 244,165 70,686 188,752
Manufactures of silk 19,718 278,991 111.091 69.626
Manufactures of flax 27,984 166,144 179,706 108,412
Miscellaneous dry goods 53,776 22,624 98,088 21,240
Total $244,803 $909,628 $663,321 $608,604
Add entered for consumption 8,364,210 8,901,805 2,066,071 6,319,218'
Total entered at the port $3,609,018 $4,810,828 $2,709,892 $5,827,722
Notwithstanding this increase during the last month, the total receipts of dry
goods at this port since Janunry Ist are 919|362,600 less than for the 'same time
last year, $25,793,260 less than for the same time of 1853, and 83»505,171 less
than for the same pericd of 1852: —
IMPORTS or FOREIGN DRY GOODS AT TBI PORT OF NIW YORK FOR TEN MONTHS, FROM
JANUARY IST.
XNTRRXD FOR CONSITMFTION.
ISii 18SI. 18i4. ' ISifi.
Manufactures of wool $18,166,688 $22,989,636 $17,209,293 $14,762,488
Manufactures of cotton 8.294,133 12.722,388 12,669,194 7,284,754
Manufactures of silk 18,337,661 28.922,551 23,898,759 18,878,689
Manufactures of flax. 6,194,736 6.836,193 5,921,826 4,893,680
Miscellaneous dry goods. 8,644,199 4,750,638 4,932,265 4,603,066
Total $48,627,317 $76,220,301 $64,021,337 $60,822,562
WITHDRAWN FROM WARIHOtmR.
18i3. 18tt. mi. \m.
Manufactures of wool $1,617,289 $1,912,709 $3,879,062 $2,271,944
Manufactures of cotton 1,319,801 931,970 2,451,606 2,041,920
Manufactures of silk 1,779.788 1,217,485 2,780,008 2,485.21 1
Manulkcturesofflax 745,126 230,764 771,476 1,107,080
MiscelUneoQs dry goods. 829,108 299,69? 360,425 740,646
Total withdrawn $6,691,007 $4,592,665 $10,232,461 $8,646,801
Add entered for consumption . . . 48.627,317 76,220.801 64.021.887 60,822,662
Total thrown upon the market. $54,318,324 $80,812,866 $74,263,798 $58,969,368
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Commercial Chronicle and Semew.
BHTEEXD VOE WA&E&OUBINO.
i8ii ]8$i. \m. im.
Maoofactaresofwool $l,186»(y72 |2,410,6S8 $4^99,887 11^69,684
Manufactures of cotton 802,609 1,404^49 2,424,184 1,440,562
Manufactures of silk 1,882,565 1,614,669 8,858,048 1,815,768
Manufactures of flax 828,868 458,828 1,076,589 880,809
Miscellaneons dry goods 866,575 887,167 680,287 618,791
Total $4,515,189 $6,220,686 $11,988,940 $6,825,115
Add entered for consumption 48,627,817 76,220,801 64,021,887 * 50,822^62
Total entered at the port ... $58,142,506 $82,440,987 $76,010,277 $56,647,677
Turning to the export statistics, we find the statement &r more favorable than
expected. The shipments of specie and bullion during the month have &llen
off two-thirds ; that is, over $2,000,000, while the exports of domestic prodoee
have increased nearly $2,000,000. The total exports for the month to foreign
ports, exclusive of specie, are 8l)'730,78l more than for the same month of last
year, $604,968 more than for October, 1853, and $2,782,039 more than for Oc-
tober, 1852:—
BzpoaTs raox nbw toek to fobkign poars fob thx movth of ociobbs.
im. 1851. 18S4. im.
Domestic produce. $8,497,874 $5,459,401 $4,672,017 $6,614,14«
Foreign merchandise (free). .... . 82,886 68,687 128,780 81,505
Foreign merchandise (dutiable)... 484,801 719,584 816,012 201,939
Specie 2,452,801 4,757,972 8,859,898 1,18840$
Total exports $6,517,862 $11,000,594 $8,476,207 $8,035,699
Total, exclusive of specie 4,065,561 6,242,622 5,1 1 6,809 6,847,590
For the first time during the current year the total exports to foreign ports,
exclusive of specie, have overtaken the shipments for the preceding year, the ag-
gregate since January 1st being $636,503 in excess of the corresponding ten
months of 1854, $2,681,203 more than for the same period of 1853, and
$25,087,126 more than for the same period of 1852. The exports of speeie
since January 1st are $7,935,836 less than for the first ten months of last year :
xzpOBTs raoM nbw tobk to fobbion fqbts fob txm months fbox jakuabt Isx.
18$i. 18$l. 18M. 18iS.
Domestic produce. $84,289,486 $45,884,119 $47,897,861 $46,422,445
Foreign merchandise (firee) 799,512 1,217,688 1,445,079 8.489.470
Foreign merchandise (dutiable). . 8,768,974 4,112,098 8,915,655 8,983,183
Specie. 28,106,187 19,765,780 88,568,141 25,627,805
ToUl exports $61,914,109 $70,979,625 $86,821,786 $79,622,403
Total, exclusive of specie 88,807,972 51,218,895 58,258,595 63,895,098
The exports are now rapidly increasing, but will probably be partially cheeked
by the closing of canal navigation. There are already indications that the ship-
pers are growing weary, and a number who have ventured have since repented,
snd sold out their invoices on shipboard without any profit With a slight re-
duction in price, oar breadstoffs most still be largely wanted, and our formers
can afford to make a concession and still reap enormous profits. The wheat
which has been shipped has averaged more than $2 per bushel at our sesports,
and that with the freight is a higher rate than the middle and lower classes of
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(hmmercial Chronicle and Review.
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Europe can afford to pay. We annex a table showing the shipments of certain
leading articles of domestic production from New York to foreign ports from
January Ist to November 20th : —
XXPOBTB or CKBTAIN ARTICLES OF DOMKSTIO FBODUCS F&OM WW YORK TO rOESIQN
FOETB FROM JANUARY IbT TO NOTEMBSE 20tH : —
Ashes — ^pots . .
pearls ,
Beeswax
.bbls.
.Jbs.
18$1. 18$S.
8,827 11,977
1,819 2,168
284,889 147,081
Breadsiuff$ —
Wheat flour ..bbls.
Bye flour
Corn meal
Wheat bush.
Rye
Oats
Com
Candles — mold^boxes
sperm
Coal tons
Cotton ..bales
Hay
Hops
822,892
10,854
64,563
1,681,810
816,158
40,664
8,868,274
47,420
9,409
21,606
282,169
8,476
6,855
711,819
19,681
67,877
2,118,466
842,865
80,082
8,498.894
60,847
9.781
18,124
260,046
6,222
8,786
18S4. ISfiS.
Nayal stores.... bbls. 678,978 678,892
Oils—whale galls. 280,187 267,160
sperm 604,674 703,845
lard 28,060 95,908
linseed 7,088 11,000
Provisions —
Pork bbls. 96,119 189,827
Beef. 62,256 59,848
Cut meats, lbs. . ..16,196,048 16,815,198
Butter 1,925,968 897.781
Cheese 2,837,769 6,895,116
Lard 18,016,020 7,891,997
Rice tree 21.646 19,681
TaUow lbs. 5,095,620 1,191,808
Tobacco, crude., pkgs 88,768 29,178
Do.,manufactur€d.lbs. 8,204,471 4,660,690
Whalebone 1,682,944 1,920,082
It will be seen from this that the shipments of flour are nearly as large as for
the same time last year, while the exports of wheat have considerably increased.
The clearances of Indian corn are large, but not quite equal to the correspond-
ing total for last year. There is still an active demand for wheat and flour for
export, and a fair shipping demand also for corn. A good many have been look-
ing for a sudden collapse in the prices of breadstuffs, anticipating that we should
overload the markets of Europe, and the reaction be disastrous. Up to the date
wo write, however, there has been no indication of such a change, and prices
have been very high. The supplies from the West continue to pour in toward
the seaboard, and if we might have a month more of navigation, all the surplus
crop might be ready for shipment Meantime the prospects for our own country
are daily growing more favorable. The high prices of food may pinch in some
quarters, but when they are based on large sales for export, they are borne more
cheerfblly, as they yield us a golden return. The whole course of trade since
the commencement of the war has tended to draw the attention of the world to
American markets, and we shall ever after this occupy a more prominent position
among those who feed the world.
VBW YORK COTTON MARKET FOR THE MONTH ENDING NOVEMBER 28.
PRBPAEBD POR TBI XSRCHiUfTS' If AOAZINB BT UHLHORN & FRBOBRICXf OM, BBOKBRtjMBWTOBK.
Our last report closed on the 26th of October, since which prices have varied
in favor of holders to the extent of ic. to ic. per pound. The total sales for
the four weeks previous to date being 25,000 bales, of which our own manufac-
turers— who are quite bare of stock — have taken fully one-half; the balance has
been principally for export, there being but little done on speculation. The for-
eign accounts received towards the close of the month being of a favorable char-
acter, and the wants of our own spinners being urgent, holders have been
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718 Commercial Chranklfi v/nd JEUviitfi.
enabled, in connection with an exceedingly small stock, to obtain the abo?e ad*
vance on rather an indifferent grade.
The Southern accounts received during the past month represent a favorable
appect as to the probable extent of the crop, and a result materinlly exceedingly
that of nny former period is by many well-informed parties confidently expected.
The receipts to present time, although not indicative as to the result by any
means, show an increase «»ver last year of 245,000 bales. The total foreign ex«
port shows a gain of 171,000 bales — the increase to Great Britain being 134,(K)0
bales ; to France, 12,000 bales; other foreign ports, 25,000 bales^ Tt!i0 tbows
a fair commencement for rather a late opening season at the South, with low
rivers and yellow fever. Prices paid have also been remunerative for the pro-
ducer, notwithstanding the high rates of freight Operations in cotton in tran-
situ have thus far this year been quite limited, but as the system was foond last
year to work favorably, it is quite probable that an extensive budness will be
transacted in this brunch of the trade as the season progresses*
For the week ending November 2d, owing to reports of a killing frost at the
South, our market showed a slight gain on the quotations of the previous week.
The home demand also ^\t some activity, but at the close of the week, there
being no improvement at the South in consequence of the above report, onr
market closed quiet at the following, with sale» fur the week of 6,000 bales :—
PRICKS ADOPTED MOVEMBBB 2d FOR THE FOLLOWING QUAUTIES: —
Upfauid. FloKda. Mobile. N. O. It Ttoak
Ordinary 8 8 ^ ^
Middling , 9 H 9i »f
Mitidliug fair 9i H 10 loj
Fair 10 lOJ lOJ 11
The business for the week ending November 9th amounted to 6,500 bales»
and under foreign advices of jd. decline, onr market advanced folly {c. per
pound. This upward movement is to be ascribed solely to onr small stock
and very light imports. The market closed firm, with small offerings, at the fol-
lowing:—
PEIOES ADOPTED MOVEMBBB 9TH FOE THE FOLLOWING QUALmCS:
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.& Tessa.
Ordinary. 8^ H H H
Middling 9^ H H ^i
MiddliDgfair 9i 9| 10^ 10^
Fair 10^ 10^ lOf llj
The sales for the week ensuing were 7,500 bales, at an advance of jc to |c.
per pound, owing to the demand for the home trade and for the continent. With
a decreasing stock and light imports, holders were indifferent sellers, and the
market closed with much firmness at the following quotations: —
PEIOBS ADOPTED NOVEMBER 16tH FOR THE FOLLOWING QOALmES ! —
Upland. Florida. MobHe. N.O.^Texaa.
Ordioary ^ H H H
Middling 9i 9i 9f 9f
Middlingfair 10 10^ 10^ IDf
Fair 10^ lOi II ll|
For the week closing at date, the stringency of holders retarded operations,
and the transactions were limited to forced purchasers. The foreign advices per
Canada reporting id. advance, added to the firmness of sellers wlihont importlDg
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Jxmrwd of Banking^ Currency^ and Finance. ' 719
iocreaBed activity to the trade. The sales for the closing week were estimated
at 6,000 bales, market closing firmly at the following : —
PEICCS ADOPTED 2(OY£3IBKK 2Sd FOR TBB FOLLOWING QUALITIER*. —
Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.ifcTexa8i
Ordinary 8| 8i 9 9
Middling 9f 9i 9J 10^
Middiingfair 10^ lOf lOi U
Fair lOi lOf Wi llf
JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE.
CITY TAXATION IN UNITED STATES.
Id the conrae of *ft speech delivered in the Philadelpbift Oity Council by Mr. Welsh
OD the subject of city taxation, he introduced the following comparative table showing
in the different cities named the proportion of tax which is derived from real ond per-
sonal property, vis. : —
Philadelphia, real estate pays.. p. ctL 98|
personal 1 ^
New York, real estate 69^
Cincinnati, personal p. ct. 8S
Baltimore, real e«>tate 62
fersonnl H8
estate 66
personal 44
The annual cost of taxation to each individual is thus stated, the p<ipu1atiuD m each
city being stated at the 6gure8 fixed by the lost census : —
personal 80|{^
Cincinnati, real estate 67
Qmx lo each
Popolation.
Taxet levied.
iiihnbluiit.
136,881
12,866,000
tn 63
15 25
115,486
l,458,COO
12 68
516,547
6,466.0(10
10 60
169,054
l,4:J'->,«97
8 41
408,762
2,472,000
6 06
Boston
Last year it was
Cincinnati
New York
• Baltimore
Philadelphia
It will be seen by this table that the rate paid by Philadelphia is lowest, whiUt
Baltimore is next. But in Philadelphia there are certain other taxes, not, \ie thiuk,
included in the above. They are levied not on property, but on the iKTRtms of voters,
who, whether holding property or not, are liable for their payment. Such, for instai.ce,
is the poll-tax of twenty-five cents a year, which has to be paid as a couJiiioD prece-
dent to voting. The addition of these taxes would, perhaps, go f.ir towurtis equnliz-
ing the taxation of Baltimore and Philadelphia. From other portiony of Mr. WeUh's
•tatement, which appears to have been made up with agood deal of rL'Fe.iich, we
condense the following statement of the rate of taxation on propeity iu the several
cities named in the year 1855 x—
Taxable basta. Bute of taxation.
New York. $487,000,000 $1 2i» ou $100
Boston 242,849,200 0 77 loO
Philadelphia 16O,00O,0C0 1 80 100
Baltimore. 106,770,000 1 3Hi 100
Cincinnati 89,485,000 1 63 100
Mr. Welsh argues that in Philadelphia the taxable basis is under- estimated to a
greater degree than in the other cities, and to this and to the almost total exemption
there of personal property, he attributes the heavy rate of taxation which pn^perly
in Philadelphia has to pay. The State tax in PhiladelphU almost amounts to thirty
cents on the dollar, whilst in Baltimore it is but fifteen cents. What is the rate paid
■by the other cities we do not know.
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720 Jourhal of Banking^ Currency, and Finance*
BAiniio ur THE uvrr£D states— its effects.
The OiDcmnaii Price Current gives utterance in % leading editorial to some well-
timed remarka on thb subject The Price Current b&js that credit, when kept within
proper bounds, is a necessary auxiliary to Commerce in ail ciTilized nations; in (act,
indispensably so ; but when the use of credit is abused, it becomes a curse to the
mercantile community in the State or nation so abusing it We do not intend dow
going into details in regard to the manner in which commercial credit is abused, or
how it may be abused, but will simply state that it has been greatly abused, as is
well known in this country during the last few years, and hence the source of all the
commercial disaster which has alternately astonished and alarmed the country witibin
the last twenty months.
Nothing affords greater facility, or holds out so much inducement to abuse credit, as
banking. The power to make and circulate bank paper as money^, is a more import-
ant and dangerous power to be conferred upon any indindual or corporation than is
generally supposed ; and why is it so ? We will answer this question by asking an-
other ; namely, what is the great power which now controls the affiurs of the great
European nations ? Simply the money power. The Rothschilds are, in fact, the most
powerful men in Europe. So, then, a fearful poWer is placed in the hands of the man
or corporation authorised by the State to make and circulate paper money, or any-
thing for money which is not of an intrinsic yalue commensurate with the value it
assumes as a circulating medium. It may be asked, has banking privileges been the
cause, directly or indirectly, in producing in this country the disasters which her Com-
merce has just passed through I
Our reply is as follows : — During the last three years the banking capital of the
United States has increased out of all proportion to the growth of the wealth and
population of the country. In 1851, there were just eight hundred and fifty -nine
banks and branches of banks in the entire Union, whilst at the end of the year 1854,
the number had increased to twelve hundred and eighty ; thus, in those Uiree yeais,
the number of banks went up 40 per cent while in the same period the inhabitants*
did not increase over 12 per cent It is likely that the wealth of the country during
these years increased something more than the increase of the population, but nothing
like the increase of the banks.
At the close of the year 1851, the bank discounts were about four hundred millioo
dollars, and at the close of 1854 they had increased to six hundred millions. At the
former period the specie held by the banks was about forty-eight mOliona, and at the
dose of the latter year it was not quite sixty millions. The only safe and legitimate
basis for banking is specie money ; any other is illegitimate and dangerous. In the
above can be identified the lever which upheavod the commercial and financial super-
structures of the Union, and brought bankruptcy and ruin upon the country. It may
be said that it was overtrading. This is true ; but this was only the effect the other
the cause. Merchants could not overtrade without capital, real or fictitiousL Hie
banks furnished the fictitious capital, and men went into business extensively, who
should not have done so ; jgoods were imported which ought not to have been im-
ported ; railway projects were undertaken which ought not to have been even at-
tempted ; and speculation in everything was the order of the day. The farmer left
his plow and his ax to speculate ; the weaver laid by his shuttle to speculate ; the
clerk left his counter or his desk and figured at the stock board, becoming more fii-
miliar and entirely more absorbed in the stock bulletin than in his employer's bas^
nes& All rushed on wildly and insanely to be rich — ^but the race was short siKi the
competitors found themselves wallowing in the mire of disappointment — the chase
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Jwfnuil of Banking^ Currency^ and Fifumce.
ni
over, the phutom fled, and ** nwcal," ** swbdler.*' « thief," « fugitive," « bankrupt," aad
•imilAr deTices stamped upon the brows of the yast majoritj.
It must not be inferred from the above that we are opposed to banking, because we
are not ; but, on the contrary, do believe that sound and legitimate banking is as ne-
cessary to a commercial nation as is credit. It is the magnitude of the power con-
ferred upon corporations in giving them banking privileges, and the disastrous conse-
quences consequent upon the abuse of the power, which we have attempted to
illustrate, and there can be no doubt whatever that the right to issue paper money is
conferred with far too little discrimination, and with too much recklessness by our law
makers ; and hence originates a large amount of the financial and commercial revul-
sions which retard the prosperity of the country.
THE MYSTERY OF EXCHAMGB 05 ElVOLiND.
A Pittsburgh paper comes to the rescue of such of its readers as are bothered in
calculating the rates of exchange, and the terms made use of by money brokers, when
buying or selling drafts, bills of exchange on England, or Bank of England notes, when
the decimal method is substituted for the £ s. d. in England. It will be an easy mat.
ter, it says, to know when exchange is at par or against the country. We will not
fatigue our readers with the dry details of the apparent mystery why a £ (pound)
sterling is rated at $4 80 in America and |4 44 in England, both being identically
the value of the same piece of gold, called a Victoria or Sovereign, but we will furnish
them with a method to calculate by, when it is said exchange on London is at a pre-
mium. If $4 80 is par, it is called in this country 8 per cent premium.
$4 81 is represented as 8^ per cent;
4 82 ** 8i
4 88 •* 8f •*
4 84 " 9 "
When a party sells a sovereign in this country for $4 84, (the present price, and
which in reality is a premium of one per cent,) then look out for a close, tight money
market, as gold will then fly out of the market, if it be coin, as sovereignia, or any
other denomination of an equivalent standard ; if not, dust or ingots go. It would be
the same as selling a silver dollar for one hundred and one cents. The deoumd for
sending away the gold is the only cause for the premium.
In addition to the above, we will append a table that will be found very useful to
some of the readers of the Merchanti^ Magazine ; —
TABLB BBOWINQ THE VALUB Or STEaUirG MONBT IN FEOBBAL OaBBENCT, raOM DVB
PKNXr TO OME POUND.
£
B.
d.
•
Cents.
£ s.
d.
Cents.
0
0
1
0
03
0 6
0
45 4-20
0
0
2
0
04
0 7
0
69 1-4
0
0
8
0
06
1-20
• 0 8
0
98 8-8
0
0
4
0
08
1-20
0 9
0
17 8-4
0
0
6
0
10
1-20
0 10
0
42
0
0
6
0
12
2-20
0 11
0
66 5-20
0
0
7
0
14
2-20
0 12
0
90 1-5
0
0
8
0
16
2-20
0 18
0
14 9-20
0
0
9
0
18
8-20
0 14
0
88 1-2
0
0
10
0
20
8-20
0 15
0
62 1-2
0
0
11
0
22
8-20
0 16
0
87 2-20
0
0
0
24
4-20
0 17
0
12
0
0
0
48
8-20
0 18
0
86 1-4
0
0
0
72
1-2
0 19
0
60
0
0
0
96
8-4
0 20
0
84 4-20
0
0
1
21
TOU TTXTII. — WO. ¥!•
46
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V22 Journal cf Bankinff, Otarmey, and Fmane$.
EXOHAHCHB in HEW 0RIAAI8.
EATIS or BIGHT XXOHANOB OK MSW TOBK AMD TBI XABTBER OITIB, AXTD NBW OBLBAHS,
DU&IHO THB TBAB: —
r WKW TOBK. V
185S-4. 1844-4.
Weekending— p»m. Dis. P*m. DIb.
September 7
14 i
21 i
28 f .,
October 5 ^
12 i ..
19 i ..
26 i ..
Noyember 5 i
12 1
19 i ..
26 1
December 8 l
10 f ,.
n f ..
^ i ..
81 i ..
January 7 ^
U 1
21 1
28 1
February 4 1
11 1
18 f ..
26 f
March 4 1
11 1
18 1
25 n
April 1 ij
8 li
16 li
22 li
29 li
May 6 li
18 U
20 li
27 li
Jane 8 1
10.. i
17 li
24 li
July 1 li • ..
8 li ..
16 li
22 li
29 If
August 6 li
12 1
19 If
26 If
81 If
, ^NBW 0RLBAH8.— — \
18SJ-4. 1844-4.
Fm. Dim. Fm. Diai
par
par
par
V»
par
par
par
par
par
par
par
f
i
par
par
par
par
par
THE BANKS OF SAif FRANaSOO.
The banks of San Francisco are natnrally important, as being the depoaitories c£
the wealth that thousands are honriy Mcnmulating on the rich ** placar " fielda. TbeM
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Jfnamal of Boaiking^ Currmc^y <xnd Finance.
723
buildings are of briek, Mid baye fire-proof oellars ; and altboogb at tbe time tbey
were erected tbe outlay was enormous, both for material and labor, it was a mere
trifle in comparison with the profits of their owners. The banks line one side of
Montgomery-street, the principal thoroughfare of tbe city ; and as the tpace on all
sides has been entirely cleared for some distance by the fire, this row of buildings
stands alone just now and solitary, like the speculative ** terrace," with " extensive
marine view," that fronts an unpopular watering-place in England. At the corner of
a street is Burgoyne*s Bank ; you enter and find it very crowded and full of tobacco-
smoke ; instead of the chinking of money, you hear a succession of thumps on the
counter, as the large leathen bags of gold-dust come down on it Some of the clerks
are weighing gold-dust, some are extracting the black sand with a magnet, and others
are packing it in bags and boxes. The depositors are, generally speaking, miners,
who haye come down from the diggings, fellows with long beards and jack-boots, and
of an unwashed appearance for the most part However, many of these are not by
any means what they seem; they have just arrived, perhaps, fram a toilsome, dusty
journey, and deposit their gold as a first precaution ; and before the evening they will
have been metamorphosed into very respectable-looking members of society, and will
remain so until they retnrn again to the digginga Large blocks of quartz lie about
the room, in all of which are rich veins of gold. These have been sent down from
the ittountains to be assayed ; and the rich yield that these solitary specimens aflbrded
led some time afterwards to a great deal of very ruinous speculation, for it had been
represented that these specimens were average samples of great veins, and it was
only when money had been expended in large sums that it was discovered that thete
rich morsels were merely accidental deposits of gold, and by no means indicated the
value of the vems.
REAL A5D PERSONAL PROPERTY IN PHILADELPHIA.
The following is given as the official assessment of the value of the property io the
city of Philadelphia, as assessed for city and State purposes i-^
Real estate $142,1 86,203
Number of personals 94,666
Value of furniture $2,166,450
Money at interest, mortgages, stocks, Ac 17,609«898
Number of horses and cows.. . • 501,929
Emoluments of office $188,884
Number of gold levers 8,880
Plam gold and silver levers 1,121
Plain silver watches 121 ^
The real estate as assessed in the various wards, the money at interest, Ac^ will^
eeen by the following table :— (
Wards.
1
Real estate.
. $8,502,180
2 4,612,957
8 2,622,058
4 2,570,640
5 18,264,600
6 20.758,782
7 6,260,800
8 12,024,872
9 16,245,800
10 7,754,688
11 4,806,644
12 8,773,265
18 4,059,086
Moaeyat
interest, &e.
$2,000
17,660
1,220
5,615,1984
796.422
1,008«856
3,648,581
2,800,924
1,894,899
142,090
411,775
229,608
Ward*. Seal estate.
14 $4,861,446
16.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
28.
24.
6,771,881
2,607,196
1,840,821
2,800,297
6,052,780
4,961,048
2,647,200
8,000,000
4,248,800
4,306,248
MoDoy at
lnur8st,Ae
$12,400
116,810
7,100
11,612
6,500
48,780
269,697
960,000
649,240
259,987
Total $142,186,202 $19*609,898
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724 Journal of Banking, Currency, and Fmmee.
ACT BEUTIVG TO BAIIK CHARTSRS II ITEW JBRSET.
The LfgislAture of New Jersey at its last sessioD passed (he subjoined act, iotro-
ducing vme new profisioDs, with a view to the greater security of the circolatiqg
notes of the inoorporated banks of that State : —
And he it •nacted. That if the said corporation shall at any time hereafter become
iDsolyeot, the whole assets of the said corporation, at the time of its becoming insol-
vent, shall be first liable for the redemption of its bills or notes then in circnlatioo,
and shall be first applied to the payment thereof; and in case of a distribntion of the
assets of said corporation among Uie creditors thereof, under an order of decree of
the Court of Chancery, or other court, the holders of such bills or notes shall be equal
in priority, and shall baye a preference over all other creditors.
And be it enacted^ That all the directors of said corporation shall be residents of
this State, and shall be jointly and severally liable for the payment of all the bills or
notes of said corporation, which may be in circulation at the time of its becoming in-
eolyent, and may be jointly and severally prosecuted, at law or in equity, by any re-
ceiver or receivers that shall or may be appointed, for the payment of any such bills
or notes, as if the same were their joint and several bills or notes, executed by them
in their individual capacity ; and it shall not be lawful for any director of said corpo-
ration to resign his office to avoid such liability ; and if any director shall so attempt
to resign his office, he shall be and continue liable the same as if no such reaignatioe
had been attempted ; and such liability of directors shall continue aAer they cease to
be directors, either by resignation or otherwise, if the said corporation was insolvent
when they ceased to be directors ; and it shall not be lawful for any director to assign
or transfer his stock or other property to avoid such liability ; and in case of the pay-
ment of any such bills or notes by any of said directors, the other who m%y be liabU
shall account in the same way us other joint debtors are accountable to each other ;
provided^ that no property that shall or may be levied on, or taken in execution under
or by virtue of any judgment or decree in favor of any receiver or receivers, under
the provisions of this act, shall be sold until after the expiration of four months £rom
t^e date of said judgment or de<Tee.
And be it enacted, That if the assets of said corporation and the property of said
directors shall prove insufficient to redeem the whole of the said bills and notes, then
the amount that shall or may be realised from said assets and property, shall be dis-
tributed rateably among the holders of the said bills and notes.
And be it eneictedy That the stockholders of said corporation, at the time of its be-
coming insolvent, other than said directors, shall be jointly and severally liable to any
receiver or receivers that shall or may be appointed as aforesaid, to an amonnt suffi-
cient tn redeem the said bills and notes, after the assets of said corporation and tbi
property of said directors shall have been distributed as aforesaid ; provided^ that no
stockholder other than said directors shall be made liable to an amount earceeding the
par value of the stock held by him at the time said corporation becomes insolvent,
and if that amount shall not be required for the full redemption of said bills and
notes, then the said stockholders shall be liable in the ratio of the said stock so heM
by them, and it shall not be lawful for any such stockholder to assign or otherwise
transfer his stock or other property to avoid such liability.
HAS FRAHaSCO SHIPMENTS OF GOLD FOR VlffE MONTHS.
The San Francisco Price Owrrent furnishes a statement of the valae of gold, the
produce of California, manifested and shipped from that port during the qoartor end-
ing September 80th, 1855, from which we have condensed the following statements-
SBIPMKirTS FOE THE OUABTKR BKniMO SBFTBUBIK SO, 1855.
To New York. To London. To Panama. To Hong Ko^
$11,426,282 84 fl,4l8,565 45 $44,798 89 $58,600
Showing a total for the quarter of $12,988,191 68. The shipments during the prevh
ous six months amounted to $18,999,290 82 ; being a total for the first nine mootks
of 1855 of $81,987,482. Shipped during the same period last year, $87,216,881 18
tifaiblting a diflerenca in iaTor of 1854 of $5,279,849 18.
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Commercial BegukUioni* 125
PROJECT OF AH IROH CURRBHCT II GHHA.
In his contributions to the History of the InsorreetioD in China, published in the
North China Herald, May 6, 1854, at the oonclnsioo of an accoont of the new experi-
ment of a paper currency recently adopted by the Chinese goyernment, Dr. Macgowan
thus refers to the project of an iron currency in China : —
" Among the plans submitted to the Board of Revenue for meeting the present
emergency, that of the governor of Shansi. which contemplates the issue of an iron
ooin, 18 the most singular. It does not appear that any report was made in relation
to it> because, doubtless, the members of the Board were belter read in history than
the memorialist, and knew that previous attempts of the kind had signally failed.
Chinese writers on numismatics briug evidence from history showing that, from eleven
to fourteen centuries before our era, coins both of iron and lead were sometimes in use.
The experiment of iron coinage by the founder of the Liang dynasty, in A. D. 623, is
best known.
** In 050, coins of iron and lead were common, ten of the former being equivalent to
one of the latter. About that period a prince of Fuhkien issued an iron coin, bearing
his name — TienteK In general, it may be stated, that from A. D. 528 to 960, many
attempts were made to employ the Spartan metal for money, during which period
fruitless efforts were made to preserve a fixed relation between it and copper ; but
the law of supply and demand was stronger than imperial edicts, and rendered nuga*
tory these uiinatural restraints of government It is singular that no Chinese govern-
ment has hitherto undertaken coinage of silver, although attempts have been made by
local officers and private persons to imitate the Spanish dollar ; for some reasons, not
obvious, these experiments have failed. En pauani, we may remark, that a full his-
tory of circulating media of China would form a curious monograph, which, besides
throwing much light on the mode of civilization, would be found replete with facts of
DO small interest to the political economist ; tortoise shells and the shells of molluscs,
•ilk, doth, buskin, paper, baked earth, tin, tutenagae, lead, iron, copper, silver, and
gold — sometimes separately, sometimes one or more m combuiatioo — have all been
used as money ; and also, to eke out the list, brick-tea, at present circulating among
the northern nomads."
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.
CUSTOMS REGDUTIONS OF THE UIHTRD STATES.
The Secretary of the Treasury, under date of the Department, November 1, 1866,
preccribes tor the government of oollectors and other officers of the customs, the sub-
joined regulations, which are published in the MtrchanUf Magazine for the informa-
tion of ship-owners, and commercial interests generally. It will be seen that they
relate to— Ist The abatement of duties for damages during the voyage of importa-
tion. 2d. To foreign-built vessels wholly owned by citixens of the United States, as
follows : —
ABATEMBMT OF DCTTIBS FOB DAMAQES DUaiMO THB VOTAGI OF IICPOaTATIOlf.
1. In pursuance of the 5 2d section of the Qeneral Collection Act of the 2d March*
1799, no abatement of duties on merchandise on account of damage occurring during
the voyage of importation can be allowed, unless proof to ascertain such damage shall
be lodged in the customhouse within ten workmg days after the landing of such
merdiandise.
2. The term " during the voyage,"* means after the vessel has started from the for-
eign port of exportation, and during the voyage to^ and before her arrival at her port
of destination m the United States.
8. ^e proof of damage required to be lodged with the collector within ten days
after landing, will cousist uf the claim of the owner or importer for allowance, in wri-
ting, subscribed and sworn to by him, specifying by marks and nnmbers the particalar
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f^ Oommercial RegulaHoM.
articles or packages irhich are alleged to be damaged, yerified bj some competent and
disinterested person, under oath, who has ezamioed the same ; and the official ezami-
nation and appraisement must be confined to the artides and packages so specified,
and proved to have received damage during the voyage, except m the case of the dis-
covery of damage in the appraisers' department, as hereinafter prescribed.
The forms of application, oath of applicant, and sworn statement of witness shall b&
as follows, viz. : —
[These are omitted.]
4. Upon the production^of the proof before indicated, the collector shall issue an ap-
Siraisement order, and cause the same to be conveyed by a clerk or messenger, without
elay, to the appraisers of the port, who will forthwith personally attend to the
examination, or designate one or more examiners, or an assistant appraiser, for aoch
duty.
6. When (he articles are damaged not exceeding SO per cent, the examination most
be made by an assistant appraiser and at least two examiners ; and by a principal or
general appraber and two examiners, if the damage exceed 30 per cent
[At ports where there are no appraisers, the collector and naval officer, if there be
one, and the collector alone, if there be no naval officer, will examine and appraise
damage.]
6. The collector is authorized in any case to require the general appraiser, if there
be one in the district, to superintend and assist in the ascertaining iA any damage on
the voyage of importation, and who will certify the return in addition to that of the
other examining officers.
7. All dry goods, fancy articles, hardware, cutlery, tobacco, cigars, and manuiae-
tured articles generally, contained in packages, and all other articles, whenever prac-
ticable in the discretion of appraisers, must, for the purpose of ascertaining the damage
sustained on the voyage of importation, be sent to the appraisers* stores at the expense
of the importer, and reasonable charges made by the collector for labor and storage ;
and in all cases where examination for damage is made at any other place, it shall be
the duty of the importer or claimant for the abatement of duties by reason of damage
on the voyage, to have the packages or goods properly arranged, assorted, opened,
and exhibited, so that the appraisers may, with as little delay as poesiUe, and in the
clearest manner, inspect and ascertain the actual damage incurred.
8. In no case shall any damage be allowed beyond 50 per cent, nor exceeding the
•um of 12,000, except perishable articles, unless the merchandise shall have been per-
sonally examined by at least one principal appraiser, or an appraiser at large, if there
be one at the port, nor until such proposed allowance shall be reported to the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and his sanction obtained thereto.
9 No damage is to be allowed in any case except on merchandise on whidi damage
is duly claimed, proved, and found by the examining officers, on actual inspeetkiii, to
be a substantial and actual damage, and incurred during the voyage of importatioti ;
and if the articles be contained in a package, the package must be opened, and a
strict examination made, in order that tue extent of actual damage may be ascer-
tained, and fictitious or pretended damage detected.
10. No average allowance for damage is to be made ; and damage on the voyage
of importation is to be ascertained by reference to the value of the merchandise m
the principal markets of the country whence imported, and not according to the home
valuation. Auction or forced sales are not regarded as a Our criterion of damage.
11. When the damage in any case can be removed, and the article restored to a
sound state, the expense of that process will be the proper measure of damage, and
the allowance should not exceed that amount.
12. The dipcbajgin^ officer shall keep a strict account and record of such artidea ab
appear, on unlading tne vessel, to be damaged, and shall make return of the same
to the collector.
18. Whenever any merchandise undergoing examination in the appraisers' depart-
ment is discovered to be in a damaged condition, it shall be the duty of the officers so
discovering the same to notify the appraisers thereof, who will at once personally in-
spect the merchandise, and will report to the collector in regard to the damage faavnig
occurred during the voyage; and if the collector shall concur with them in the opin-
ion that the damage did eo occur, he wUl issue an order for the ascertamment aad «•-
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Commercial B$gulaiion». '727
timate thereof^ as in other cases, without reqairing the proof from the importer, here-
tofore prescribed. It must be uuderstood, however, that no such appraisement of
damage, or allowance therefor, can be made unless the damage was so discovered by
the apprabers within ten working days after the landing of the merchandise.
14. The estimate of damage must, in all eases, be certified by one of the principal
•l^aiserB.
16. The officers appointed to make examination of damage shall, when such exam-
ination is completed, return the appraisement order, with the per centage allowed in-
dicated thereon, and verified by signature, to the general appraiser, if there be one at
the port, whose duty it shall be carefully to examme the same, and if he finds any ob-
jection thereto,' he will report the same to the local appraisers, returning to them the
appraisement order, and they shall make such further examination as they may think
proper. The appraisement order, after the damage shall haye been duly estimated
and certified, will be returned without delay by a clerk or messenger to the collector
of the port.
16. Damage on the voyage of importation must be ascertained at the port where
the vessel originally entered, and cannot be certified from any other port; and no re-
appraisement is authorized by law in case of allowance for damage.
17. The law authorizes an allowance to be made in the assessment of duties for
OiCtual damage occurring during the voyage of importation, properly proved and esti-
mated ; and any instructions heretofore issued confining the allowance to particular ar-
ticles, or particular modes of damage, are hereby annulled ; the damage in every case
being a matter of fact, to be proved and estimated in the manner prescribed.
18. Collectors of the customs and appraisers will each keep a record of damage8>
which shall exhibit the following particulars, and monthly returns, according to the
following form, shall be made by collectors to the Secretary of the Treasury.
FOaXIQN BUILT VESSELS WHOLLT OWNED BT CITIZEM8 OF THE UNITED STATES.
Inquiry is frequently made of this Department as to what documents can be issued,
under the laws of the United States, to foreign built vessels purchased and wholly
owned by citizens of the United States, whether purchased of belligerents or neu*
trals during a war to which the United States are not a party, or in peace, of foreign
owners, the purchase in either case being in entire good /aith.
Vessels so purchased and owned are entitled to the protection of the authorities
and flag of the United States, as the property of American citizens, although no reg-
istry, enrolment, license, or other marine document, prescribed by the laws of the
United States, can be lawfully issued to such vessels.
To enable, however, the owners of a vessel so circumstanced to protect iheir rights
if molested or questioned, the collector of the customs, though forbidden by law to
grant any marine document or certificate of ownership, may lawfully make record of
Uie bill of sale in hb office, authenticate its validity in form and substance, and de-
liver to the owner a certificate to that effect ; certifying, also, that the owner is a citi-
zen of the United States.
These facts, thus authenticated, if the transfer was in good faith, entitle the yessel
to protection as the lawful property of a citizen of the United States ; and the au-
thentication of the bill of sale and of citizenship will be/>rtma/atft> proof of such
good faith.
In all cases, therefore, where the evidences of the purchase of a foreign vessel by
a citizen of the United States, with proof of citizenship and of the bona fide character
of the purchase, shall be furnished to a collector of the customs, he will, if the proof
be satisfactory, and purchase deemed fair, record the bill of sale in his office, and de-
liver to the party the original, with a certificate indorsed thereon.
Before granting such certificate, the collector of the customs will require the ton^
nage of the vessel to be duly ascertained in pursuance of law, and insert the same in
the description of the vessel iu his certificate.
It will be distinctly understood, however, that vessels not registered, enrolled, or
licensed, under the laws of the United States, wholly owned by citizens thereof, can-
not legally import goods, wares, or merchandise from foreign ports, and are subjected,
in the coasting trade, to disabilities and exactions, from whicn documented vessels of
the United States are exempted.
On arrival from a foreign port, such undocumented yessel, if laden with goods,
wares, or merchandise, will, with their cargoes, be subjected to forfeiture. If in bal-
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last only, or with passeogers without cargo, they will be satjeet to % tODoage daty of
ODe dollar per too.
In the coastwise trade, each undocumented yesselfi, if laden with good!*, wares, and
merchandise of the growth or manufacture of the Uuited States only, (distOled apirits
only excepted,) taken in within one district of the United States, to be discharged in
another district within the same, or in ballast, will be subjected at every port of the
United States at which they may arrive, to payment of the fees prescribed by law in
the case of vessels not belonging to citizens of the United States, and to a tonnage
duty of one dollar per tun. But if they have on board any articles of foreign growth
or manufacture, or distilled spirits, other than sea stores, euch vessels, with their tackle,
apparel, furniture, and the lading found on board, will be forfeited. And the master
or commander of any such vessel bound from one district in the United States to an-
other district within the same, must in all cases comply with the provisions of the
22d and 24th sections of the Coasting Act of the 18th February, 1793. in regard to
reports, manifests, permits, entries, and other requirements therein contained ; and oo
n^lect or refusal to comply with any of them, he will incur the penalties therein
prescribed.
The provisions of that section apply to undocumented vessels passing from one eel-
lection district to another coUectioti district within the United States ; such vessels
not being embraced within the provisions of the act of 2d March, 1819, and the 11th
section of the act of 7th May, 1822, dividing the coast of the United States into cer-
tain great districts, for the better regulation of the coasting trade.
A separate record will be kept of these vessels, and in the tonnage retoms to the
Department they will be reported in a separate column, under the head of ** Foreign
built vessels owned by citizens of the United States."
DATS OF KXPORTATION FEOIC FOaEIGN PORTS.
Collectors of the customs will enforce the following regulations at tbeu* aeveral
ports on the entry of vessels from foreign port% to wit : —
The master or commander of each and every vessel, arriving from a foreign port,
should be requested to state, on entry of the same at the custom-house, at what date
the vessel sailed from the foreign port of departure.
JAMES GUTURiEfSecreUryortbel
BONDED GOODS PASSIHG THROUGH CA5AD1.
The Secretary of the Treasury has written a letter to the Collector of the port of
Buffalo, of which the following is an extract, wherein he decides, as will be seen, that
the '* CoUingwood Koute," so called, b admitted to the same privileges, and declared
subject to the same regulations in regard to bonded goods, the growth and product o^
the United States, passing through Canada, as that of the Great Western Railway ;
and that such goods must be accompanied by manifests, embracing the articles of
American as well as foreign origin. The particulars are in the followmg extract from
a letter of the Secretary of the Treasury to the Collector at Buffido, dated October
22d, 1856 :—
Sia :— On due compliance with the conditions prescribed by the regulations in Treas-
ury Circular Na 54, of date 2d July, 1866, routes from the Atlantic ports by way of
Ogdensburg, Oswego, and Buffalo, and the CoUingwood Railway between Toronto and
Colliogwood, in Canada, to warehousing ports in the United States, on Lakes Hann
and Michigan, are designated as routes over which bonded merchandise can be trans-
ported from one port in the United States to another, through that part of Canada
traversed by that road, under the same regulations as those prescribed in that circular
for bonded merchandise passing through portions of Canada over the Great Western
Railway.
In regard to foreign merchandise duly entered and free of duty, or duty paid, and
merchandise of domestic origin, whenever such merchandise is to be transported over
these routes into Canada, and thence into the United States, to prevent detention <^
the goods, and frauds on the public revenue, the merchant, owner, <>r shipper, before
the goods are laden or shipped for transportation, must present manifests to triplicata
to the collector at the port of departure, which manifest shall specify the kinds and
quantities of the articles, and the marks and numbers of the packages shipp^ bj
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bim, tibe [>ort of destioatioD, to whom ooDsi^oed, and the route over which the trans-
portatioo ia to be made ; speeifying the articles that are of American production or
manufacture, and such as are of foreign pro*iactiou or manufacture, and free of duty,
or duty paid ; to the truth of which he will make declaration, and sign his name
thereto.
The collector will indorse on the manifest his certificate of the facta.
One of the manifests will be retained bj the collector, one will be forwarded by the
shipper to the consignee at the port of destination, and the other accompany the
goods.
On the arrival of the merchandise at the port of destination in the United States,
and presentauon of the manifests and certificate to the collector, if he finds the pack-
ages conform to the manifest and certificate, he will issue a permit fur the delivery of
the goods, if of domestic origin, or foreis^n origin, if free of duty, or duty paid.
Goods, in respect to which the prescribed manifests and certificate are not produced,
or discrepancies exciting a just suspicion of fraud, will be treated as of foreign pro-
duction, and subjected to the duties imposed by law.
• *•••••••
JAMBS GUTHRIE, Secretary of the Treasary.
ACT OF L0UI8IA5A RELATIVE TO NOTARIES IBT IVEW ORLEANS.
The following act, regulating notaries in New Orleans^ was approved March 14, 1865,
and is now in force : —
AN ACT BELATIVB TO NOTAaiSS IN NEW OBLSANS.
Section 1. That it shall be the doty of the notaries in New Orleans to cause every
deed of sale, donation, or any other sort of conveyance of real estate or slaves, passed
before them respectively, even when the parties shall agree to dispense therewith, to
be registered at the office of the Register of Conveyances for New Orleans, within
forty- eight hours after the passage of said acts, and thb under the penalty of five hun-
dred dollars fine, to be recovered before any court of competent jurisdiction, for the
use and profit of the Charity Hospital, and also under the penalty of being liable for
all damages which the parties may suffer through the neglect of said notary to register
the said acts.
Ssa 2. That the Governor shall not appoint or commission any notary public in
and for the parish and citv of New Orleans who shall fail to furnish him with a cer-
tificate from the judges of the Supreme Court, certifying to the qualifications requisite
to perform the duties of said ofiice ; that all notaries public in the parish of New
Orleans shall give bond, with security, in the sum of ten thousand dollars for the faith-
Ibl discharge of the duties of his office.
Sbo. 8. That it shall be the duty of said register of conveyance to affix to the act
to be enregistered, a certificate that he has enregi^tered the same.
Seo. 4. That hereafter neither the sheriff nor the notaries of the parish of Orleans
shall pass or execute any act for the sale, transfer, or exchange of any real estate
situated within said parish, unless the State, parish, and municipal taxes due on the
same, be first paid, to be shown by the tax collector's receipt, or certificate to that
purpose.
Sso. 6. That the sheriff or notary public violating the proyisions of the preceding
section, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined in a sum of not less than fifty, nor more
than two hundred dollars, for each violation, to be recovered by the district attorney
for the use of the Free Schools for the parish of Orleans, before any competent
tribunal.
Sbo. 6. That it shall be lawful for each and every notary public in New Orleans to
appoint one or more deputies to assist him in the making of protests, and delivery of
notices of protests of bills of exchange and promissory notes : provided that each
notary shall be personally responsible for the acts of each deputy employed by him.
Each deputy shall take an oath faithfully to perform his duties as such. The certifi-
cate of notice of protest shall state by whom made or served. *
Seo. 7. That all laws contrary to the provisions of this act, and all laws on the
same subject-matter, except what is contamed in the Civil Code and Code of Practice,
be repealed.
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7^ Commercial ReguhMens.
OF EXBCUTIOilS AND SALE OF PftOPERTT 19 LOUISUIA.
We give below a correct copy of an act regulating the ieeaance and returns of eze-
cutiona, and the sale of property thereon^ passed at the last session of the Louisiana
Legislature, and approved March 15, 1855 : —
AM ACT &BGULATIMO THX I88UAN0B AWD RSTUEHS OV BZSOUTIQm, AMD THE SALX OF
PROPERTT THBIUTON.
Section 1. That from and after the passage of this act it shall be the duty of sher-
ifl&, coroners when acting as sheriffs, and constables, to return all writs oi fieri fadaB^
to them or any of them directed, on the return days named in said writs, and if any
sheriff, coroner, or constable, shall fail to make due return of such writ on the return
day thereof, such officer and his official sureties shall be held liable to pay to any
party the damages sustained in consequence of such failure.
Seo. 2. That m all cases where a seizure of property shall have been made under
a writ of fieri facias, and the officer making such seizure shall not be able to sell such
property before the return day of the writ, such officer shall nevertheless make due
return of such writ on the return day thereof, as hereinbefore provided.
Seo. 3. That the cfficer aforesaid, at the time of making return as required in the
preceding section of this act, shall make and retain a copy of the writ, duly certified
by himself, and it shall be his duty to proceed under sucn certified copy in the same
manner as though the original writ was in his hands, and to make a return thereon.
Seo. 4. That hereafter the return of any writ of fieri facias, on the return day
thereof, shall in no case operate as a release of the seizure of property made under
such writ, or as a discharge of any lien acquire^ by a service of such writ, unless the
property so seized shall have been duly sold, or unless such seizure shall have been
released by order of the party in whose favor it was made, or by order of a court of
competent jurisdiction.
Sia 6. 1 hat hereafter it shall be lawful for any judgment creditor entitled to exe-
cution, to issue several writs of fieri facias to difl^rent parishes at the same time ;
provided that when the property of any defendant in execution shall be under seizure
m different parishes at the same time, such defendant shall have Uie right to have a
reduction of the seizures which shall have been so made upon showing that the
amount of property so seized is more than sufficient to satisfy his crediior*s judg^
ment ; and provided also that such seizing creditors shall be liable to pay the defend-
ant in execution such damages as the latter may have sustained in conseqaeoce of any
excessive seizures made at his instance.
OF KEEPING GUNPOWDER IN NEW TORE.
AN ABSTEACT OF THE ACT OF TUB LEOISLATUBK OF NEW TOEK EXSPECIING THE KEEPING
OF GUNPOWDER IN THE OITT OF NEW TORE.
An act, passed May 18, 1846, in relation to the keeping of gunpowder, saltpeter
and certain other substances in the city of New York, provides : —
Section 1. That gunpowder shall not be kept by any person in New York, south oC
42d-Btreet, without licenses.
Seo. 2. The Mayor may grant licenses to sell powder at retail, and persooe liceoaed
may keep on their premises a quantity of gunpowder not exceeding in all tw^ve
pounds, to be put up in light tin or copper canisters, capable of containing only one
pound each. Such persons, in order to be protected from the penalties of tbis acl»
must place, on a conspicuous part of the front of their houses, in large and legible
characters, the words ** licensed to sell gunpowder.*'
Sec. 8. Persons actually dealing in gunpowder may have five quarter-casks, and no
more, at one time on the walk in front of their stores, for the purpose of packing it,
or sending it out of the district specified in section 1 .
SEa 18. Sulphur, in greater quantities than one-half ton, and other combustible
materials, are prohibited to be kept south of Hth-street
Seo. 10. No person shall keep more than five hundred pounds of saltpeter in one
building south of 42d-street
Sec. 17. Salt^ter maj, however, be kept in any quantity in anjr fireproof buil<fing
in New York, provided it be the only merchandise kept or stored in the building.
Ssa 18. Any violation of the provisions of this act, except where otherwite ex-
pressly provided, shall subject the offender to a fine of $500 for each offense, and so^
offenders ooay, on oonvictioo, be imprisoned ibr one year.
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Oommereial RepuloHom. HI
8sa 19. If any persons are injared at any fire in New York, in the district epec^ed
in section 1, by means of any explosion resnltiof^ from the violation of the provisions
of this act, relatinfi^ to saltpeter or gunpowder, the persons guilty of violating tiie law
shall be punished by an imprisonment of two years in the State prison. If such vio-
lation occasions the death of any person, tiie oflbnder shall, on conviction, be deemed
guilty of manslaughter in the third degree, and punished as now provided by law for
that crime.
DUTIES UP05 GRAIN IMPORTED INTO FRANCE.
The following decree has been officially communicated to the Department of State
at Washington, and a translation of the same is published in the MercliafUi Magazins
for the information of commercial men in our exporting ports : —
A ROTAL DEGREE OF THE 12tH OF SEPTEMBER RELAnVE TO THE IMPORTATION OF
GRAIN : —
Article I. The duties upon the importation of the following articles are diminished
to the amount indicated fur each article.
OentB.
Potatoes , the 10 hec 6
Blillet the 100 kU. 1
Rice « 8
Padi 2
Wheat and skinned spelt the last 10
Rye, corn 10
Barley, malt « 10
Indian com 10
Oata and unskinned spelt 10
Beans, fitches, peas and lentils, oatmeal and skinned barley 10
Bread biscuit and flour from all kinds of grain and cereals, f. 4 the 100 kil. "
Art. 2. The foregoing provisions take effect from the 1st of October, 1866, and re-
main io force until the Slat December, 1866, or until a law legislates differently on
this subject
Dbpartmknt op Stati, Waibimoton, October 10.
Information has been received at this Department from the United States consul
at Havre, that the decree of the 9th October, 1864, relieving all vessels wholly laden
with breadstuff^, grain, <&c., from tonnage dues, and those partially loaded, from a cor-
responding portion of the dues, till the 8 let July, 1866, and which, by another decree
of the 2d June, was extended to the Slst December, 1866, has, by a decree of the
8th September last, been further prolonged to the Slst December, 1866.
OF LIENS AVD CHATTELS MORTGAGED IN VERMONT.
The following act in relation to liens and chattel mortgages, was passed at the last
session of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont and approved November
10,1864:—
AN ACT IN RELATION TO LIENS AND CHATTELS MORTOAGEO.
Section 1. In all cases of sales of personal property where payment of the pur-
chase money is, by the contract of sale, made a condition precedent to the transfer of
the title, and where the property has, in pursuance of the contract, passed into the
possession of the vendee, and where the purchase money shall have been in part
paid, any creditor of the vendee may attach or levy his execution upon said property,
and, upon payment or tender to the vendor, his agent, or attorney, within ten days
after such attachment or levy, of the residue of such purchase money remaining
unpaid, may hold the said property discharged from the claim of such vendor
thereon.
Sbo. 2. The officer making such attachment or levy shall hold and dispose of the
said property in the manner now required by law in respect to personal property at-
tached or levied up>on, and if the same shall be sold under any oi the statutes of th is
State, the officer making such sale shall first pay and satisfy to the said creditor the
amount bv him paid or tendered to the said vendor, as provided in section one of thb
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act, and the residue only sball be holden to respond to ihe debt doe to waA creditor
ibr the 8atl*faclioD of which the said property was attached or levied apoo.
Ssa 3. If the said vendor shall refuse to receive the amount tendered to him, as
provided in section one of this act, and shall commence and prosecute any suit oa ac-
count of such attachment or levy, the defendant may, on tne trial of socfa suit^ and
under the general issue, give such tender in evidence in bar of such action, and on
proof thereof and payment of the money tendered into court, he shall i^ooverhit
costs, unless it shall be made to appear that the amount so tendered was less thao
the sum actually due to such vendor, as the residue of ^uch purchase money.
Seo. 4. This act shall not apply to, or in any way affect any conditional sale made
Sriur to the first day of January, an the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-
ve.
RiT£S OF WHARFAGE AT THE PORT OF NEW YORK.
The following table, derived from the last annual Report of the OontroUer, shows
the rates of wharfage as established by the Legislature of New York, April 9tb,
1818:—
For every vessel under 50 tons, at the rate of per day. |0 60
For every ship or vessel over 50 and under 100 tons, at the rate of 0 62|
For every ship or vessel over 100 and under 150 tons, at the rate of 0 76
For every ship or vessel over 150 and under 200 tons, at the rate of 0 87|
For every ship or vessel over SOt) and under S50 tons, at the rate of 1 00
For every ship or vessel over 260 and under 800 tons, at the rate of. .... . 1 12|
For every ship or vessel over 800 and under 850 tons, at the rate of I 26
For every ship or vessel over 850 and under 400 tons, at the rate of 1 87^
For every ship or vessel over 400 and under 450 tons, at the rate of 1 50
For every ship or vessel over 450 and under 500 tons, at the rate of 1 62^
For every ship or vessel over 500 and under 660 tons, at the rate of 1 76
For ewery ship or vessel over 550 and under 500 tons, at the rate of. 1 87^
For every ship or vessel of 600 tons and upward, 12^ cents in addition for every
50 tons, in addition to the rate last mentioned, ($1 87 1,) for every day such ship or
vessel shall use or be made fast to any of the wharves in the city of New York.
** Every ship or other vessel which shall make fast to any other ship or vessel that
shall be fastened to any wharf, and being so fastened shall load, unload, or careco,
sball pay the one-half of the rate of wharfage such ship or vessel would have been
liable to pay, if fastened to such wharf, and there loaded, unloaded, or careened."
THE STANDARD WEIGHT OF LIVERPOOL SALT AT NEW ORLEANS.
At a recent meeting of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the foUowiog
resolution, fixing the standard weight of Liverpool salt in sacks, was unanunonsly
adopted : —
** Reaolved, That the fixed weight in this market for Liverpool ealt, as declared and
adopted at the last meeting of the Chamber, has reference to the weight of salt when
landed from the ship, and that in sacks of salt from store, or the levee, after having
landed from the ship, a fair depreciation from the original weight on landing should be
taken into consideration by buyer and seller."
RECEIPT AND DELIVERY OF SAMPLE PACKAGES.
A daily register is required to be kept by the collectors of the customa at the sev-
eral ports, in which is to be entered the receipt and delivery of aU articles of no valae
imported merely as samples and not for sale. This register » to be kept at the ap-
praiser's store, where the samples are sent and examined. This register is also to be
examined daily by the appraisers, and all packages reported by them as ** samples of
no mercantile valne," are to be delivered to the importer by the inspector or other
officer in charge, on a general permit, to be signed by the collector and naval officer,
and issued for each vessel in the same manner as a baggage permit
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JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.
MARIVE INSURANCE.
PERILS OF THV 8EAf— MASTEn's NXGLIGBNCE — INSURBS^B LIABILITT.
In the case of Nelson vs. the Suffolk Insurance Company, in 8 Cushing's lilasaacha-
•etts Reports, 477, the principles decided may be briefly stated as follows:—
Underwriters insuring a vessel against perils of the sea are bound to pay the as-
sured the amount paid by him to the owners of another vessel for damages suffered
in a collision with the vessel insured, although it was occasioned by \hv negligence of
the master and crew of the latter.
Tlie facts in the case are as foUows : — Mr Nelson effiected an insurance on the Isaac
Allerton in the Suffolk Insurance Company for $10,000 against perils of the pca and
other customary perils for one year. Before the policy of insurance had expired, the
ship, through the negligeuce of the master and crew, came in collision with a British
steamer, by which collision both the ship and the steamer were damaged. A suit
was subsequently commenced by the owners of the steamer against the If>nac Aller-
ter to recover damages for the collision, and a judgment was rendered against her for
the sum of nearly $2,500, which Mr. Nelson paid.
This amount he then demanded of the insurance company upon the ground that it
was a loss occasioned by the perils of the sea, for which the company was liable. The
company paid him for the damages to his own ship, but refused to reimburse him for
the damages he had been obliged to pay for the injury to the steamer, and this suit
was instituted by Mr. Nelson to recover the latter sum. There was no dii^pute about
the facts. The only question in the case was whether the company, upon an insurance
against all loss by perils of the sea, were under obligation to pay the owner of the
insured vessel the amount which he had been obliged to pay the owner of the steamer
as damages for a collision, which occurred through the negligence of the master and
crew of the vessel insured. The opinion of the Court upon this question was ren-
dered by —
Flktchkb, Justiob. Every stipulation in a policy of insurance is to be construed
favorably to the party entitled to its benefit, as it must be presumed that he under-
stood it m its most favorable sense, and that the other party intended he should so
understand it As the contract of insurance is a contract of indemnity to the assured,
it is to be liberally construed in his favor. There can be no doubt that the assured
intends to oltain the fullest and most ample indemnitor, and that the in^^urer means
that he shall understand that his policy affords him that indemnity. The policy, there-
fore, should be so construed as to fulfill tliese intentions. It is only by such construc-
tion that the contract of insurance can accomplish its useful and important purpose,
And the Commerce of the world be carried on. When the plaintiffs in this case ob-
tained insurance against losses by the perils of the sea, these terms were, no doubt,
understood by them in their largest sense, as covering all losses justly attributable to
those perils; and, no doubt, the defendants intended that they should thus understand
and interpret their policy. To carry into effect these intentions, the policy must be
construecf favorably for the insured to give them that security which they believed,
and had a right to believe, they had obtained. There should l>e no subtle reasoning,
DO shadowy distinctions, no straining of rules to narrow and restrict the operation of
the contract, so as to defeat the intention of the parties. The parties, no doubt, took
a practical view of the matter, and had reference to all possible losses known and un-
known, which might be justly attributable to the jjerils of the sea in the broadest im-
port of the words. They acted on no nice distinctions or subtle reasoning. They
could not, of course, foresee and specify the losses, but could only use general terms.
** The policy sweeps within its incloeure every peril incident to the voyage, however
strange or unexpected, unless there be a special exception. The perils enumerated in
the common policy are sufficiently comprehensive to embrace every species of ri^k to
which ships and goods are exposed from the perils of the sea and all other causes in-
cident to maritime adventure. (Kent Com., 6th ed^ 291.)
The parties, no doubt, very well knew that there were many losses by perils of the
•ea, other than direct damage to the ship insured. To hold the defendants liable only
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for thai, would leave the plaiDtifib exposed to nun in varioas ways, without the pro-
tection they intended to obtain, and supposed they had obtained, under their policy*
To give effect to the meaning and intention of the parties, therefore, the defendants
must be held responsible for all losses justly attributable to the perils of the sea, as
well as for the direct damage to the ship itself. This principle is clearly illustri^
by the liability of underwnters for a general average loss. A ship is insured against
the perils of the sea, a part of the cargo is thrown overboard by reason of a peril of
the sea, and the ship and owner become at once chargeable for a proportion of this
loss of the cargo, and the underwriter is held bouocl by the policy to indemnifythe
owner of the ship for the sum he has to pay to make up the loss of the cargo. Here
is no damage to the ship insured, but the sum thus charged upon the owner and ship
for the cargo, is held to be a loss by the perils of the sea, for which the underwriter
is responsible.
So in case of insurance against capture, the underwriter is liable not only for any
damage the ship may have actually sustained by a capture, but also for all necessary
expenses, such as salvage, <&c, which the assured has been put to for the recovery of
his property. Thus it has been determined that the underwriter is liable for a sum of
money poia by the neutral assured to the belligerent captors as a compromise made
bonajiae to prevent the ship being condemned as a prize. So the liabihty of under-
writers for salvage expenses depends not upon their having engaged to indemnify
against them by any express words in the policy, for which the underwriter b liable,
but they all depend upon the general principle that where the thing insured becomes
by law directly chargeable with any expense, contribution, or loss, m consequence of
a particular peril, the law treats such peril for all practical purposes as the proximate
cause of such ex{>ense, contribution, or loss. Upon any other principle policies of in-
surance, instead of being a protection, would serve but to allure men to their rain.
Upon this principle the liability of Uie defendants for the sum claimed in this suit
would seem to be too clear for controversy. To hold that the defendants are not lia-
ble in this case, would conflict directly with the doctrine held in the analogous case
which has been referred to, and thus introduce inconsistency into the law where con-
sistency and uniformity are most essential.
The main ground of defense, however, relied on in the argument, is that there was
negligence in the navigation of the plainti£k' ship ; that without this negligence the
plaintiffs would not have been obliged to pay for the damage done to the steamer ;
and therefore that so far as re(>pects the payment for damage to the steamer, the neg-
ligence was the proximate cause of the loss, and not the collision. Properly to esd-
timate the force and value of this argument, it is necessary to inquire who, in case of
a loss arising from one of the perils insured against, is responsible for the conduct of
the master or mariner in the practical navigation of the vessel f
It seems to have been formerly held that underwriters were not responsible far
losses which happened in consequence of the negligence of the master or crew in the
navigation of the ship. This doctrine would go far to deprive the assured of the ben-
efit and protection of his policy without any fault of his own, and would greatly lesseo
if it did not destroy, the usefulness of insurance. Some fault or negligence on the
part of the master or mariners enters into almost every case of a loss or damage of
a vessel at sea. The danger from such fault or negligence is one of the dangers which
the assured has most reason to apprehend, and against whidi he most needs and may
reasonably expect protection.
Besides, such a doctrine would be sure to involve the assured in perpetual contro-
versies and litigation, in regard to the fact of negligence, whether there was or was
not negligence, and what was the degree of the negligence, if any, and whether the
loss was or was not in consequence of such negligence. These would be difficult and
perplexing questions of fact, the decision of which would depend on many cootingen-
cies, thus involving the rights of the assured in ruinous doubts and uncertainties. To
avoid such evils, and to give effect to the true meaning and intention of the parties,
the modem decisions have established a different rule, and one much more in consonance
with the principles and purposes of the contract of insurance.
The great principle now well established is that if the vessel, master, officers, crew,
and equipments are competent and sufficient at the commencement of the voyage,
the assured has done all that be contracted to do ; he did not guaranty the faithlmness
and vigilance of the master and mariners after the commencement of the voyage. The
usurers are responsible, provided the actual loee arise from one of the perik inanred
against, though such peril may have occurred in consequence of the neghgenee or
carelessness of the master and crew.
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785
COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.
THE REPORT OIV COMMERCE AID NATTOATIOiy.
Prior to 1850, it was customary to lay this report before Ooogrees in manuscript
For several years we urged the importance of its being prepared and printed before
the meeting of Congress. We wrote to members of Congress on the subject, and
finally, through the late John Datis, United States Senator from Massachusetts, suc-
ceeded in effecting that object The following copies of documents accompanying the
Beport on Commerce and Navigation, will show the promptness and dispatch which
characterize the Treasury Department onder its present able and efficient manage-
ment : —
Tebaiuet Dipastmint, October 12, 1855.
Sir: — In compliance with the provisions of the first section of the act of the 16th
September, 1860, entitled " An act to provide for printing the annual report on Com-
merce and navigation." which makes it the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to
cause the said report to be completed at as early a day before the first Monday in
January in each year as is practicable, I have the honor to state that the report for
the year endmg SOth Jone, 1855, has now been completed, being neariy three months in
advance of the time designated in the said act
The work will be forthwith placed in the hands of the public printer for the print-
ing, binding, and distribution of the number of copies therein directed ; all which it is
expected will be accomplished, and the usual number of copies prepared for the use
of the members of the two houses of Congress and their officers by the day of their
approaching meeting, and consequently five weeks in advance of the time limited io
the act for that purpose.
I shall cause this letter to be printed in the said volnme, together with the letter of
the Register of the Treasury, in whose office the statement has been compiled, the
act above mentioned, and a table showing the periods when the reports have been
heretofore successively completed for publication.
I nave the honor to be, your obedient servant,
JAMES GUTURIB, Secretary of the Treasaiy.
To the President of the Senate and Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
The statements of Commerce and navigation since the passage of the act of
February lOtb, 1820, have been completed for publication at the following dates,
to wit;—
1821 .January
1822 January
1828 February
1824 February
1826 March
1826 February
1827 April
1828 February
1829 February
1830 April
1881 May
1882 February
1888 April
1884 : March
1886 May
1886 ...March
1881 May
28, 1822
18, 1828
11, 1824
16, 1826
20, 1826
24, 1827
16, 1828
18, 1829
8, 1880
26, 1831
2, 1832
18. 1883
21, 1834
2, 1885
18, 1886
8, 1887
18, 1888
Por-
1838 May 18, 1889
1839 June 25, 1840
1840 March 1, 1841
1841 July 20, 1842
1842 August 19, 1848
1848 March 25, 1844
1844. February 20, 1845
1846 November 81, 1846
1846 December 6, 1846
1847 December 18,1847
1848 January 20, 1849
1849 December 7, 1849
1860 December 20, 1860
1851 December 12, 1851
1852 January 15, 1858
1858 December 22, 1858
1864 November 14,1864
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736 Commercial SkttkUcs.
PfiOFITS OF 8LAFE UBOR.
We cat the following from the Liverpool A Ibion. It purports to be taken from a work
entitled " Slavery Described by an Sye-mtneu.** We have never seen the work ! —
One evening:, as I was returning to the house of nay friend, I met a colored man. I
asked him whether he was a slave. He said yes; and, in answer to a number of
questions, he told me that his owner received $180 a year for his services as a black-
smith, and that the man to whom he wrought fed and clothed him, and gave this
money over and above to his master, and that he had eight children. Now, sup-
posing the average length of a man's working days to be thirty years, this owner will
receive f 3,900 for the labor of thb one slave. Then bis eight childrcp, at twenty -one
years of age, and after they have more than doubly paid by their labor for their
maintenance during infancy, will bring, at the least, |800 apiece, ^6,400. This, with
the above, makes $10,<^00.
One morning I went to the mill with my friend. While he was engaged in some
business, one of the millers and I fell into a conversation, and, while we were standing
at the door, a slave girl, of fourteen or fifteen years of age, went past us. Said I to
him, •* Is that your slave r
** No," said he, "I have been trying to buy her from her owner, from whom I hire
her, but he will sell her for no less than $600. I have offered him $500."
In answer to a great many questions he told me that the girl was honest, faithful,
and industrious, and that such a stave was very valuable property; that his father
once had a slave woman who wrought as a blacksmith, and had eleven children. Now
let us estimate this woman's labor at $100 a year. Thirty years would bring $3,000;
her eleven children, at $800 each, would bring $8,800 ; the two items, $11,800. Was
not this woman a valuable article to tliis millers father!
STATISTICS OF THE COMIUERCB OF THB OVITED STATES.
We have received from the compiler, Michael Noubsb, Esq., late of the Treaauij
Department at Washington, (in manuscript,) ''A Oeneral Statement of the Aomial
and Aggregate Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the United States from the Ist
of October, 1820, to the SOth of June, 1864; tc^ether with Statements of the Com-
merce and Navigation with the several Foreign Countries during the same Period ;
also of each State and Territory, and showing the Registered and Enrolled Toonage
of each State in 1821, 1881, 1844, and 1851,** compiled, as above stated, by Mr. Koarse.
These statements cover some ninety pages. It is, we understand, the intentios of
the compiler to offer them to our government; and aa they present a clear and eoai-
prehensive statistical view of the commercial progress of the nation for the last thirtj-
four years, we earnestly hope tliat Mr. Guthkie, the present efficient Secretary of the
Treasury, will adopt them as an appendix to his next financial report Mr. Nourae,
or some competent clerk in the Department, could readily add the present year, and
thus bring the statements down to the latest period.
Sixty one pages, or tables, are devoted to the foreign Commerce of the Unitad
States with the different foreign ports or countries with which we have commeraal
intercourse. These are followed by tabnlar statements of the foreign Ooouneroe of
each State and Territory, showing at a glance the value of our domestic and foreign
exports, imports, registered and enrolled tonnage, and American and foreign tonnage
cleared in each of the years from October 1, 1820, to June 80, 1854.
The value of these statements will be apparent to all who will take the troofale to
examine the specimens which, with his permission, we here annex
We have selected the first general table, and a table of onr Commeroe with Si^
land, and one of the States of the Union, which will sufficiently illostrate the diane-
ter of the entire series :-^
The ending of the fiscal year waa changed in 1848 from September 80 to Jane 80
so that 1848 (marked thus *) represents but nine montbt; 1844, (marked thm fj
year ending June Z(k
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Cammereial StaH$He$.
TRADE AID GOMMEEGB OF CIlSnffHATI.
We gave in the November number of the MerekanU' Xaganne tabular ttatementi
of the Commerce of New Orleans. We now publish slmUar statistics of ths Trtds
and Commerce of Cincinnati:—
IMPOara INTO CIKOIKNATI FOE FIVl TSAE8, OOMmNOIKG 8KPTKMBEB IST AKD mOM
AUGUST 8l8T SAOH TBAft, DKaiTKD FEOM THB dKOINNATI PEICE CUERXHTi
Article.. 18W-1.
Apples, green bbls. 16,984
Beef. I.IOI
Beef tierces 18
Bagging pieces ....
Barley .bushels 1 1 1 ,25T
Beans 81,087
Butter barrels 8,269
Butter firkins & kegs 11,048
Blooms tons 2,727
Bran. Ac sacks 60,976
Candles . boxes 696
Com bushels 489,196
Corn-meal 6,603
Cider. barrels 1.047
Cheese casks 74
Cheese boxes 206,444
Cotton bales 7,168
Coffee sacks 91,177
Cndfi'h drums 448
Cooperage. pieces 146,691
BffCTd boxes & barrels 6,966
Flour. barrels 482.772
Feathers sacks 2.868
Fish, sundries barrels 19.826
Fish kegs A kits 2,694
Fruit, dried bushels 41.824
Orease .barrels 876
Glass boxes 87,099
Glassware ....packages 28,619
Hemp bundles & bales 18,264
Hides, loose No. 28.1 82
Hides, green pounds 26,424
Hay...: bales 12,691
Herring • . . .boxes 8,882
Hogs . head 111,484
Hops. bales 766
Iron and steel pieces 226.089
Iron and steel •. bundles 66.889
Iron and steel tons 2,670
Lead .pigs 69.418
Lard barrels 86,889
Lard. kegs 81,087
Leather bundles 10,899
Lemons boxes 8.877
Lime barrels 67,687
Liquors hogsheads & pipes 1 ,466
Merchandise and sundries . packages 176,988
Merchandise and sundries tons 8.870
Molasses barrels 61.490
Malt bushels 21.866
NaUs kegs 88,761
18Si-8. 18S!-I. 18JH. ISil-i
71.882
1,609
1,146
74
89,994
14,187
10,208
18,720
4.086
181.014
668
668,788
8,640
874
46
241,768
12,776
96,782
481
186,188
10,644
611,042
6,716
20,076
1,076
24,847
1,986
44,004
86,602
18,884
64,647
64,906
9,270
6,149
160,684
1,691
194,107
64,078
10,111
64,783
86,047
82,288
11,884
4.484
64.817
8,162
468.708
1.968
98.182
88.220
64^189
19.846
1,118
296
119
226.844
26.489
16,484
11.881
8,928
62,629
2.882
728,884
17,867
1.288
108
212,887
16,660
109,188
1,140
194.666
14.888
449,089
10.689
22.219
8,986
44.616
8,162
42.968
84,646
20,079
48,808
86,178
6.482
11,486
420.694
2.681
294,001
66.181
14.124
67.089
61.744
26.169
19.689
7.188
76,746
4.879
688,066
1,102
116,112,
48,769
104,169
81.479
1,841
68
174
286.636
21,382
16.843
11.692
4,886
66,046
816
746,465
81,888
1.684
62
216,892
22.518
91,426
1,889
197,088
16,608
427,464
8.631
18.247
6,448
78,160
6,628
86,767
61,806
11.769
88.876
42.720
19.424
11.093
625.278
8.681
880.406
72.780
14.266
66.869
76,094
19.762
18,661
6,695
87,087
8,840
846.190
6,014
86.480
42.646
101.646
16,971
1.766
4,606
85
204.m
17,171
10.186
7,18J
4.691
71,416
1.146
845.679
42,190
829
78
183.879
16,107
114.118
1.274
126.689
12,104
842,772
7,202
18.060
5.266
58,047
5.286
41.686
26.090
8,672
81,506
101,586
87,914
10,624
496.860
4.014
605.892
62.72*
8,690
57,769
58.664
14.881
17.768
7.855
62,918
2.296
888.916
2,818
56.287
44.496
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Oonmemal SiaiUHci. 741
Artici... 18i0-l. 18SM. I8tl-I. 18i]-4. imi.
Oa barrels 6.764 8.306 10,507 11,228 8,346
Oranges boxes <& barrels 9,802 4,667 8,984 6,779 18,289
Oakam bales 1,789 1,848 2,966 4,071 8,468
Oats bushels 164,288 197,868 288,261 487,428 480,178
Oilcake pounds 194.000 247,400 14,000 186,000 134,447
Pork and bacon. hogsheads 6.277 10,888 16,261 12,164 6,947
Pork and bacon tierces 1,183 1,987 8,660 2,786 6,770
Pork and bacon barrels 81,696 22,601. 89,617 89.887 88,866
P-k«b».k. v^\'*Z "iJS M? ''f^ ''•III
Potatoes barrels 19,649 20,789 16,688 86,244 29,982
PigmetaL tons 16,110 22,606 80,179 41,807 26,618
Pimento and pepper ..bags 2,027 1,425 6,690 7,174 3,826
Rye. bushels 44,308 68,818 88,670 29,692 63,164
Resin, Ac. barrels 12,611 14.484 19,988 16,161 13,664
Rabins boxes 15,648 28,417 26,488 22,640 24.765
Rope, twine, <bc packages 2,077 8,208 4,178 4,488 2,610
Rice tierces 4,780 8,782 6,846 8,242 8,899
Sugar hogsheads 29,808 89,824 49,229 64,461 46 968
Sugar barrels 18,684 16,287 24.004 26,441 19,465
Sugar boxes 8,612 2,269 2.116 2,849 2,697
Seed, flax barrels 20,819 48,074 61,762 40,860 24,189
Seed, grass 4,104 10,819 14,946 19,894 14,605
Seed.hemp 68 804 1.040 984 689
Salt sacks 60.474 91.812 71,626 66.872 72.105
Salt barrels 79,868 68,020 78,086 90,882 74 362
Shot kegs 1,667 1,668 1.145 2.889 2,588
Tea. packages 7,821 12,810 22,879 14,199 20,724
Tobacco hogsheads 8,701 1 1,460 7,881 8,744 6.209
Tobacco bales 1,697 1,996 2,478 8,118 2,812
Tbbacco boxes A kegs 19,945 28,060 48,201 80,285 24,802
Tallow barrels 8,682 6,980 8,468 4,280 8,288
Wines. barrels <k qaartercasks 8,401 4,482 9,668 7,644 8.384
Wines baskets <k boxes 5,060 8,822 9,440 8.879 4,815
Wheat bushels 888,660 877,087 848,649 408,084 437,412
Wool ...bales 1,866 4,662 6,748 4,968 6,999
WhUky barrels 244,049 272,788 280,817 286,848 272,165
Cotton-yam' packages 6,677 10,886 7,862 6^,879 7,062
Cotton yam pounds 124,694 167,002 116.841 114,767 66,741
In the above table, the figures for the years prior to 1852-8 embrace only the num-
ber of hogs received by public eonyeyance. Since that time the nombe^r driven to
market during the packing season haye been added.
▼ALUS or PRIROIPAL BXPOSTS FBOM TBB POET OF CINOINKATI FOE THE TEARS ENDING MXh
Q08T 8l8T, 1854 AMD 1866.
Ayerage Total Total
Articles. * ToUL price. yolne. laatyear«
Apples,greeD barrels 8.427 $2 50 $8,667 $14,417
Alcohol 19,966 26 40 528,888 811,047
Beet... 17,684 11 60 202,216 251,694
Beef tierces 18,977 17 00 287,609 122,886
Beans. barrels 1,297 7 00 9,079 10,169
Brooms doaens 18,275 2 25 41,119 82,842
Butter barrels 1,800 82 60 42,880 108,090
Butter firkins&kegs 24,196 11 00 266,166 416,960
Bran,^ sa^s 11,466 80 9,164 10,071
Bagging. pieces 2,485 2 80 6,968 16,799
Oom sacks 64,844 1 40 90,081 89,426
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¥42
Artlelet. ToteL price. Ttliio. tattjvv.
Oorameal barrels 2,772 $2 90 $8,0»8 $1,0(7
Cheese casks 4 20 00 80 4M
Cheese boxes 102,862 8 80 887,761 4ft441»
Candles 189,121 7 60 1,067,861 1,0«4.478
CatUe bead 10.286 70 00 719,960 602,100
Cottoa bales 10,021 44 00 440,924 684,186
Cofifee sacks 42,288 18 60 782,286 778.144
Cooperage. pieces 108,106 1 20 129,726 172,849
Eegs. barrels 6.014 8 00 40,112 48.167
Flour 199.276 8 16 1,624.099 2,096,601
Feathers sacks 7,819 26 00 190.294 280.856
Fruit,dned. bosbels 18,029 2 00 26,068 86.208
Grease barrels 9,418 17 00 160,021 251.104
Grass-seed 7,880 16 00 117,280 216.625
Horses bead 1,680 166 00 262,660 269,750
Hay bales 6.706 2 70 16.406 1,950
Hemp , 2,918 85 00 102,180 117,660
Hides pounds 44,086 12 6,284 681
Hides No. 24,427 8 60 85,494 108.961
Iron pieces 604.861 160 907,291 648.817
Iroa buodles 68,716 8 76 288,986 249,492
Iron. tons 11,978 76 00 898.860 1.466.560
Lard barrels 48.799 20 00 876.980 1,084.616
Lard kegs 62,806 4 60 282,627 878^884
Lard-oil barrels 48,696 80 00 1,807.860 1.228,728
Linseed-oU 8.464 87 00 127,798 206,038
Molasses. 46,160 12 00 641.800 607.048
OUcake ^.toos 778 26 00 19,460 26,620
Oats sacks 42.282 1 26 62,852 8.778
PoUtoe8,Ac. barrels 10,899 8 26 88,797 9,119
Pork And bacon. hogsheads 42,469 60 00 2,648,140 2,868,040
Pork and bacon tierces 40,616 20 00 810^800 931,984
Pork and bacon barrels 104,276 14 60 1,611,987 1.619,600
Pork and bacon. boxes 22 674 21 00 472,861 867,814
Pork,inbulk pounds 878,064 6 62.888 96,977
Rope,twine,^ packages 8.909 7 00 27,868 72,880
Soap. boxes 84,247 8 80 118,016 128.844
Sheep head 1,660 2 20 8,680 2,028
Sugar hogsheads 82.482 62 00 2,010,784 1,986,855
Salt barrels 86,888 8 10 112,682 111,7U
Salt sacks 9,606 140 13,448 89,606
Seed, flax barrels 1,121 4 60 6,044 18,468
Sundry, merchandise packages 8 1 1,626 6 00 4,869.760 )401 480
Sundry, merchandise tons 8,466 600 00 6.079,600 7,466,400
Sundry, liquors. barrels 26,714 46 00 1,167,180 1.940,609
Sundry, manufactures pieces 847,564 4 00 1,890,256 1,527.888
Sundry, produce packages 141,926 8 60 496,787 826,676
Starch boxes 24,620 8 60 88,272 108,0tf
Tallow. barrels 6,898 85 00 241,266 286,698
Tobacco kegsAboxfls 26,077 28 00 699.771 676,802
Tobacco hogsheads 4,968 90 00 447.120 786,652
Tobacco bales 8,807 8 60 28,109 28,590
Tioegar barrels 8,648 2 60 21,607 16.260
Whisky 248,661 12 00 2.922,612 1.996.896
Wool bales 6,486 84 00 218.790 226,866
Wool pounds 4,482 28 1,264 426,790
White-lead kegs 66,218 2 20 121,479 148,662
Castings pieces 80,268 6 00 401,816 964.486
Castmgs tons 2,078 90 00 186.670 279,460
Total |88»7^^f4|4S,4tl786
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NauUeal IntdUgenee, T4i
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
HOTICE TO MA&UIBRS.
The foUowiog highly important intelligence to mariners has been received from the
Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, bearing date August 80th, 1865 : —
The colonial government at Mauritius has given notice that the light-towers lately
in course of construction in that island being now completed, the followmg lights will
be exhibited on and after the first day of December next, (1665 :) —
1. Revolving Light ok Flat Island. The light- tower on Flat Island (at the north
end of Mauritius) stands od the highest part of the island, and at its south-west angle,
in latitude 19<^ 63' 26" S., longitude 5'?° 41' 12" E. of Greenwich. The illuminating
apparatus is catadioptric or reflecting, and of the first order.
The light is revolving^ its period of revolation being one minute, showing a bright
lj(^t ibr twenty seconds, followed by an interval of darkness of forty seconds. It it
placed at an elevation of 865 feet above the level of the sea, and will be visible from
the deck of a ship at a distance of 25 miles in clear weather.
2. Fixed Light on Oakonniek Point. The light-tower on Oanonnier Point, at the
north-west angle of the island of Mauritius, stands at the extremity of the point, in*
latitude 20° 0' 86" S., longitude 67° 86' 24" E, of Greenwich, aod bears S. W. i W
distant nine miles nearly from the light-house on Flat Island.
The light \& fixed; it is of the natural color to seaward, and of the first order. It
is placed at a height of 88 feet above the level of the sea, and will be visible at a dis-
tance of 10 miles in clear weather.
The object of this light is to indicate the position of a dangerous reef which extends
off shore If miles from Canonnier Point, and to warn vessels from approaching too
uear the coral reefs which lie to the north-east and south-west of that point
When seen from the southward on any bearing to the northward of N. E. \ £., the
light will appear red, thereby warning the mariner (when within six miles of the light)
that he is too near the land.
8. Harbor Lights for Port Louis. A green li^fat will be exhibited on a mast at
the outer angle of Fort G^rge, on the western pomt of Tonnelier or Cooper's Island,
on the left or eastern side of the entrance of Port Louis harbor.
4. A red light will be exhibited on a mast in the Martello Tower, which stands at
the entrance of Grand River, on its western baak, at \\ miles 8. W. by W. of Fort
George.
The object of these two harbor lights is to lea4 up to and martc the best anchorage
off Port Louis. A vessel closing the red light oo a S. 8. W. bearing should drop her
andior directly the gre^n light on Fort George bears S. E. ^ S.
These bearings are all magnetic. Yariatioo 11^ 47' weet
This notice affects the following Admiralty Charts :— Madagascar, east coast, No*
677 ; Mauritius, No. 711 ; Port Louis, No. 718 ; and East India Light-house List» Nos.
10 and 11.
ROCKS ON CORTEZ BANK, COAST OF CAUFORIIIA.
The following is a letter from the Superintendent to the Secretary of the Treasury,
communicating the position of a dangerous rock on Cortez Bank, coast of California,
determined by Lieut commanding Archibald McBae, United States Navy, assistant in
the Ooaat Survey : —
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744 Nautkal InteUigenee.
CoA0T SviTBT Statiok, Dumokt, Me^ Odobtr lt| 1853^
Sn : — I have the honor to report that, under the instmctiooe of Lieut Commanding
James Alden, United States Navj, awistant in the Coast Survey, a dangerous rock oa
Cortes Bank, off the extreme southern coast of California, was sought for by Lieut
Commanding Archibald McRae, United States Navy, assistant in the Coast Survey,
and determined to be in latitude 82° 2v' N., and longitude 119° 04i' W^ (both ap-
proximate ) The shoalest water on the rock b reported by Lieut McKae to be three>
and-a-half fathoms, subject to a possible tidal reduction of six feet, which might redooa
it to two- and-a- half fathoms, or fifteen feet
Lieut McRae placed a buoy composed of two casks, with a flagstaff between, upon
the shoalest part of the ledge to which this rock belongs, and which he represents as
quite extensive. The buoy could be seeo in dear weather about three milee.
I would respectfully request that a copy of this letter may be sent to the Light-
house Board, that theur attention may be directed to the placing of a beacon oo this
ledge.
I inclose herewith a Coast Survey sketch of Cortex Bank, from a reoooDoiseance by
Deut Commanding Alden in 1853. "in that examination the rock referred to was
not found.
I propose to direct a mmute survey of this dangerous locality.
I would respectfully request authority to publish the informatioo contained in thb
letter. Very respectfully yours,
A. D. BACBE, SaperintOKleBt
Hon. Jaxcs GuTHau, Secretary of the Treasory.
IISWER TO A PROBLEM II HA¥I6i'n017.
In the Humboldt Time* of the 27th of Janua^, 1856, the following question was
propounded \-*
** When a ship is steering north by compass, with an easterly variation of eighteen
degrees, what is the true course she is making t
In answer to which the 7hne$ received notes from several sea captains, all of whom
give the same answer, from which we publish the following, which we think will set-
tle a question that has arisen on this coast The correction of the variation of the
compass appears to be very simple, and it appears singular (here should be so great
a discrepancy among sea-faring men as exists. For instance, some contend that when
there is an easterly variation the, tnts €our$€ i$ to the wtt of the courm Ueered ijr
€Ofnpau, while the books and experienced navigators say the true eourm is to the east
of that steered. Many attribute the loss of the steamer Arispe to that caose ; that
while making actually ** casting,'* the captain calculated she was making ** westiag.'*
If two vessels were to sale from the same port a distance of twenty-five thoosaod
miles, with opposite ideas of the variation — if the compass varies eighteen degrees—
they would be twenty-five hundred ^nd two miles apart from each other in reckoning.
A captain writee, ** When steering north by compass she is making north bj eact half
east, 1^7' 80" easterly, or north by east half east a little easterly." fie aleo aends
na " A Guide to Navigators,** which setUee the question.
TO OOREXOT TBI OOUBSES BTKXaxn BT OOMPASa.
The variation of the compass, which is usually found by observation, aa already ex-
plained, must be applied to all courses steered, and on all bearings taken by the oooh
pass, in the following manner : — Suppose yourself placed at the center of the com-
pass, and looking directly forward to the point you are to allow the variation from;
then, if the variation be easterly, allow it to the right hand of the course steered, or
bearing taken by compass ; but if westerly, to the left hand ; by which yon will ob-
tain the true course.
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Ifautieal InteUigence. ?4ft
For example, suppose the connie steered by compass is N. R by N^ and the yaria*
lion 19 one point westerly ; now» one point to the left hand of N. E. by N. is N. N. K,
which is the true course required. Again ; suppose I set a cape, and find it bear from
me S. "W. by compass, the variation being 1^ points easterly; here H points allowed
to the right hand of S. W. will give S. W, by W. i W, the true bearing of the
land.
Another says, ** the above is correct" If yon wish to make a due north course,
where there is an easterly variation of eighteen degrees, your compass course should
be to a point eighteen degrees toeat of north.
PSTIT MBJVAJV LIGHT-HOaSB, MilNB.
A new light-house and keeper's dwelling have been erected on Petit Menan Island,
Mabe: —
The tower is built of cut granite, and is the natural color of the stone. The dwell-
ings are painted brown, and the iron work of the lantern is black.
The center of the light is 100 feet above the ground, and 126 feet above the level
of ordinary high water.
The liffbt will be visible in good weather at a distance of 17 nautical miles.
The illuminating apparatus is a lens of the second order of the system of Fresnel,
and the light will be a fixed light until the Ist of January, 185A, when a fixed light,
varied by flashes, will be shown, and will be continued during every night thereafter.
The following maapDetic bearings have been taken from the light^house : —
To liarragaugus Light-house, N. R f N., distant 6^ miles.
To Nashe's Island Light-house, N. £. by R, distant 8 miles.
To Jackson's Ledge, R, distant 4 miles.
To South-east Rock, S. R by S., distant 4 miles.
To Simms' Rock, S. i £., distant 8 miles.
To buoy on Petit Menan Bar, N. ^ W., distant H miles.
To Baker's Island Light-house, W. by S., distant 18 miles.
By order of the Lighthouse Board,
W. B. FRANKLIN, Ugbt-hooBe Inspector, 1st Dittrlot.
CflANClE 15 THE LIGHT OF GRBIFSWALD ISLAND.
00A8T or PEUSaiA, BALTIC.
The Prussian government has given notice that on and after the 1st of October
next, 1855, a Revolving Light will be exhibited at the new tower, recently com-
pleted on the northeastern end of the Island of Greifswald, on the coast of Prussia,
at which time the two vertical Fixed Lights hitherto in use on that island will be
discontinued.
In order to. distinguish it from the adjacent Fixed Lights of Oape Arcona to the
north, and Stettin to the south, as well as the Revolving Lights of Dars Point to the
west, and Jershoft to the east —
The Oreifdwald Light is now a Revolving Light, presenting alternately a light of
the natural color and a red light, these two Bghts being separated from each other by
equal intervals of darkness.
The duration of each of these lights, that is, of the natural-colore<I light and the red
light, and also that of the darkness between each of them, is 45 seconds, or three-
fourths of a minute.
The tower is constructed of brick, the mortar being scarcely visible, and the light,
which is 154 feet above the level of the sea, may be seen in all directions at the dis-
tance of 17 miles from the dack of a vesseL
It is in latitude 54^ 14' 45" north, and longitude 18° 55' 27" east from Green-
wich.
JOHN WASHINGTON, Hydrographer.
HToaoaiArmo Ornci, Admiralty, Lohdoii, Sept. 28, 1855.
Thb notice affects the following Admiralty Charts:— Baltic, Na 2,262; Ck>ast from
Bomholm to Rixhoft, Ko. 2,198 ; Baltic Pilot, p. 184; Lighthouse List» No. 188.
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tW Bailroad, Oamaly md Siemiboat StaUHks.
RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
ES0ULATI01I8 FOR PiSSlGB OF VESSELS THROUGH THE SHIP CAVIL AT ST.
MART'S FALLS.
RULES AND BEQULATI0N8 FOB THE MANAGEMENT AND PASSAGE OW VESSELS THROUGH
THE ST. mart's falls SHIP CANAL, XSTABLI8HBD BT THB STATE BOARD OF OONTBOL,
JONE, 1856.
1. The master of every yessel arriviog at either end of the caoal for the parpose of
passing through the same, shall ooramuoicate his desire to do so to the saperintendaot,
but shall not enter the canal or approach within 100 feet of the locks at the east end,
er within 50 feet of the stone wharf at the west end of the canal, until the superin-
tendent has given his directions so to do, under a penalty of not lees than tweoty-five,
oor more than one hundred dollars.
2. Before the superintendent shall anUiorice the passage of any vessel into or
through the canal, the master thereof wiU be required to furnish a dmy certified state-
ment of the enrolled tonnage or measurement of such vessel, and the place of enrol-
ment ; name and description, or character ; the names of her owner or owners and
master; the port of her departure and destination; the number of her passengers;
and the amount, general character, and destination of her cargo. The said master -
will also be first required to pay over to the superintendent in gold or silver money,
or its equivalent, the tolls chargeable for the passage of said vessel through the canal,
as the same shall be determiaed by the supermtendent.
8. The master of every vessel which shall be brought to at either end of the canal,
within the distances from the locks and stone wharf before mentioned, and of every
vessel which shall enter any portion of said canal, shall be subject to the dhreetions of
the superintendent thereof^ and shall place and moor his vessel at such place, and
shall move the same or fall back, as the superintendent shall direct, under a penalty
of not less than ten, nor more than twenty-five dollars.
4. Upward-bound vessels will pass those bound down, by taking the towpath or
south side ; but no downward-bound vessel must attempt to pass another veosel in
any portion of the canal between the upper Caisson Gate recess and the locks, except
at the basin ; and when the basin is occupied by a vessel, no other vessel must enter
the canal for the purpose of passing if there be one already in the canal bound in the
opposite direction, under a penalty of twenty dollars for each and every oflfenae.
5. All sail vessels shall have their yards and booms topped or braced up, and bow-
sprits and anchors secured, so as not to interfere with the locks or gates, under a pen-
alty of ten dolUrs, besides cost of repauu
6. Every vessel while passing the locks shall have out at least two good hawsers or
check ropes — one at the bow and one at the quarter — which shall be attended bv the
boat's crew, to prevent collision with the gates and keep the vessel in place, onder a
penalty of twenty -five dollars.
7. It shall be the duty of every person havmg the charge of a vessel to ascertain
for himself whether the locks are prepared to receiv<) such vessel before entering, and
upon entering, to stop the speed of his vessel in sufficient time to avoid collision with
the locks or gates, under the penalty of such fine as the superintendent may impose,
not exceeding five hundred dollars, besides cost of repairs.
8. When required by the superintendent, the master and crew of a vessel passing
shall assist in opening and closing the gates, and operating the other fixtures of the
canal, under a penalty of not less than ten, nor more than twenty-five dollars.
9. Every vessel navigating the canal, or lying to at either end of the same, in the
nighty shall exhibit the lights which are required by the act of Ooogress lor vessels
at sea, under a penalty of nut less than twenty-five, nor more than one hundred dot-
lars.
10. No vessel shall be propelled through the canal at a greater speed than four
miles per hour, under a penalty of fifty dollars.
11. Several vessels lying to, or waiting to enter the oftoal, sludl lie ki eiiigld fi^aad
advance in the same order in which they lie.
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Ma^nMd^ Okmcd, and ^(Mt^o^i SMiHitA. H^
IS. Any ptiwHi "who shall obrtmcfc the navigatioii of the caoal, by hringiiig into it
a Teasel of too great draft of water, or by ainkwg in it aoy vessel, timber, stope, earth,
or other thing, or bj placing upon the banks thereof any obstmotion, shall be subject
to a fine of not less than my or more than five hundred dollars.
18. Ho person in charge of a vessel shall east anchor within the canal, or any chan-
nel leading thereto, or receive or discharge cargo or wood while in the same, without
written permiision of the Superintendent, nnd^ a penalty of ten dollars.
14. Lumber or timber must be so loaded upon the vessel so as not to project over
the gunwale or side, under a penalty of twenty dollars.
15. Aoy steamer, propeller, sail- vessel, scow, or other vessel not enrolled, wishmg
to pass tlie canal, may do so, subiect to all the rules, regulations, and penalties pre-
ecnbed for enrolled vessels, by the payment to the Superintendent of the tolls pre-
scribed herein for enrolled vessels of the like tonnage ; but in no case shall the tolls
paid by such vessel be less than the sum of five dollars.
16. The canal and locks will not be opened for public use on the Sabbath, ezce^^t
for the passage of ** vessels of the United States engaged in the public service, or in
the transportation of property or troops of the United Statea.^
17. The owners of all vessels entering or usiiM^ said canal, locks, <kc., shall do so
with the express condition that it is at lus own riu: and peril, and that the State will
not in any case become responsible for aoy damage or mjury which any vessel may
receive in consequence of aoy imperfections of the canal, locks, or their appurtenances,
or from any cause whatever.
18. The owner of every vessel which shall enter or use said canal or locks shall be
liable for all damsge which may be done to the same by the vessel, her officers or
crew, whether intentional or accidental, and shall also be Uable for the full payment
of such damage, and also of any and all fines and penalties which may have been
imposed at any time on said vessel, her officers or crew, for such damage ; and the
said vessel shall also be liable to be seixed by proper legal process for the payment
of any such damage or penalties incurred.
19. No person shall occupy or use aoy portion of the banks, land, or appurtenances
of the canal for any purpose whatever ; nor shall any timber, stone, or freight be left
upon the banks or piers of the canal without the permission, in writing, of the Super-
intendent, under a penalty of not less than ten nor more than twenty-five dollars.
20. No person shall build or repair, or heat or boil pitch, tar, or grease, for the pur-
pose of repairing any boat, ves^sel, or other craft, within the oaniu or locks, or upon
grounds belonging thereto, without the written permission of the Superintendent, and
at such place as be may direct, under a penalty of not less than ten nor more than
five hundred dollars.
21. No person shall throw into the canal, or any lock, basin, or channel thereof, or
within two hundred yards of its entrance, any dead animal, or nuisance of any kind,
or stones, timWs, bushes, or other rubbish, uuder a penalty of not less than ten nor
more than fifty dollars; and any scow, boat, raft of timber or boards, fbund floating
therein, shall be deemed forfeited, and may be taken up and sold by the Superintend-
ent to pay costs and damages.
22. It is understood that the towage or moving of all vessels while in the canal,
except when actually m the locks, or passing into or out of the same, shall be at the
expense of the master or owners of toe same.
There will be at all times ready, under the control of the Superintendent, careful
and trusty men prepared to do towing for such as may require their services.
28. No person, other than those employed bv the Superintendent fur that purpose,
shall open, shut, or handle any lock, gate, valve, or other part of the machinery or
appurtenances of the canal, under a penalty of not less than five nor more than ten
dollars.
24. All penalties hereby established for violations of the above regulations, shall
be exclusive of; and in addition to, costs and payments for injuries done to the works
of the canal.
26. All process for the collection of any of the fines and penalties and damages
above fixed, shall be issued in the name of the ** St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal," out of
any court of competent jurisdiction, under the direction of the Superintendent of said
canal
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748 Bailroad^ Canal, and SUamboai Statiitta.
26. No pik«, pole, or other iD8tniment» shod or poioted with iron, or other metal
flball be used in or about the locks or caDal, under a penalty of not less than five nor
more than ten dollars for each offense.
27. The Assistant Saperiuteodent, and any other person duly authorized by the
Superintendent, shall have all the power and authority herem given to the Superin-
tendent
STEAM DICTIOHART.
BT ZKRAH COLBUay, BDITOB OF THB RAILROAD ADVOOATB.
Footboard, A plate iron board, behind the boiler, for the engineman and fireman
to stand upon.
Frame, Made to attach to the boiler, cylinders, axles, and all cross-shafts, and binds
the whole fabric together.
FroH Cocks, Oocks to admit steam to the feed- pipes, leading from the tender to
the pumps used when the water becomes frozen.
Oaseous, Aeriform, or having the form of gas.
Gauge, As applied to railroads, means the width between the insides of the rails*
The common width of gauge of the roads in the Eastern and Middle States, and io
Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois, is 4 feet 8^ inches between the insides of the heads of
the rails, or 4 feet I Of inches between centers. The New Jersey and Ohio gauge is
4 feet 10 inches, inside to inside. The gauge of most of the new roads of Virginia
and of all the roads south of that State, and south of the Ohio River, is 5 feet, in«de
to inside. The Sciota and Hocking Valley Road, in Ohio, is of the gauge of 5 feet 4
indies. The Atlantic and St Lawrence Road of Maine, the Canada roads, and those
west of the Mississippi, (except in Iowa,) are 6 feet 6 inches, inside to inside. The
Erie Road and principal tributaries, the Illinob and Wiaconsm Road in Illinois, and
the Ohio and Mississippi Road, are all 6 feet gauge. In England, the Great Western
Road is 7 feet gauge. There has been much controversy as to the relative merits of
the broad and narrow gaugea It appears, however, in practice, that more power is
required to operate the wide than the narrow gauge. This word (gauge) is often im-
properly spelled guage.
Gauge Cocke, Oocks at different levels on the side of the fire>box, and to ascertain
the height of water in the boiler. When opened, water or steam will escape, accord-
ing as the level of the water is above or below them.
Generate. Used in its general sense, it is often introduced in mechanical writings
(o express the production of steam, heat, <&c. A boiler is sometimes called a gen*
erator.
Gland, A bushing to hold the packing in a stuffing-box. The loose coUar, as dis-
tinguished from the recess in which the packing is compressed, and which is in itself
the stuffing-box. The term gland is not commonly used, that of ** stuffing-box" being
applied indiscriminately to the recess in which the packing is placed and the boshing
employed to hold it
Grade, The degree or rate of inclination of a road — its ascent or descent Grades
are expressed in feet per mile ; a grade of 40 feet per mile, means a regular ascent at
the rate of 40 feet perpendicular, in going one mile, or 6,280 feet Every sloping
grade is of course an inclined plane ; but the latter term is applied partieulariy to
grades where the trains are drawn up by ropes, worked by stationary engines. Tlie
highest or steepest grade upon which a locomotive has ever been known to ascend
was 528 feet per mile, or one foot rise in ten feet forward. This was on the Bal^
more and Ohio Road, a heavy engine taking itself and a loaded car weighing 12 tons
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SaUroad, Canal^ and Steamboat Statistia* 749
up without difficulty. Grades of 800 feet per mile are now worked on a temporary-
track of the Virginia Central Road. Grades of from 80 to 125 feet per mile are not
onfrequeDt in the Middle States. To find the gravity of one ton of 2,000 pounds, on
any grade, multiply the rise of the grade in feet per mile, by 8»'78'7. Point off four
figures for decimals, and the product will express the graTity in pounds. For tone of
8,240 pounds, multiply by 4,242 instead of 3,787.
Granular. As applied to iron, meaning a disposition of the particles of the metal
in the form of small grains, as in the appearance of broken sugar.
Orate. The parallel bars which support the fuel in the fire-box. Always of cast-
iron. The grates are sometimes made to be detached or dropped in the fire- box, so
as to drop the fuel, particularly where coke is burnt This is done to clear the grate
of clinkers. In coal engines, the grate bars are sometimes made so as to receive an
occasional rocking motion, intended to loosen the cinders. This rocking is effected by
a hand lever, inserted in a hole in the projecting end of each pair of bars.
Gravity, The weight of bodies — the tendency which bodies, heavier than air, have
to fall, or to seek the lowest level. On an inclined plane or grade, the load has a
gravity which must be overcome before the load can be carried along or upward. The
rule for finding the gravity on grades is given above, under the head of Grade, which
see.
Guides. Rods or bars, often called '* slides," lying in the direction of the axis of the
cylinder, and guiding the cross-head, to insure a perfectly parallel motion of the
piston-rod.
OLIVER EVANS AND THE STEAM ENGINE.
The editor of the Pennsylvania Inquirer has seen the original proposition, as made
by Mr. Oliver Evans, to the " Lancaster Turnpike Road Oampany," for the construc-
tion of steam-engines and carriages, to transport merchandise ani produce from Phila-
delphia to Columbia. It is dated " Philadelphia, September 6th, 1601," and the fol*
lowing estimate is made : An engine, $1,600 ; a carriage, $600 ; unft>rseen expenses,
$500. Total, $2,500. Mr. Evans thought that this carriage would be able to trans-
port one hundred barrels of floor at the rate of three miles per hour on level roads,
and one mile per hour up and down hilL In other words, at about two miles per
hour on an average. And thus he believed that the trip could be made from Phila-
delphia to Columbia in two days. At that time it required five wagons with five
horses each, to transport one hundred barrels of flour the same distance in three days,
and at an aggregate expense of ^,804. The gain, therefore, by the new plan, would
be upwafds of $800. This, be it remembered, a little more than half a century ago.
Mr. Evans also stated that he had invented the only steam-engine calculated for the
purpose. The following extract from his memorial will be read with interest : —
" I might as well have made thi? improvement about twenty years ago. when I first
conceived the means by which it is to be effected. But prudence has compelled me
to suspend my natural inclination and capacity for invention, and confine my improve-
ments to such things as [ was immediately interested in. During the r»'Volniion I
made wire, wool, and cotton cards. My improvements in these arts exceeded all
known here nt that time. I have no doubt but that my engines will pmpel beats
against the current of the Mississippi, and wagons on our turnpike ruads wiih great
profit."
We have alfio, adds the Inquirer^ been shown a manuscript endorsed by Oliver Ev-
ans, and probably written by one of his family, in which is given ti detailed account of
the invention of steamboats. He states that in 1775 or 1776, he conceived the idea of
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propelling boats with hfs engines, by meaos of wheels at the sides, aad comiDaDioaied
his disooTery to others — namely, to George Latimer, in 1777, and to Evan and Joseph
Evans, both of whom were then living to testify. In 1784 he matured in idea, and
by experiments, a steam-engine applicable to the purpose of propelling oarriages and
boats 80 far, that he petitioned the Legislature in 1786, to secure to him the right of
propelling land* carriages, and obtained acts of the Legislatures of Maryland and New
Hampshire. He did not include steamboats, having been infonned that CoL Jamee
Ramsey snd John Fitch had been engaged in constructing steamboats, and were eon-
tentling hr priority of invention. He yielded to them, and he states that Fitdi pre-
vailed. The document ftom which the above extract is taken, is quite volnminoos,
but deeply interesting, and we hope to be able to give it at length at some future
time.
DEVLAJf 'S RAILROAD CHAIR AND RAIU
A new railroad chair and rail, the invention of a Pennsylvanian named Devlan, is
mentioned in the PotUville Register, The rail is a hollow tube of wrought iron, made
as gas pipes are, by drawing the metal through dies.
The average wear of railroad iron is seven years — that i?, they are constantly laying
down new rails along roads, and the calculation is, that In seven years they have done
sufficient to relay the whole road. In this work of relaying the track, the danger to
Hfe and property is very great By the use of the Devlan rail, when one side wearsi
a man goes along the road and simply turns it with a wrench, and so on as often as
they like. The rail being a tube, as all mechanics know, with the same weight of iron
is at least three times as strong ; the wheel treads on it as well, and is not so liable to
run off the track, as it is a perfect indiaed plane, and no sharp comers to catch the
flange of the wheel
Aside from the fact that this new rail will last five times longer than the kind in
use, it should be remembered that the cost of its production is very low. The mans-
lecture of railroad iron is at present a monopoly, and not very profitable at that, be-
cause it requires an enormous amount of capital to carry it on. The new ptoceee of
manufacture, on the contrary, places it within the power of every iron master in iSUb
Union to make railway rails at a trifling expense. In view of the magnitude of the
railway interest in this country, the invention of an improvement such as that of (Jen-
eral Devlan, becomes of the greatest importance.
The chair is of cast iron, with a socket at each side, into which the rail slips^makiag
a perfect joint, and allowing it to remove, when it is desired to turn it *
RAILROADS IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICDT.
The Railroad Commissioners of Connecticut have made their report The first rail
road charter in the State was granted in 1832, and the first train was run in 1839-
Since that time fourteen railroads have been constructed in whole, or in part, embrm'
ciog 644 miles of rail within the State, and about 100 miles in process of conslructiofi
not including 111 miles of double track upon the New York and New Hampshire and
Spring roads. The railroad capital in the State is $23,657,658, without including the
Air Line road, which will add $1,000,000 to this amount Of this capital $18,500,000
has been actually paid in, and this last sum has earned a dividend of only $459,709
during the year. The cost of the roads has been $28,884,483 ; the gross earnings
$8,527,225; eipense of working $2,854,291; net earnings $1,013,588; dividend*
$459,709 ; debts $10,785,156 ; surplus (nominal) $266,536. The casualties have been
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Bml/Poad^ Oanal^ amd Steamboat StaHtties. 751
▼erj maU. Oot of 2,968,698 paaseogera carried in the cars, but tvo have beeo in-
jured ; of persons not passengers 19 have been killed and 8 injared, most of ihem by
being on the track when they had no business there. The death of the two paseen-
gers was caused by their carelessness in jumping from the cars at improper times.
MERCHAJVT SHIPS AID STEAMERS.
PBOPOETIOM8 or VXSSKLa— LARGE SHIPS FOR LONG YOYAQBS.
In a late number of the London Mechanictf Magazine there is some very interest^
ing information respecting large steamshipe and the proportions of their length and
breadth. This was elicited in a discussion at a meeting of the London Institution of
Civil Engineers, on a paper which had appeared in the Edinburgh Journal on ** Ocean
Steamers."
Lkvoth akd Bekadth. One steamer in B^Iand, named the Wave Queen^ had been
built of proportions thirteen times longer than her breadth ; it sailed very fast, and
was found to be a good sea boat
Large Ships. The President of the Institution alluding to the large steamship of
10,000 tons which is proposed for construction, said " the advantages of employing a
smaller number of large ships rather than a greater number of small ships, for given
trades, especially for long voyages, was beginning to be generally admitted by ship-
owners. A paper was published in the Liverpool Albion^ of November 2l8t, 186S,
which presented the results of that experience in a remarkable form. Tlie ships now
employed in the American and British trade had been greatly augmented in eixe, and
with the best results ; but these would be too small for the Australian trade. Every
particular steady trade, no doubt, demanded peculiar vessels for that trade, and their
size must be proportioned to the length of the vojage." The conclusion of the dis-
cussion resulted in a general acquiescence of this principle.
STEAMBOAT TRADE OF ST. LOUIS.
The local steamboat inspectors of St Louis have made their third annual report,
from which it appears that the tonnage of St Louis figures up nearly 83,000 tons, and
the number of boats inspected during the year is 91.
The number of passengers carried for the year ending September 80, was greatly in
excess of any previous year — the difference oveir the year ending September 80, 1864,
reaching the enormous aggregate of 544,844. The total for the year was upwards of
one million and forty- six thousand ; and of all these, by acdJents to be imputed to the
craft — sinking and burning of boats, escape of steam, and spar-breaking while aground
— the deaths were only twenty-eight This is an unusually small per centage. That
not a single death occurred from explosion during the year is a remarkaUe and most
gratifying fact, and shows that either by better machinery or more carefulness of en-
gineers and officers, or doubtless both combined, a great change for the better, in this
respect is taking place. The Ifves lost by the boats burning were thirteen, being
forty-two less than in the previous year. The total loss of life shows a reduction of
sixty^one, although upwards of half a million of people were carried more than in the
previous year. The number of boilers repaired was fifty-two. The loss of property,
however, by snaggpng and sinking, was so great during the year as to be entitled to
■erious attention. The inspectors estimate it at over two millions. This great sacri-
fice was owing to causes against which no care, experience, and prudence, can at all
thoaes guard ; and the Board very properly reason from it to some practicable plan of
improving the rivers.
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762 Jowmal rf Mkdng and Jianufaeturei.
JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
IRON INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES.
From an abridged copy of Professor Wilson's special Report on the New York In-
dustrial Exhibition, lately published, we extract the following, relating to iron ores aad
thd manufactures :—
The very general distribution of iron ores throughout the Union, and the abondaoc^
of fuel which the natural forests everywhere readily supplied, gave facilities fur the
manufacture of iron, which in the early days of the mdustry was carried on in varioos
parts of the States, and in many formed the only source from which the inhabitants
could obtain (bcir scanty supplies. PosFes^ing in common with the other States both
of the raw materials — the ores and the foel — the New England States, owing to the
advanced education and general commercial energy of her people, led the way in
identifying themselves wiSi the new iodustrv, by forming establishments where it was
carried out on a more extensive ECale. Qradually, however, the existence of mineral
fuel in Pennsylvania gave an advantae:e to that State which soon showed itself by the
rapid growth of her iron industry. This continued annually to increase, while the
scarcity of fuel in the New England States rendered them less able to meet the in-
creafiug demands of the market which they themselves had principally created. la
1830, anthracite coal was successfully used in smelting ores, and when, sonae few
years later, it was shown that the hot blast could be as advantageously applied to an-
thracite as to other furnaces, this State t)ecaroe at once the great center ot the indus-
try, and speedily assumed the control of the home market. This position she has held
up to the present time, and must hold it for some years to come, until the iron making
resources of the States west of tlie Alleghanies are suflBci^ntly developed to enable
them to compete in production with their more advanced neighbors.
These great resources are as yet but very imperfectly known; geological investiga-
tions have long ago made known the existence of beds of fuel to a boundless extent,
and so disposed as to offer natural facilities for working which cannot be without their
results on the industrial uses to whicli they are applied. With these beds are associ-
ated, probably throughout the greater part of their area, beds of ironstone similar to
that which we find in the coal measures of our own country. These give to this re-
gion a material advantage over that east of the mountain range, where the coal for-
mation is entirely destitute of the ore beds which seem to be so bountifully distributed
throughout the great bituminous coal field on the western side. Thus, while the
smelting furnace in the one district finds a ready supply of both ore and fuel immedi-
ately at hand, the location of the other has to be determined by calculations based
upon the comparafivc cost, and other circumstances attendant upon the traDsport to
the furnace of the two necessary materials— the fuel and the ores.
The manufacture of iron has hitherto distributed itself on the line of the great riv-
ers, which are the natural feeders to the canals by whose medium the pniduce has
been conveyed to the consuming districts. Thus we find the chief seat of the inn
manufacture to be : —
1. On the Housatonic River, traversing the State of Connecticut The prodoction
of this district is limited to charcoal iron, of the best quality, obtained from haematite
scattered along the shores of the river. Spathic iron ore has recently been discovered
at Roxburg and Munro. The make of this divitdon is consumed chiefly in the imme-
diate district.
2. On the Hudson River, traversing the State of New York, in a line nearly parallel
to the former river. On this line a large production of iron by anthracite coal, which
is delivered nt an average rate of $3 60 per ton. is rapidly springing np. The rich
magnetic iron ores (iron 71 .79, oxygen 28.21,) which are traced tor miles along ths
western bide of Lake Champlain, yielding from 60 to 65 per cent of metal on the fur-
nace, can be mined and delivered to the coal on the Hudson at an average cost of $S
per ton. On the Hudt^on there are six large anthracite furnaces, and on Lake Cham-
plain three more ; but in the latter district the ehief production is with charmal, the
ore being made iu a kind of Oatulan forge or bl(X>roery.
8. On the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers, the former of whidi seperates die Stats of
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Jmuniml 9f MMmg mind JfohmfmeHurei. 753
Hew J«rtey fron Pemnjlvaoift, and emptiet itaeU into Uie AUantie at Cape May;
and tha latter joins the Delaware at Bastoo, about 270 miles npu The Lehigh leads
straight ap the north-east eztremitjr of the first great anthracite basin, known as the
** SehuylkilL" Baston is about equi-distant from the anthracite coal field of Pennsjl-
▼ania and the primitif e ore range of New Jersey, while all around there are extensile
beds of haematite, yielding about SO per cent of metal The Trenton Iron Company
at this place have three large furnaces in operation — two with a diameter of 20 fee(»
and one of 22 feet — giving an average prodaction of 500 to 600 tons per week. On
looking over the returns, which were liberally shown, some extraordinary runs were
observable, amounting to upwards of 240 tons per week from the 20 feet furnace, and
continuing at that rate for several weeks together. Higher up the river are the works
of the G-lendon Iron Company, containing four large blast furnaces. Here, in order to
economise space in the engine-house, the blowmg cylinders are placed immediately
over the steam cylinders of the engine, so that the same piston-rods, by a reciprocat-
ing movement, work the two cylmders at the same time. At Oatasauqna the first
furnaces m the States for the use of anthracite iron were erected, and Mr. Orane, in
the year 1887, here first successfully applied hot blast to anthracite in iron smelting.
In all the works visited, economy of production was strictly adhered ta The air was
heated by the waste gases of the furnaces, and in most cases the whole steam-power,
whether for driving the blast or for other purposes, was generated in boilers set in
the npper part of the furnace, and arranged so that the heated gases played around
them.
4. On the Schuylkill River, which runs into the Delaware a short distance below
the dtv of Philadelphia, there are found, throughout the whole length of the valley,
large deposits of hssmatite ores ; these, however, are not so rich as those of the JU-
high ; while the supply of the primitive oxides and carbonaceous ores is very scanty.
Upon this river there are eighteen blast furnaces using anthracite coal. Besides these
there are several small chiuxxHd furnaces, whose fires are gradually waning away,
though they stiJl support the character of the American iron by the very excellent ar-
tide produced.
5. The Susquehanna, another of the great parallel rivers running from the highlands
of the interior down to the ocean, and which debouches, just below Havre de Grace,
on the upper extremity of Chesapeake Bay, has along its banks large deposits of iron
or^As It traverses the three larve coal fields — the Shamt»kin, the Scnuylkill, and
tbPWyomiog — and is well supplied with artificial modes of transport, it offers very
great advanta^^ in the manufacture of iron.
6. The Potomac, taking its course some 60 or 100 miles south of the Susquehanna,
and running into Chesapeake Bay about midway fix>m the ocean, is abundantly sup-
plied with ores, chiefly hiomatites of good quality. Charcoal b the fuel chiefly used,
although the increasing means of communication with the Cumberland coal field, and
also with the anthracite basins of the Suscjuehanna, have given great advantages io
the wav of fuel to those furnaces placed within reach of the lines of transport.
7. The Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee, are still only partially developed,
charcoal as fuel, and the hasmatite ores, which are found on the outskirts of the great
Appalachian coal field, being the sources from which the principal portion of the iron
is now produced. In the upper part of the Ohio, in the rittsburg district, more pro-
gress has been made ; the furnaces are being worked with raw bituminous ooal, and
with the clay carbonates mixed with h»matites. Limestone is also found in the im-
oMKiiate vicinity. Besides the production of these eight principal iron districts, a large
quantity is made in widely dispersed localities, with charcoal as fuel, in small bUwt
furnaces, or io the primitive foi^es or bloomeries.
The gross amount of iron produced in the several States of the Union for the year
1860, as given in the census returns, is 540,756 ton& The number of hands employed
is given at 20,298, and the market value of the produce is estimated at $12,482,077.
Twos the present production of pig-iron at 800,000 tons, about one-half of it is oon-
sumed for castings, and the remaining portion is left to be converted into wrought iron,
at a loss in waste, dtc, of about one-third. Thb, for practical purposes, reduces the
total or available production about 180,000 ton^ and leaves in round numbers 700,000
tons to meet a consumption of not less than 1,200,000 tons. This deficiency must be
supplied by the produce of other coimtriea.
The number of establishments for the conversion of pig into wrought iron in the
United States is given io the Treasury returns at 422. These establishments have an
invested capital of between fourteen and fifteen miliioD dollara, and give direet em-
vou zxxiii. — ^iro. Ti. 48
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754 Jimmal of Mkning amd Mcmnrfacharu.
ploymeDt to upwards of 18,000 workmen. The total amoaiit maDuiacliired in tlM
States may be taken at 500,000 tons per annum. In general, the wrought iron works
are carried on as a distinct business from the manufactore of pig-iron. The iollowiqg
establishments, howoTer, combine the whole process of smelUng and puddling: — the
Trenton Iron Company, at Easton and Trenton, New Jersey; Fuller A Lord, at Boon-
ton, New Jersey ; Reeves, Buck A Co., Phcenizville, Penosylyania; Reeves, Abbott A
Oa, at Safe Harbor, Pennsylvania ; the Montour Iron Company, Danville, Pa. ; and the
Mount Savage Iron Co^ Maryland. The princi|>al cause of the separation of the two
branches is probably due to inade<)uacy of capital to carry on both.
Rolling mills for ^ate and bar iron are met with throughout the States in which
iron is produced. In Pennsylvania the establishments for the conversion of cast into
wrought-iron are numerous At one of the country rolling mills charcoal blooms were
beioff used, which were first worked up in a puddling furnace, and then tilted ; after
wbioi they were^ again heated, and rolled out mto iJates of the required dimensioaa
Charcoal boiler-plate fetches a higher price, and is always guarantied by the maker,
as, owing sometimes to an imperfect process of reductiou m Uie ibrge, a small portion
of the luel is left mixed up with the metal, and remains even after it has passed the
puddling furnace and the tilt-hamn>er. To detect the flaw in the iron when rolled out
requires great care on the part of the foreman, who carefully notices, after it has left
the rollers, whether the surfiEure cools equally all over ; if any black spots appear, tbsy
show that the plate is imperfect and contains cavities in which carbonaceous mattsr
is usually found. The spots are then marked, and the plate laid aside. In the hands
of the engineer they a^n undeigo an examination; the practice of the boiler maken
being to rule them off m one inch squares, and then test eadi square with the ham-
mer, the expenses attending any unsoundness fidling upon the maker.
IMPROyBMBITS III MiCHIIBRT.
THS STBAX HAMMXm.
The London Mining Journal furnishes the subjoined description of Morrison's as-
proved " Steam Hammer ;" —
Mr. Robert Morrison, of Newcastle on-l^me, has made some improvements m the
steam hammer, his object being to prevent the great wear and tear, and liabimj to
that derangement or breakage which, he states, has been experienced in the onfinoy
steam hammers, forming a serious drawback to the use and efficiency of this valoable
tool. In Nasmyth's hammer, the head is attached to the piston-rod, and is guided by
side cheeks in the Arame, a shallow rib entering a groove on eadi side of the hammer
head. Considerable play is necessarily left fer the fall of the hammer, causing a vio-
lent shake and jar at each blow ; while the blow« being seldom in the eeoter of the
&ce, a side jar is the result ; the constant repetition of these shocks indents and wears
away ibe hammer-face and guides, increases the display to an injurious extent, dis-
places the packing, and often breaks the piston-rod. In Condie*s hammer the motion
is reversed, the piston and rod are fixed, the cylinder forms the hammer, havii^ the
head fixed below, and is guided by rubbing against the side cheeks of the frame at
the top and bottom ; the steam is admitted through the piston-rod, which is boDow.
By this arrangement the jar is not communicated to the piston, but the rubbing aor-
faces of the hammer-guides are exposed to a similar iojurioos action, and the blow of
the hammer is liable to break the cylinder.
In Morrison's hammer the cylinder remains fixed; the piston-rod itself fbruM the
shaft of the hammer, being enlarged in diameter, and prolonged through the top of
the cylinder, above which the upper end is steadied by sliding between gnidesL The
hammer is guided by two large stuffing-boxes at the top and bottom of the cyhadsr*
works with steadinera and freedom from friction, the rubbing surfiu» being a turned
cylindrical piston-rod, fitting closely in stuffing-boxes, instead of sb'ding looeely be-
tween the cheeks of the frame. The hammer-head of the machine, whiehthn patentee
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Joumcd of Mining and Manufactures. 755
has had in oper^tioo at the Onsebom Engine Works, Newcastle, weighs 2 tons, with
a clear fall of 8^ feet; it has been tried with 85, 40, and 50 poonds prcssare of steam,
but has been found to work best at 40 pounds per square inch. The hammer-bar and
piston rod are of wrought-iron, 10 inches in diameter, the piston forged solid upon it
in the middle of its length, a groove being turned upon its circumference to receive a
single brass packing ring, one-quarter inch thick, packed behind with hemp. The
upper cross-head is also forged in one piece with the bar. The hammer at the Ouse-
bum Works has been working day and night, double shift, for five months, during
which period there has not been half-an-hour lost by any derangement in the hammer,
the packing remains as good as when put on, and the cover has not been taken off
since the hammer started. The large stuffiogboz was packed with hemp, had not
been unpacked for nine weeks, and no enlargement perceptible in the gland.
With the working piston-rod and hammer in one solid piece, the liability to fracture
and derangement is much diminished, whilst the hammering blows are of superior
solidity and efifect ; and the bolting of the steam cylinder between the frame standard,
immediately above the anvil, provides a most powerful stay for tying the frames well
together, and preventing all lateral springing. The hammer-face is thus most accu*
rately directed down upon its work, by which shoulders, collars, and other projections,
can be forged down with certainty to their proper size and form by the side of the
hammer without any oblique thrust The height of the arch in this machine is im-
portant, and the position of the steam cylinder in front of the standards realizes a
great advantage, as, when the hammer is actually between the frame pieces, the masa
of iron must be angled before it can be hammered ; or, if it cannot be angled, the
man must stand in a dangerous position beneath the arch ; but, in the patentee's ar-
rangement, the hammer is quite clear of the framing, so that the forgeman can swage,
shape, or cut, any work he may have in hand, without the necessity of standing be-
neath the arch.
GREATEST DEPTHS OF MINES IN THE WORLD.
According to the London Mining Journal, Wheal Abraham attained (rather more
than twenty years ago) a depth of about 242 fathoms, or 1,452 feet, (a fathom being
six feet ;) Dolcoath Mine had reached 285 fathoms ; Tresavean Copper Mine is grad-
ually becoming extraordinarily deep, and it is last reported as being 2,112 feet under
the surface, and about 1.700 feet below the level of the sea. The Consolidated Mines
are 800 fathoms (1,800 feet) deep, and the United Mines 280 fathoms below the adit
level. Let the reader realize these depths by imaginary pilings of the highest build-
ings, as St. PauVs and the Monument, on themselves, a sufficient number of times to
attain the respective amounts I Speaking of mines generally, the Eselschact Mine,
at Kuttenberg, in Bohemia, now inaccessible, was deeper than any other mine, being
no less than 8,778 feet below the surface. Its depth is only 150 feet less than the
height of Vesuvius, and it is eight tiroes greater than the height of the pyramid of
Cheope, or the cathedral of Strasburg. The bore of the salt works of Minden, in
Prussia, is 2,281 feet deep, and 1,993 feet below the level of the sea. Mines on high
ground may be very deep without extending to the sea level. That of Yalenciana,
Dt-ar Guanaxuato, iu Mexico, is 1,686 feet deep ; yet it is 5,960 feet above the level of
the sea, and the mines in the Andes must be much more. For the same reason the
rich mine of Joachimsthal, in Bohemia, though 2,120 feet deep, has not yet reached
the sea level. The fire-springs at Tseulieutabg, in China, are 8.197 feet deep, but
their relative depth to the sea level is unknown. How insignificant are the works of
man compared with nature I A line, 27,600 feet long, did not reach the bottom of the
Atlantic Ocean.
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756 Journal of Mining and Manufaetum.
MA9UFAGTURB OF CURRilT WIIB.
TUs article, as tmially manufactared, is rather a cordial than a wine, and is eotirelj
inferior to the commonest imported wine, bat when properly made, it will be found a
Tery superior healthful beverage, particnlarlj for summer drink, when follj dihitsd
with water.
We have experimented carefully on the making of currant wine, and the fonowisg
will be found to give a result which we hare found no difficulty in selling m laigs
quantities at 11 per gallon.
Before pressing the juice from the currants pass them between a pair of roUers to
crush them, after which they may be placed in a strong bag, and they will part Yitk
the juice readily by light pressure, such as a common screw, heary weights, eta To
each quart of juice add three pounds of double-refined loaf-sugar^single-refined ragir
is not sufficiently pure — then add as much water as will make one gallon. Or in
other words, suppose the cask intended to bb used, 80 quarts of currantjniee, 90
pounds of double-refined sugar, and fill the cask to the bong with water ; roll it orv
until the sugar is all dissolved. This will be told by its ceasing to rattle in the barreL
Next day roll it agam, and place it in a cellar where the temperature will be sure to
be even. Leave the bung loose for the free admission of air. In the course of oai,
two^ or three days fermentation will commence ; by placing the ear to the bong-bolt
a alight noise will be heard, such as may be observed when carbonic add is esetpiiig
from champagne or soda water. Fermentation will continue a few weeks, oonfertiog
the sugar in alcohol As soon as this ceases, drive the bung in tightly, and leave tbo
cask for six months, at the end of which time the wine may be drawn off peHedlj
dear, without any excess of sweetness.
The reason why double-refined sugar should be used may be thua understood:— Or-
dinary sugar contains a half of one per cent of gum, which, when dissolred in water,
becomes ietid. Suppose, then, four or five ounces of gum dissolved in a barrel of
water, we can readily understand that at the end of a few months this water will be
very foul in flavor, and most of the currant wine offered for sale, made from loaf^ogsr
of oommoQ quality, and often from sugar very inferior to this, such as white BaTsas,
etc, contains gum in this fetid condition, and its foul flavor is an amalgamation of m-
gar, currant-juice, and fetid gum. When double-refined sugar ia used all these diffi-
culties are avoided.
No alcohol should be added. The practice of putting in small quantities of bnodf
and other liquors, makes a cordial, and not a wine. AU the sugar used may be so
much fermented as at least to change its character chemically, and this change will
produce all the alcohol required.
SOME ACCOUIT OF THE ZfSC OF GOMMBRCB.
By the analysis of the most ancient coins, and of metallic vessels taken from tbe
excavations at Herculaneum, it is found that they contain a poKioo of fine ; yet» to
the modems, zmc is a new metal. Less then a century ago, sine was not considered
aa a metal at all — Homberg, a philosopher, who wrote about that period, says :— * Ziae
is a compound of iron and tin f thua implying that it had no individual existeDoe,M
that it was a compound Such, however, is not found to be the case by modem diea-
bta. Indifferent as we are to a ** bit of zinc," there are few substances that hafs no*
dered more service, or been more instrumental to the cause of science and the pie-
greaa of knowledge, than this metaL Considered in relation to its own qualities, *
posMcaes rare interest. Oertam combinationa of thia metal with copper, under tbe
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Jimmal cf Mining and Jfanufacturet. 16*I
enfrfiODtoQs names of tcmbae^ ira9$, pinchbeck, have been uaed in the arts, especiallj
in China, from time immemoriaL In the Celestial Empire, sine in great puritj is used
for corrent coin. Thii monej haa frequently Tartar diaracten on one side, and Chi-
nese characters on the reverseu Certain combinations of sine, and called white Titriol,
(i. €^ snlphate of sine,) and another, flowers of sine, (ozyde of sine,) are of great im-
portance in medicine. The mechanical oses of metallic sine are very numerous, gir-
ing rise to regular trades for the fabrication of zinc ware. The white ozjde of sine
is coming daily into use as a harmless substitute for the poisonous white-lead in pamt-
ing. Iron chams and wire exposed to the air or water, are all now dipped into melted
line before they are put to use. This (^>eration, which is called gaWaniaing. entirely
prevents the iron from mstiog. There are many other uses of zinc, but which we
cannot detail hksre. The great service, however, which zinc has rendered to man is in
the galvanic battery. Without electricity many arts would cease to exist, yet, for
practical and commercial purposes, we could not generate electricity without ane.
What steam owes to coal, electricity owes to zinc Whenever steam is used, coal is
consumed ; whenever electricity is used, zinc is consumed. Thus we find that electro-
plating and the wonders of telegraphic communication are indirectly mdebted to zinc,
and by the use of the telegraph we are enabled to answer Job (xxxviii^ 85,) in the
affirmative, who, 2,000 years ago, asked, ** Canst thou send lightnings, that they may
go and say unto thee 'Here we aref
EARLY MANUFACTURES Iff NEW EHGLAffD,
Fire-arms were manufactured in large quantities in colony times. Hon. Hugh Orr,
of Bridgewater, about 1748, made 600 stands of arms for the province of Massachn-
setts Bay, which were depoaitsd in Castle William ; nearly all, however, were carried
off by the British when they evacuated the town of Boston. Mr. Orr was a pioneer
in many articles of manufacture in the Old Colony, particularly of iron. He erected
the first trip-hammer known in this part of the country. By his exertioni and experi-
ments, sytbes and axes were first introduced, and for several years he was the only
edge-tool maker in New England.
Powder was an article of much anxiety in regard to its manufiusture. We find,
•ven as early as 1689, a record that Edward Rawson, who represented Newbury in
the General Court that year, was granted by the colony ** 600 acres of land at Pecoit,
ao as he go on with the business of powder, if the saltpeter come." But he did not
eucceed, as m 1648 he is granted the 600 acres to idemnify him for his losses. ** In
1648, the (General Court made an order about preparing houses of saltpeter, that there
might be powder made in the colony, but as yet it hath not gone on."
In 1776, Gov. Richard Penn, who was in England charged with a petition for redress
from the Continental Congress, stated *< that the Pennsylvanians perfectly understood
the making of gunpowder, and also the manuiactore of small arms." Probably the
ffarst powder-mill erected in this part of the country was at Andover. It was built by
Hon. Samuel Phillips, Jr., in 1779, and some remains of it are still to be seen. The
colony supplied him with saltpeter and sulphur, and he was to receive eight pence
per pound for manufiicturing. The resolve under which the contract was made is
dated June 8, 1776, and requires him to give bonds for the faithful performance of
the contract ; also, he was to cause to be published all the discoveries be might make
relative to the construction of the mill and the manufacturing of powder.
During the year 1776 that mill turned out about 80,000 pounds of powder. In
1778, the mill was blown up, and after that time the manufacture was given up, and
that of paper substitnted by the same gentleman. Subsequently, about 1794, a
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708 Journal of Hixning and Manufactures,
smaller powdermill wm erected, which wm also blown np or burnt down in 1799.
This ended the manufticture in Andover.
AlthoDgb but little bad been done in mano&cttirmg woolen and cotton articles pre-
vious to the Revolution, yet each fkmlly in the country supplied, in a great measure,
their own wants. A woolen lactory was erected at Ipswich in 1762, and some blan*
kets made, but it being a losing business, was continued only a lew years ; and a cot-
ton factory at Deverly exhibited similar results.
THE IHFENTOR OF GAS LIGHTS.
The inventor of gas lights was a Frenchman, Philippe Le Bon, an engineer of roads
and bridges, who in 1785 adopted the idea of ueing, for the purpose of illumination,
the gases distilled during the combustion of wood. He labored for a long time in the
attempt to perfect hb crude invention, and it was not until 1799 that he confided hia
discovery to the Institute. In September, 1800, he took out a patent, and in 1801 he
published a memoir containing the result of his researches. Le Bon commenced by
distilling wood, in order to obtain from it gas, oil, pitch, and pyroligneous acid, but
his work indicated the possibility of obtaining gas by distillation from fatty or oily
substances. From 1799 to 1802, Le Bon made numerous experiments. He estab-
lished at Havre bis first therroo-lamps, but the gas which he obtained being a mixture
of carburetted hydrogen and oxide of carbon, and but imperfectly freed from its im'
parities, gave only a feeble light and evolved an insupportable odor, and the result
was that but little favor was shown to the new discovery ; the inventor eventually
died, ruined by his experiments. The English soon put in practice the crude ideas
of Le Bon. In 1804 Windsor patented and claimed the credit of inventing the pro-
cess of lighting by gas ; in 1805 several shops in Birmingham were illuminated by
gas manufactured by the process of Windsor and Murdock ; among those who used
this new light, was Watt, the inventor of the steam engine. In 1816 the first use was
made of gas in London, and it was not until 1818 that this invention, really of Frenck
origin, was applied in France.
PROGRESS OF PDBUC WORIS II I5DIA.
Lord Harris, says the Bombay Timet, is about to visit the GMavery and its mag-
nificent delta, and to inspect the works in course of construction there. These works
are intended to provide the delta of the river with sufficient irrigation to protect H
fh>m floods, and to provide drainage. Already a weir has been built across the river
at the head of the delta, and various regular channels and aqu^ucts have been con-
structed. The delta is said to contain 1,200,000 acres of ** rich alluvial land, fit for
sugar, cotton, hemp, tobacco, oilseeds, rice, cocoa-nuts, plantains, chillies, <t»i, all of
which are now cultivated to a great extent f so that it is expected these works wiO
be of great use. The works are intended to be very extensive. There will be 2,000
miles of channels of various kinds, most of them navigable; 1,000 bridges and tunnels
Dear the channels ; ultimately, 7,000 works of masonry in all. The great aquedoct is
800 yards long, 20 feet broad, and 6 feet deep, and has 49 arches of 40 feet each;
and it will convey water to 60,000 acres of ground. This large aquednct has been
already constructed, and in the short space of four months. More than 10,000 raea
are employed upon these works, and it was calculated some time ago that abovt
seven lacs of rupees, or £70,000, would be required to complete them. The conse-
quence of the completion of a portion of the works is, that the revenue of the district
b increasing at the rate of £10,000 a year.
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StaUstiei of Agricidiure^ etc 759
BOOT AIB SHOE TRIDB OF B08T0il. ^
The Mail famishes the followiog^ sammary of ihe modu9 op€randi of the boot and
shoe trade of Bostoo. The atatistica of this important branch of indastry have been
published in former numbers of the Merchanttf Afofftuine : —
**Io 1845 there were 2,768,160 pairs of boots, and 17,188,152 pairs of shoes manu-
factnred in Massachusetts, with an a^i^regate value of $14,798,140, and giving em-
plojment to 27,199 males, and 18,678 femalea. In 1840 the number* of males
employed, according to the census, was 81,951— more than double the number of
cordwainers in any other State except New York, which has but about 24,000. It
is probable that at the present time all the figures of 1854 are more than doubled.
BcHiides this, there are a great number of persons in the adjoining States, particu-
larly New Hampshire, who work for Massachusetts manuiacturers. At the principal
shop the leather is only ' clicked,' or cut out, mostly by the aid of light machinery,
into soles, heels, uppers, counters, <&c, the linings, counters, and straps are * skived '
and pasted in, and the work is then given out to the workmen, in lots of 12, 20, or
100 pairs, as the case may be, and of different sizes. The shoemaker — ^the real manu-
facturer— then takes his work home, where his wife and daughters stitch, close, and
bind the uppers, and. himself and boys do the * bottoming.' If his family is large, or
he employs a number of bauds in a * team,* a still further division of labar takes place.
One hand tacks the sole to the last and trims it ; another draws the upper smoothly
over the last; a third lays the ' welts * and ' runs,' and puts in the ' shanking ' and
' filling ;' a fourth tacks on and trims the out-sole ; a fifth drives the peg ; a sixth puts
on and shapes the heel ; a seventh pares off and makes the edges ; and an eighth
workman puts a final polish on the edge with the heel ball and stone. The work is
then returned to the manufactory, and the workman immediately receives his cash.
The bottoms are then buffed smooth, and after the uppers have received an extra
goUah, the goods are packed into boxes ready for a market at home, at the West, the
outh, California, Australia, South America, or anyother part of the globe. Our boot
and shoe trade has doubled within a few years, we have not at hand the means of
making an accurate statement, but have no doubt that in Boston alone, where it nearly
all concentrates, this business amounts to from $80,000,000 to $40,000,000 annually.
The Boston Almanac gives a list of 160 wholesale boot^ shoe, and leather dealers, be-
tides those who deal exclusively in leather."
STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE. &c.
THE TBA CULTURE.
The introduction of the tea-plant into the United States would create quite a revo-
lution among the drinkers of this, to some, exquisite beverage. About six years ago
tome discussion was had on this'subject, since which time we have heard nothing about
it. A Mr. Bonsall, of Philadelphia, has been for a long time extensively engaged in
the cultivation of the plant in Assam, which is situated in the north-easternmost part
of British India, and is watered by the Brahmapootra. It grows there to the height
of thirty or forty feet. The trimming to six feet, however, is necessary to be readily
gathered. Green and black teas are made from the same tree.
The wood of the tea bush is light-colored and close grained, and it smells, when
peeled, like the black currant The flowers are white and fragrant. The green leaf
is bitter, pungent, and unsavory, and its decoction would be anything but palatable.
The seed consists of from two to five hazel-like nuts, inclosed in a smooth, broad cap-
sule. The kernel is white, oily, and nauseous.
The tea-plant b remarkably hardy, and it flourishes on the high slopes of the moun-
tains, where frost and snow prevail three months in the year. Its favorite soil in
China, and also in Assam, is the pooreH yellow sandy loam, with carbonate of iron
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700 SiMHttim ^ Jffriadim^ M$.
b aiMJjtia. Sflez, 76 ; eky, 10; carbonate of iroo, 10 ; wat«r, Ae^ 4—100. Ko ]
Oattioga do well fbr plaatiog. Ik k grown io atgacriee aad traiwphntedi aod gfowa
about a iboi every year. In the third year they begia to gatber the kftfea. Hill-ttda
groQod should be selected, where the tan ahinea half the day.
A good tree is expected to yield at three years, l^ omwee tea, or 187 povnds per
acre ; at four years, 8^ ouoeee tea, or 811 poimds per acre; at ire years, t amcm
tea, or 600 ponnds per acre; at six years, when it is in fell bearing, 0 onaeee tea, or
750 pounds per acre. Two thoneaid trees are allowed to the acre. The trees lire to
fifty years ef age.
Mr. Boneall describes the method of earing, which is generaUy lamiliar to alL He
has contrived a machine which dispenses with a great deal of labor, and has snbeti-
tated metal plates fbr the hot hearth process; and he thinks it can be procored in
this laUtnde for one shilling the pound. Ifot your common sort, bnt the very beat»
SQoh as the mandarins drink, and which never goes oat of China.
There is not a single box ef tea, after all the pains taken by the eoantiy maken,
that is not opened and extensively be-rabbished by the Canton dealers before it is al-
lowed to get into the hands of the Christian barbarians. In our cities it andeigosa
also a liberal be-Tankeefication before it reaches our ten-roems ; so that what is real
tea is the exception, and what is not tea is the rule.
Almost every former in China raises his own fomfly tea, and thus escapes the adal-
toratioa.
This is indeed a very important subject for consideration among our agricnUarista,
in every point of view. If it can be done, we get oar teas pure and nnadnlteratad, at
a very low price. The seed can be easily procured, and of its soeeessfol cahivatkm
there can be no doubt
CmAHOV FfEUS n 6ETI0V.
The following beautiful description of the cinaamoa fields of " Ceylon's spicy ■b,"
although written many years ago by the celebrated Bishop Heber, is equally eotrsck
at this time, as but little change has takea place in the production: —
** One morning was, as usual on our first arrival, taken up by visits. In the after-
noon we drove through the for-fomed dnuannm gardene, which cover upwards of
17,000 acres of land on the coast, the largest of which are near Colomba The pbni
tfirives best in a poor, sandy soil, in a damp atmesphcre. It grows wild m the woods
to the sine of an apple-tree ; but when cultivated, is never allowed to grow more than
ten or twelve foet in height, each plant standing separate, l^e leaf is iismplhiag
like the laurel in shape, but ef a lighter color. When it first shoots oat, it is red, and
changes gradually to green. It is now out of blossom, but I am told the binsnnan is
white, and spreads when in full blossom to cover the garden. After hearing se mu^
of the spicy gales from this island, I was much disappointed at not b^ag able to die
cover aay sceat, at least from the plants. In passing through the gardens, there is a
very fragnm^ smelling fiower growing under them, which at first led us into the be>
lief that we smelt the cinnamon, but we were soon undeceived. On polling off a
leaf or twig, you perceived the spicy odor very strongly, but I was surprised to hear
that the fiower had little or none. As the cinnamon forms the only considerable ex-
port of Ceylon, it is of course preserved with care. By the old Dutih law, the penalty
lor cutting a branch was no less than the loes of a hand ; at present, a fine eiqpiatcs
the offense. The neighborhood of Colombo is particulariy fovorable to its growtik, be-
ing wen sheltered, with a high, equable temperature, and as showeia foU iteqaently,
the ground is never pardbed."
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Siati$tie$ €f A§ricultmr$^ $it.
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AORICULTURAL STATISTICS Of THB UIITED KUGDOH.
Hie foUowiDg table, which we compile from the Belfiut (Irelmiid) MtrtuUiU Jem-
ntd and BtatiMiieal RegitUr, k ao estimato cf the extent of land io the United Kinc^
dom nnder the principal deeeription of erope in 1860-64. It exhibits the acres \m
erep, total prodnee, produce under dedaction of seed, and total Taloe of crops: —
XMOLAMDu
Okop.
Wheat
Barlej.
Acres
in crop.
8,000,000
1,000,000
Oato and Rje. 2,000,000
Beaos and peas 600,000
Potatoes, turnips, rape, 2,500,000
Clover 1,800,000
Fallow 800.000
Hops. 60,000
Gardens 260,000
ToUl
produce.
Qoarten.
11,260,000
6,400,000
2,000,000
1,876,000
Produce
under dedaction
of seed.
Qnulert.
9,642.867
4,628,672
7,714,286
1,607,148
ToUlTtlne.
£20,696,428 6
6,248,672 4
7,714,286 0
2,260,000 4
26,000,000 0
780,000
8,760.000
Total 11,400,000 27,626,000 28,692,868 £67,489,826 18
Wheat ,
Barley.
OaU
Beans and peas..
Fallow
PoUtoes
Turnips.
Glover.
Flax ,
Gardens
SOOTLASD.
860,000
460,000
1,200,000
60,000
100,000
200,000
460,000
460,000
6,000
85,000
1,187,600
1,800,000
6,000,000
160,000
947,917
1,600,000
6,000,000
126,000
£2,088,021 11
1,960,000 0
6,000,000 0
176,000 0
7,700,000 0
76,000 0
626,000 0
Total.
8,290,000 9,087,600 7,672,917 £17,468,021 11
Wheat..
Barley.. .
Oats ....
PoUtoes.
Fallow..
Flax
Gardens .
Total.
400,000
820,000
2,200,000
1,400.000
800,000
140,000
26,000
1,200,000
1,120,000
11,000,000
1,000,000
988,884
9,166.667
£2.000,000 0
1,119.999 12
9,166,667 0
11,200,000 9
'iVoo.ooo'o
800,000 0
4,786,000 18,820,000 11,100,001 £26,886,666 12
Grand total 19,476,000 49,982,600 42,266,776 £110,788,974 16
1. OoNBumn) BT Man. Wheat, 16,600,000 quarters ; oats, rye, and maslin, (a mix-
tore of rye and wheat,) 10,660,000 quarters; barley far malting, food, <fcc., 6,000,000
quarters; beans and peas as meal, 700,000 quarters; total quarters, 82,860,000.
2. CoHSUMKD BT iHB LowxE Akimalb. Com, principally oats, used in the feeding
of horses and other animals, in distillation, manufactories, Ac, 16,820,000 quartets;
total consumed by man and the lower animals, &c^ 49,200,000 quarters.
It is seen from the former estimate that the com produced in the United Kingdom,
applicable to consumption, amounts to only 42,266,770 quarters. But to thb has to
be added foreign com annually entered for consumption at an average of the seven
years ending with 1862, via.: — ^wheat and wheat flour, 4,281,186 quarters; barley,
870,786 quarters; oats and oatmeal, 1,162,646 quarters; rye, 99,610 quarters; peas
and beans, 666,769 quarters; total quarters, 6,929,786; total oonsnmption, 49,196f666
qnartera.
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768 StaUatiet of Agriculture, etc.
COM STATISTICS HI FRAf CB.
The SUeU says :— Aooordiog to the latest statistical returns, the crq> of eTerj kind
of com in an average year in France now amounts to about 180,000,000 beetolitrea.
In wheat, our countiy produces €0,000,000 hectolitres; rye, 26,000,000; badey,
19,000,000 ; metiel, (a mixture of wheat and rye,) 1,600,000 ; oats, 40,000,0dd; budc-
wheat^ 8,000,000 ; maise and millet, 7,000,000 ; small grain, pulse, &c^ 2,600,000. The
crop of wheat is therefore in the proportion of 60 to 180 ; that of oats, 60 to 180 ;
and that of rye, 28 to 180 ; that is to say, these three descriptions of com compared
with all the others, are in the proportion of 103 to 77 only. This quantity of 180,000,000
hectolitres of com is not all consumed ; deductiug 26,700,600 for seed, there remains
164,800,000 for the general consumption. As, however, oats, the net production of
which is 89,260,000 hectolitres, cannot be reckoned as human food, we find that the
quantity remaining for the food of the people is 116,060,000 hectolitres. If we now
take the different crops by weight, which is the best manner of estimating the nutri-
tiye value of each, it may be said that the average of wheat is 76 kilogrammes per
hectolitre; that of rye, 66 kilogrammes; barley, 60 kilogrammes; metiel, 70 kilo-
grammes; buckwheat, 60 kilogrammes; maize, 78 kilogrammes; and dry pulse, 80
kilogrammes. It follows, therefore, from these bases, that with 61,600,000 hectolitres
of wheat, weighing 8.000,000,000 kilogrammes, and other quantities of com m pro-
portion, we have a total weight of 8,046,800,000 kilogrammes of com fit for consump-
tion of man. It has been calculated that on an average, iocluding women, children,
and old people, it requires 220 kilogrammes of com per year for the food of one per-
son. This would, therefore, be for France, where the population is reckoned at
86,000,000, a total of 7,920,000.000 kil(^n^ammes. If, therefore, finom 8,046,800,000
kilogrammes calculated, as above stated, for human consumption, there be deducted
the 7,920,000,000, which suffice for the consumption of France, the following result,
which must be satisfactory to every one, is come to ; namely, that France, in an aver-
age year, has a crop of 127,000,000 kilogrammes of com beyond the wants of the
people, and that she could feed 600,000 inhabitants more than the present number of
her population.
THE 6UA50 TRADE OF PHILADELPBIA.
The consumption of guano in the United States, although but recently introduced
as an article of Commerce, has already become quite large. The Philadelphia Oom-
mercial List is informed by Mr. Samuel J. CeaisTiAX, the agent of the Peruvian gov-
ernment for this market, that he has received in Philadelphia and sold, since the
commencement of the trade, 81,724 tons, which, at $46 per ton, makes the aggregate
of one million four hundred and twenty-seven thousand five hundred and eighty dol-
lars. Besides this, there has been a large quantity of Mexican, North Pacific, and
Oolumbian guano consumed, which wiU increase the amount paid for the article to
upwards of two millions of dollars.
When the first cargo of guano was introduced into this country, it met with the
same prejudices anthracite coal had to contend with. No one knew anything in regard
to its intrinsic value, and consequently every person set it down as a humbug. The
farmer that purchased the first lot, and had the courage to use it, distributed it upon
several acres of grass in such quantities as entirely to kill the crop. He immediately
waited upon the unfortunate seller, and threatened to prosecute him for obtainif^
money under false pretenses. The enterprising importer, however, convinced of the
real merit of the article, and its importance to the agriculturist, was perseveru^ in
his cffiirts to introduce it into general use ; and by the figures above given, it will be
seen that he has been eminently successful in his undertaking.
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Staiistkt of Aprieulture, eie. 768
THB IMPEftUL UCB OF CHUA.
Hoc, 10 his " Sequel to the Chinese Empire" says the Ohineae owe their namerons
diacoTeries in agriculture principally to their eminently observant character, whidi has
enabled them to turn to use an immense number of plants neglected in Europe. They
are very fond of the study of nature, and their greatest men, and even their emperors
do not disdain to attend to the smallest circumstances connected with it, and to collect
with care whateyer promises to be of public utility. The celebrated Emperor Ehang-
hi has thus rendered an important service to his country. We find in the curious me-
moirs writt n by that prince the following passage :~" I was walking," says the Em-
peror Ehangbi, " on the first day of the sixth moon, in some fields where rice was
sown, which was not expected to yield its harvest till the ninth, I happened to notice
a rice plant that had already come into ear ; it rose above all the rest, and was already
ripe. I had it gathered and brought to me ; the grain was very fine and full, and I
was induced to keep it for an experiment, and see whether it would on the following
year retain this precocity ; and in fact it did. All the plants that proceeded from it
came into ear before the ordinary time, and yielded their harvest in the sixth moon.
Every year has multiplied the produce of the preceding, and now for thirty years it
has been the rice served on my table. The grain is long, and of a rather reddish color,
but of a sweet perfume, and very pleasant flavor. It has been named ya mi, or ' Im-
perial rice,* because it was in my gardens that it was first cultivated. It is the only
kind that can ripen north of the Great Wall, where the cold begins very early and
ends very late ; bat in the provinces of the South, where the climate is milder, and
the soil more fertile, it is easy to obtain two harvests a year from it, and it is a sweet
consolation to me to have procured this advantage for my people.**
The Emperor Kbang hi did render in fact an immense service to the populations of
Mantcburia, by encouraging the culture of this new kind of rice, which succeeds ad-
mirably in dry countries, and has no need, like the common rice, of perpetual irriga-
tion. It would certainly prosper in France, and it is not the fault of the missiooaries
if it has not long since been acclimated there.
THE CULTIVATION OF THE STRAWBERRY.
If the saying is true that " the man who can make two spears of grass grow where
, only one grew before,'* is a public benefactor, it must be conceded that Mr. Hovey,
the producer of the strawberry known as ** Hovey's Seedlings,** is richly entitled to
that appellation. To give a few statistics on the cultivation of the strawberry, we
copy the following from the August number of the Horticulturitty from an article
written by William Stoma, of Cincinnati Speaking of the crop of John C. Toutcy,
of Campbell county, Kentucky, eight miles from Cincinnati, Mr. Stems says : —
" He has raised and sold about one 'tenth of all the strawberries vended in our mar^
kets the past season. His varieties, &jq^ being the three following : Two acres of
Washingtons, which produced sixty bushels, and sold for four hundred and twenty
dollars; five acres of Hovey*s Seedlings, which produced one hundred and seventy-
eight bushels, and sold for twelve hundred and sixty dollars ; three acres of Hudson,
which produced one hundred and two bushels, and sold for five hundred and thirty
dollars. Gross receipts from ten acres, two thousand two hundred and ten dollars.
The expense of picking, including the boarding of hands, was two hundred and twenty-
five dollars. Expense of marketing, seventy-five dollars. The probable cost of cul-
tivation per annum is fifteen dollars per acre. Mr. Toutcy cultivates all his straw-
berries on new, but very hilly ground. In each variety, he has the^ past season
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164 SmUUcb of Agricultmref $te.
•zcelled and defied competitioD. In Honey's Seedlings, permit me to aaeore jou,
without the fear of contradiction, that he ne?er was beat in this ooontry— twice taking
the first premiums at oor horticoltoral exhibitions, against amateors, market garden-
ers, and everything else.''
THB PLAHTAUr TREE.
A correspondent of the United States Commissioner of Patents, writing from New
Orleans, gives some bteresting information in regard to the caHiTatioa of the much-
prised plantain tree. The quantity of the fruit of that tree imported into New York
is annually very considerable. We make the following extract from the letter reierred
to above >—
^ The plantain tree (mu$a iapierUium) is superior to the potato or wheat as a staple
article of food. Thb is proved by eminent English chemists who have analysed it
It is easy of cultivation— one hand attending to one hundred acres — and is of cootin-
nous or spontaneous growth after the first year. In its green state it is used for food ;
when ripe, for fruit, and makes an acid and cheap vinegar, an intoxicating drink, and
flour or gruel. The green leaves are used for fodder, and the dry ones for bedding in
all the public hospitals, being dieap and healthy. The tree itself, after yielding its
firuit, is cut down, and is now manufactured into writing paper in England. An in-
delible iok is also produced from the shells of the green plantain. I believe do known
plant contributes so much to the wants of man.
" It-is cultivated in gardens in Louisiana, but its great value to man and beast is
neither known nor appreciated. Any number of plants could be procured from Brit-
ish Ouiana at 2i cents each."
IMPROT£M£]IT IN TflS UF£ STOCK OF OHIO.
A correspondent of the Louisville Courier, who has been traversing Ohio, s^ves a
very interesting account of the progress made in that State in the improvement el
live stock, especially the breeds of cattle. Some parts of the State, such as the coun-
ties of Pickaway, Madison, Highland, Licking, ^., have long been celebrated in this
respect ; but it is within a comparatively few years only that all sections have gone
to work industriously and energetically to improve the breeds of their cattle and es-
tablish herds of commanding reputation. The writer attributes thb result in a great
measure, if not chiefly, to legislation favoring the establishment of agricultural socie-
ties in all the counties. Men of landed estates and pecuniary resources ar* at the
present time embarking energetically in the busbess of cattle raising, and filrmers
generally throughout the State are catching the infection from them.
BISTORT OF iS ACRE OF UHD.
In the early, days of South Australia, the land put up for sale was sold at 12s. the
acre ; and by the then rules the purchaser of a town acre was entitled to an acre in
some suburban allotment. One of the purchasers of sudi a brace of acres held his
land for a year or two, when he sold it for £400. At the end of a few years this pur-
chaser sold his country section for jS600, and within a few years more the town acre
for £2,000. This last was re-sold, after a lapse of three or four years, for £8,000
Not long since three-fourths of this acre were disposed of for £18,000, and the reman-
ing one-fourth is now about to change hands at the rate of £83.000 the acre. This
land, though in the best situation in Adelaide, has not yet been built on.
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MerecaUUe MUceUanUi. 765
MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
PHILOSOPHY OF ADTBRTlSIffO.
A merchaot matt not be satiefied with adyertifliog, says the Philadelphia Merchant^
bni most be wise in choosing the medioms for his advertisemente. Some people use
onlj the papers connected with their own political party, which is wise onlj on the
supposition that they want the patronage of no others bat those with whom they
agree in politics. They will agree, sometimet, to help a political press, by giving to
it idl their adrertising, when it would be better to give a donation and secure the
priyilege of adTertising elsewhere. Some go for an *" independent ** or a ** neutral''
journal, and forget that all the customers they wish do not belong to the ^dependents
or the neutrals, and while they are gratifying a passion for reform, or an indifference
to parties^ they are domg Tiolence to the best interests of business. Others imagine
that a ** daily " is the only fit medium for advertisiDg, when in many instances that is
the poorest avenue to the public, as after telegraphic news is devoured and the local
kerns lodked over, and part of the leading editorial is read, the paper is thrown aside
to be locked at no more ; while a " weekly " paper is taken home to be looked over
leisurely, and the world of trade comes more fully before the reader as exhibited in
the advertisements. The ** weekly ** is read by more persons — is more preserved — is
more eent away to friends as best exhibiting what the city is, and begets a wider in-
terest in behalf of city trade than the ** daily." Many persons are betrayed by the
greatness of the circulation of some papers, whereas a paper whqse circulation is only
fifteen or twenty thousand, is sometimes more valuable as an advertising medium than
one that can boast of its forty or fifty thousand; because the former may go among
more readers, and the right kind of readers, than the latter. Fifty thousand papers
circulated among the lower classes is worth less to the advertiser than five thousand
which go among the middle and upper classes ; and the ficict of advertising being
offered at ''very cheap" rates is enough to settle the case with the knowing ones that
the paper is a poor medium. And then, too, if a man wants the trade of a vast re-
gion, he must not be contented with advertising in small country papers, but must
seek out Uie paper which is most diffusive in its circulation, embracing many States
in its extension, and commanding the notice of the merchants, traders, manufacturers,
and chief artisans in all departments of business life. To advertise is a settled prin-
ciple of suscessful business.
EOIERSOir 05 TRADE.
RiiLFH Waldo EifsaaoM says: ** We rail at Trade, and the philosopher and lover
of man will have much harm to say of it; but the historian of the world will see that
Trade was the principle of Liberty ; that Trade planted America and destroyed Feu-
dalism ; that it makes peace, and it keeps peace, and it will abolish slaveiy. We
complain of the grievous oppression of the poor, and of its building up a new aristoo-
racy on the ruins of the aristocracy it destroyed. But there is this immense differ-
ence, that the aristocracy of trade has no permanence, is not entailed, was the result
of toil and talent, the result of merit of some kind, and is continually falling, like the
waves of the sea, before new claims of the same sort. Trade is an instrument in the
hands of that friendly Power which works for us in our despite. We design it thus
and thus; but it turns out otherwise and far better. This beneficent tendency, om-
nipotent without violence, exists and works."
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Y66 MercantUe MisceUcmes.
UDIES AS CLBRKS.
The employment of ladies as clerks in stores, especiallj m retail dry goods stores,
is becoming vei j general throughout the country. The New York Time9 has recently
published several articles upon this subject, and from the Pittsburg Po9t we extract
the following remarks: —
** The New York TimeH is earnestly advocating the employment of females as derkB
in stores — particularly in all retail dry goods storea. It is an employment for which
they are well fitted, and would properly enlarge their sphere of action and occupa-
tion. And it is a business that they can do better than men. They are more active
and expert at handling dry goods, more tasteful in folding and arranging them, more
polite and conciliatory to customers, and have better judgment in all matters of taate
in relation to dress. On the other hand, young men should be employed in more ac-
tive and manly labor. Measuring off calicos and tape is too light a task for their
physical Strength, and is usurping a place and occupation that properly belongs to
women.
** We are decidedly in favor of this branch of women's rights being conceded to
them. It would give employment at good wages to a great man^ young ladies, and
would be degrading to no one willing to earn a living. If the ladies generally prefer
those stores where females are employed to sell goods, a change would soon be effected,
and women employed in all the stores.
" The employments of females are becoming more numerous and remunentiye every
year, and it is right that it should be so. In the New England States and in New
York nearly all the public schools are taught by ladies boUi in summer and winter.
This enlargement of the sphere of woman's activity and usefulness is a matter of pub-
lic economy. It gives them work that they can do as well as men, and it diverts the
labor of men into other channels, and to more athletic and useful employmeiita. In
this active age and country there is no difficulty in men finding useful and lucrative
employment — work, too, better suited to their physical natures than measuring off
tape and calico.''
ISW BISRf ARTILfi MOYBMEilT IV BOSTOIV.
The Boston Post gives some interesting facts in relation to what it calls a " new
commercial movement,** — the attempted combination of consumers to defeat the spec-
ulators. The Post speaks in commendation of the plan which has been so abl j urged
by Mr. A. B. Keith, of that city, and adds :—
** He has as yet failed of forming a combination for the proposed purpciee, but he
has succeeded in awakening the attention of philanthropic capitalists theretos i^ a
gratifying end has been gained, as the money nas been furnished, and a store is to be
immediately opened in Boston where flour per single barrel can be bought at the
western price for a thousand barrels, with the addition of 5 p«r cent only for inddeotal
expenses. The plan is to send an agent out West, with the money in his hand, to boy
the flour and ship it to the East, the expense attending which, the flreight to Boetoo,
cartage, and storage, will be fully covered by the 5 per cent above named. Pn£t ia
out of the question. It is a beneficial movement, and not a speculative, and the profit
that would, under the old system, accrue to the speculator, goes into benefit for the
purchaser. This would peculiarly be the result of combination, it is held, and it is
also held that it needs but to commence to be snccesf fuL
** The store to be opened on Monday next will test the feasibility of the project,
and wo are promised, for $10, flour that cannot be bought in our stores for less than
til 25. Liae the inch on the roan's nose, the extra f 1 26 saved here to a poor man
is considerable. Potatoes are likewise to be bought in the State of New York, and
after paying 16 cents per bushel for freight, will be sold at the new store for tJdrty
cents per bushel less tnan ihej are bought for in our market The same principle, oif
course, will apply to other articles of consumption, and western pork, now bnngine
fourteen cents per pound at retail, may be bought at some easier rate, and so with afi
articles of western produce.
** A barter system of traffic, on an equitable basis, is thought of, likewise, by which
the productions and imports of the East may be exchanged at cost with those of the
West, with the mere added expense of transhipment and other mcidentala. 71»e
Western people are laboring under the same general eviU For the lozufy of poor
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tea they haTe to pay about seyenty -ftre ceoti per poond, aod for spioee and other ar-
ticlee proporiionaDly bish. ^
** That the plan is a ^asible one there can be, we thiDk, no doubt, as the ready mo-
ney of the combioers — generally poor people, who are eminently, from necessity,
ready-money men— can compete with the long credits of the flour speculator with Uie
Western millers, and buy flour at the lowest rates for caah."
SPURIOUS I1ID160 III MARKET.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Ameriean says that much spurious indigo has of
late found its way into our commercial cities ; the writer has thought a line or eo in
reference thereto may not prove altogether unacceptable to a portion of our readers.
It is not his purpose, however, to attempt a disquisition giving the manner or process
of the manufacture of indigo, either genuine or spurious, but would add what many
know, that the former is of vegetable production, and though the plant from whidi
it is made may thrive in latitudes a few degrees either north or south of the tropical
boundaries, yet it certainly does not grow in latitude 40|^ north, longitude 8^ east
from Washington ; and any indigo manufactured in such latitude and longitude, how-
ever fine in texture or appearance, may justly be looked upon with a suspicious eye.
whether it be repacked in ceroons, chests, or cases. It is hardly necessary to remind
those who deal in indigo of a test so generally known and practiced, and which at the
same time (so far as the knowledge of the writer extends) may safely be relied upon
as a test of genuineneBg ; that is, when its surface is rubbed with the finger-nail or
any hard substance, a genuine article will show a coppery or bronae color, varying in
brightness according to quality of the article ; the spurious article is devoid of this.
It also has been noticed that the latter, when fresh broken and applied to the tongue,
is quite adhesive, though this property may belong to some indigo, if so it is but slight ;
and if to a tumbler of water, having dissolved in it a small lump of such spurious ar-
ticle as refered to, there be added a little caustic potash, the color disappears, and a
brown color with substance is precipitated ; besides these, chemists have several tests
whereby they can detect an article with a metallic basis.
Indigo is an important article of trade, and Baltimore has not suffered in reputatioo
as some other markets, by engaging in the manufacture of and selling a spurious ar-
ticle of such value ; and as this spurious article closely resembles in appearance a
genuine article of fine quality, I have thought it proper to request that the^e teet%
may be brought to the remembrance of such of the Western and Southern merchants
as look to the Eastern markets for supplies.
THE RIVERS OF MAINE THE SOURCE OF HER WEALTH.
The greatest and most permanent wealth of Maine consists in her rivers. No other
State in the Union has such magnificent water-power. Look at the Kennebec and
the Penobscot— sweeping majestically with their valuable freights to and from the
sea, fertilizing their banks, and supporting thousands of towns and villages on either
hand. Look at the Androscoggin. Are not these better than mmes of copper and
gold t The Penobscot and Kennebec are navigable for vessels of considerable burden
a long way from the sea, and many towns and people upon their banks obtain a living,
in some cases great wealth, by ship-building. Thus, the trade of the ocean is of direct
profit to the population of the interior— a rare tbbg^and many families in the heart
of the country, as it were, enjoy advantages which, in most of the States, can be had
only on the coast. This is a superiority which Maine will always possess, and which
railroads, though they may do something to ofifeet, can never overcome. They enable
the poor economical people of the interior to go, almoat literally, " down east oo a
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708 MenxmiUB MimManm.
Amglt,** tm the Baying k. Bat iiidiflpeiiMUe «■ Uiey hsrt beeiilMratolbre to the peo-
ple of Maine for bringing down their logs, propelling their saw-miHe, and bearing their
lumber to a market, Uieir whole power of usefulnese does not begin to be appreciated
and we have little or no idea of its immensity. We see no reason why, wUb a judi-
cious use of her timber, and proper care to raise young forests on the ruins of those
which from year to year are cut down, Mame cannot always remain a great, producer
of lumber. If she does so, her riyers will be of as much ser?ice for the transportatioo
of thid description of wealth as railroads and canals ; it would be much dieaper, and
the cost of keeping in repair is nothing.
COPT OF AN OLD BILL OF LADUTQ.
We cut from one of our exchanges the copy of a " Bill of Lading," dated Philadel-
phia, 24th September, 1741, QM>re than one hundred and thirteen years ago. It is a
singular paper, and some of its phrases will, doubtless, cause the reader to smQe. Hie
Allowing is a copy, as nearly as we can give it, in print : —
SHIPPED by the Grace of GOD, in good Order and well Conditioned, by
in and upon the good. cail^ The
Whereof is Mafter under GOD Car
this prefeot Voyage and now Rtdiiv
at Anchor in the and by GOD?
Grace bound for ^/^*
Being Marked and Numbered as in the Margent, and are to be delivered in the like
good Order and well Conditioned, at Uie aforefkid Port of
(the Danger of the Seas only excepted)
unte
or to AiIjgBs,he or they paying Freight lor
the faid Gk)ods
with Primage and Average accuftomed. In Witnefs whereof the Mafter or Purfer of
the faid hath affirmed to Bills of Lading, all
of this Tenor and Date» One of which Bills bdng
Aocomplif bed, the other to (land Void—
And fo GOD fend the good to her defired
Port in Safety, AMEN. Dated in
A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE.
A late number of HouHhold Wardt contains a lenglhy but interesting Arttde i
Champagne wine, in which a description is given of the country where it is prodooed.
The writer says: — Champagne is not fit to be thus delivered up before the May of
the second year ; so that a bottle of frothy wine cannot be drunk till from eighteen to
twenty months after it has vintaged, at the very soonest It is better even at the
thirtieth month after it has quitted the parent vine. This, with trouble, the loss, and
the cellar-rent, make it impossible that genuine, properly-prepared Champagne should
be otherwise than cosUy. The maker, merely to pay his outlay, must dispose of it
at a heavy price. Champagne, therefore, is the wine of the wealthy. At a seoood-
rate inn in Epemay, the Siren, which is not without his own particular faednations, I
paid four francs for a bottle of Ai. Wine merchants on the spot canaot let yon hava
passable Sillery for less than two francs and a half per bottle. But let not those who
cannot afibrd to drink Champagne envy too bitterly thoee who caa The loss is by do
means so great as they fancy. ** Which shall we have, Champagne or Bordeaux T
said I to a Frenchman whom I wanted to reward for talking, as well as to set him
talking a little more. ** Champagne is the more noble,*' he answered, after deep am-
sideratioo, ** but it is five francs the bottle. The Bordeaux here is good, and
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Mere6uM4 JtUedktmet, teo
«ttly tlnrfy 801101 One bottle of Bordettoz irill fortify otir ttonnusN better tbeii two
bottles of diampigne ; md for one bottle of OhMapagne he can baye three of Bor-
deaux, with ten sooe to rpare for something else^ Let us drink Bordeanz, Monekar,
if yon please." And Bordeanz we did drink.
RECOMMBIDATIOlf OF A CABIIV-BOT.
* Please, ttr, don*t you want a cabin-boy f*
** I db want a cabin-boy, my lad, but what*s that to yonf A litUe chap like yo«
ain't fit for the berth.**
• Oh 1 sir, Tm real strong. I can do a great deal of work, if I ain't so very old.*
** But what nre you here for t Tou don't look like a city boy. Run away from
home, hey t"
** Oh ! no, indeed, sir ; roy father died, and my mother is very poor, and I want to
do something to help her. She let me come."
** Well, sonny, where are your letters of recommendation I Can't take any boy
without those."
Here was a damper. Willie had never thought of ite being necessary to have let-
ters from his minister, or his teacher, or from some proper person to prove to strangers
that he was an honest and good boy. Now, what should he da He stood in deep
thought, the captain meanwhile curiously watching the workings of his ezpressire
face. At length he put bis hand into bis bosom and drew out his little Bible, and
without one word put it into the captain's hand. The captain opened to the blank-
page and read : —
" Willie Oraham, presented as a reward for regular and punctual attendance at
Sabbath School, and for bis blameless conduct there and elsewhere. From his Sun-
day School Teacher."
Captain McLeod was not a pious man, but he could not consider the case before
him with a heart unmoved. The little fatherless child, standing humbly before him,
referring him to the testimony of his Sunday School teacher, as it was given in hit
little Bible, touched a tender spot in the breast of the noble seaman, and clapping
Willie heartily on the shoulder, he said : — ** Tou are the boy for me ; you shall sail
with me ; and, if you are as good a lad as I think you are, your pockets shan't be
empty when you go t>ack to your good mother."
PARSIMORT AKD ECONOMY IIV TRADE.
One might suppose, says our cotemporary of the Philadelphia Merchant, that it
would require but a few words to make this appear to the apprehension of the reader
To some, the bare announcement is sufficient to indicate the difference, but to othera
the dearest reasoning will not avail. This may be owing to the flict that they have
been accustomed to confound the one with the other in all the affairs of life— in tha
family and in business, in pleasure and in profit.
A person of this stamp wishes to go into business ; he has some little capital, but
not much experience. He chooses the profession of a grocer or a merchant, and, sn|H
poeing that parsimony is economy, in order to save rent, he commences business 10
the outskirts of the city, or in some obscure alley or unfrequented street, and fails to
euoceed, and wonders why it is, with all his industry and eeonomy, he cannot make
both ends meet, much less thrive 1 His parsimony is the chief cause of his failure
But you can't convince him of i(, and be will live and die in the little nest which Ms
own hands created, and grieve to think that fortune has not been more gracious in tha
bestowment of her favors upon him.
VOL. xxxin. — wo. VL 49
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110 M$rcttHiiU MUeMmim.
Asotbar peiMm opcM ao etUbUshmeot oo OliMtoai-ftreet; be hM but reoenflj
eome to tba city, baling been a pooeeaeful mercbaot in one of tbe towns in tbe ioterior
of tbe State, wbere be was known by eTery one, as be was born and raited in tbs
county. Neither be, nor bis &tber before bim, bad ever availed tbemselves of tbs
facilities of advertising in tbe ooonty papen, and yet tbey got along, and In prooev
of time amassed what in that region was considered to be quite a fortune. He now
opens a fine stock of goods in a commodious boose on Chestnut-street^ and tbinks that
everybody knows him, and of course will trade with him. Was be not known is
BuDOomet Did be not come from Lancaster! He has fallen into the delusion that,
because he was known in the town and county that gave him birth, that certainly be
must be known here.
On the score of economy, as he deems it, he refuses to advertise. It costs too mnc^
he never did it before, why do it now 9 He has a good house, he has goo^ stodL, he
has competent clerks ; he himself is a pleasant and accommodatiog merchant— why
does be not succeed t Nobody knows bim or cares to know him. The competition
in the market does not permit Mr. Fogy to become a necessity. Ohestnut^treet can
do without him, and the city would not miss him any more than she would a fly, if he
was to move to parts unknown. Now, what does economy of rent require t Wbst
of clerk*8 lure t What of bterest on capital t What of time t Tbey all require that
be should invest something in advertising, and that, too, on a liberal scale. Not ia
one paper only, but in many ; not occasiooally, but constantly. And be will sooo
find the benefit of so doing. Parsimooy may say no— it will be too ex pensive ; job
can't stand it. But Economy replies. You are mistaken ; I must advertise to bs
^nown, to be felt, to be appreciated. If I feel interested in my own success, my
neighbors will sympathize with me, and if they see me helping myself, they will cbesr-
fully and promptly come to my aid.
Take the following illustration of tbe difference between parsimony and economy
Sir Walter Scott tells of a near kinsman, who, having been informed that a fua^
vault of his was decaying and like to fall in, and that ten pounds would make the re-
pairs, proflered only five pounds. It would not do. Two years after he proflbred tbe
. full sum. He was assured that twenty pounds would scarce serve. He hesitated^
hemmed and hawed for three years more, then offered twenty pounds. Tbe wbd sod
rain bad not waited for bis decision, and not lees than fifty pounds would now snfies'
A year afterwards he sent a check for fifty pounds, which was returned by post, wA
tbe intelligence that the aisle bad &l]en the preceding week. Tbe reader will make
the application.
MIASUJIES OF DIFFERfiHT COUITRIfiS.
. Tbe Newburyport fferald, in tbe coarse of an article on Weights and Meanire^ re-
marks that no two nations have the same — though the same name to deeignate thsa
may be used in many countries. Take the mile measure, for instance: In EogUad
/and tbe United 6Utes,a mile means 1,700 yards; in tbe Netherlander it is 1,09S
jarda ; while in Germany, it is 10,1S0 yards, or nearly six English milea; in Fkaoes,
. it is 8,025 yards. The Scotch mile is 1,984 yards, and tbe Irish 2,088 yards. Tbe
Spanish mile is 2,4*78 yards, and tbe Swedish mile 11,700 yanU Iheae ar« em
puted in English yards ; but tbe yard itself, of three feet in length, has divers s^ail
eatioos in different placea. Tbe English yard is 88 inches ; the ftencfa, 89J8 incbei.
.the Oeneva yard, 57.80; tbe Austrian, 87.85; the Spanish yard, 88.04; the PrwMs'
88.57 ; tbe Russian, 89.51. For meaanres of capaetfy» the dimimibri^ ia widir, mi
more perplexing.
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Tk$ Book Trade. 971
THE BOOK TRADE.
l.-'The Britith PoetK ISma Bottoo: Little, Brown <fc Oa New York: James
S. DickersoD.
We are gratified to learn that the sooeess of the publishers in the enterprise of fur-
nishing our countrymen with a complete collection of the British poets, from Ohaucer
down to the present century, has been eminently successful The taste for works of
art, science, and genius in tliis country is gradually but surely advancing. The evi-
dence is in the greatly increased demand for works of standard and sterling value.
Twenty years ago, an edition of 1,000 copies of the noost popular work was consid-
ered large ; now, editions of that number of copies are sold m a day or week, and ten
times that number scarcely begins to reach the demand. The taste, too, is improving,
aod the yellow-oover literature giving way for something more sulntantial. The edi-
tion of the Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, in continuation of Little, Brown <k
Go's. British Poets, now before us in five handsome volumes, would, within our own
memory, have been regarded as a hsssrdous undertaking. These volumes were in-
tended to be little more than a reprint of an edition of Spenser published in 18S9,
ooder the superintendence of Mr. Geoi^e S. Hillard. But the ueceasity of reducing
the annotations to a more compact form, and the hope of making some improvements,
led to alterations, and these becoming more extensive as the work progressed, under
the editorial supervision of that accomplished American scholar, Mr. Francis J. Child,
of Harvard University, constitute it in reality a new edition, and beyond all question,
the moet complete that has yet been issued from tlie press, either in the United King-
dom or the United States. Mr. Obild has wisely retamed a very large portion of Mr.
Hillard's carefully prepared notes; aod he has, moreover, used old copies of nearly
all the poems, and made a scrupulous revision of the text, which, though originally
printed with ordinary care, and on the whole faithfully reproduced by Todd, re<juired
correction. The life of the poet, prefixed to the first volume of this edition, is un-
doubtedly more complete and more correct than any former biography.
% — CfurlWi DeeinoM of the Supreme Court of the United States, Vols. 1 to 0 in-
clusive. To be completed in 20 volumes. Boston : Little, Brown <k Go.
There tare about thirty thoosand lawyers in the United States. A great many of
them will doubtless be glad to know that the United States Supreme Court Reports
DO longer are to cost from $200 to $260, as heretofore. This edition contains alt the
decisione of the Court down to December last. The reports are compressed b^ con-
densing the statements of facts and omitting long arguments of counsel, which it has
been the courteous custom of the reporters to print in full No decisions, however,
•eem to be omitted, nor are the opinions of the Court abridged. The compression re-
duces the bulk of the series from fifty-seven to twenty volumes, and the cost to sub-
scribers to $8 a volume. The seventeenth volume of Howard*s Reports, just issued
by the same publishers, takes up the decisions of the Court at the point where this
aeries ends.
9,^Tke La» of Real EHate in the State of New York. By T. M. Lalob. 1 vol,
pp. 387. J. J. Diossy.
This book will form a very convenient assistant to all those who are concerned to
know our laws upon this suq'ect It codsists of the statutes relating to real property
-'descent, proof, and record of oooveyances, and wills, excepted — illastrated by all
the reported decisions in the courts of our State. The system of oar law in respect
of this branch is so much followed in other States, particularly some of the Western
States, that the nsefubess of this digest will not be limited to New York alone.
i^r^Elemente of International Lam. By Hmar WaxATOW, LL. D. Sixth Edition.
Boston: Little, Brown A Co.
This well-known treatise is here presented in an enlarged form, and brought up to.
the most recent date. The histories of the various questions, particularly those of
ooounercial interest, which arise out of international relations and are complicated by
wars and treaties, are here fully traced ; and, upon the whole, we know of no treatise
so convenient and so satisfactory as a hand-book of international law in 1866, at
thisia.
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$.-^Memoir fif lUw. Bdmard M6U WooUey. By hb daagbter* Mra. FiDnu Woouir
OiLLKTT, assisted by Rev. A. B. Orosh. With an Appendix, containing aelectioot
from bis Sermons. 12mo., pp. 860l Boston: Abel Tompkins.
The biographies of great and good men— men who hare left their ** footprints on
the sands of time ** — will ever be read with interest by all who would profit by their
etzample. The snbject of this memoir was a devoted minister of that form of Ohris-
tian faith denominated Universalism. The distinguishing article of the creed of the
sect, and that from which it derives its name, is the final purification, salvation, and
happiness of the whole haman race. Mrs. Gillet, in this memoir, has paid a fitting
tribute to the memory of her father, and without profeming to give a perfect expres-
sion to her conception of his nature, she has sketched the history of his life with moch
Apparent fidelity ; but, as far as possible, she has allowed ber father to tell his own
•tory, and draws her illustrations of his character from hicidents and letters recorded
by himself. Free from the trammels of sectarianism, we can find much in the Hvss
of all true men, of whatever name or faith, worthy of ** all acceptation.**
tr^The Christian Life, Soei4d and InduMtrioL By PmA Batxb, M. A. ISrno,
pp. 628. Boston : Gould <k Lincoln.
The original design of the author of this work was to give a statement of theOhris-
tian view of the individual character, together with a fair repreaentatioD of the praotieal
embodiment and working of that character in this age. With this idea others beeane
graduallv allied, and it seemed to the author that the position and worth of Ohristiaii-
ity should, as a social and reforming agency, be defined. The biographic iUo:>4ratioBS
of the writer's subject are somewhat after the manner of Oariyle, whom be views as
the ^atest biographic writer that ever lived. The highest success at which he aini%
in a literary ppkit of view, is the introduction into Christian Kfe certain of OaHyWs
methods. Dissenting from his opinions thoroughly and totally, he at the same time
acknowledges ** that the infiuenoe exerted bv Oariyle upon his atyle and modes of
thought is as powerful as his mind wa^ capable of receiving."
t. — 77ie Adventwret of Hajji Baha in T^trkty^ Ptrna^ and Riim<t, Edited hj Juob
MoRisa. ISmo., pp. 405. Philadelphia : Lippencott, Qrambo dc Co.
The birth, adventures, and various fortunes of HaJji Babo, including his traveli io
his own country, Persia, and Ru^ia, are all described in a manner to interest tite
general reader. Most of the incidents in this book appear to be grounded upon fiiet,
which, although not adhered to with the same regard for truth which we might ex-
pect from the European or American writer of character, are aaffieient to give as »-
sight into the manners and customs of the Bast Many of them will no donbt appear
improbable to those who have never risited the scenes upon which they were acted,
and it is natural that it should be so, because, from the nature of the eirconistanosi,
such events could only occur in eastern oountriee. We anticipate much pleasure froas
a more thorough perusal of the volume than we have yet been able to give it
8.— 7%0 Christ of History ; an Argument grounded in the Facts of His life and
Death. By John Youse, M. A. 12ma, pp. 260. New York: Robert Carter k
Brothers.
The London Morning Advertiser rej^ards this work as belonging to the highest
class of the productions of modem disciplined genius. The author appeals in his in-
troduction to those who are prepnred to treat with dispassionate criticism one of Am
gravest subjects ef human inquiry. His argument in its idea, certainly in its coo-
etructioo. differs materially from those by which the truth it would establish has
usually been supported. The writer possesses more than enMnary power of
analysis, and more originality of argument, than is usually brought to the diiMussifi
of topics connected with theology. The work is written in a perspioooos aixl vigors
ouB style.
9,^The Martyrs, Heroes^ and Bards of the Scottish Coifejuint, By OxoaoK Qnww-
LAM. 18mo^ pp. 264. Robert Carter d( Brothers.
Mr. Gilfillan's delineations of literary and scientific men generally evince ooestder
able powers of analysis, and are written in a lively and pleasant style. This work is
very much in the same vein, presenting, however, a succinct and apparentlv iopaitia)
history of the Scottish Covenant, as well as an unbiased estimate of the diaraeter of
its principal actors. He also draws some general deductioos appUoable to the great
qoestioDs of the day.
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lOr^Tke Rom tf Sharon: a Beligioos Soarenir for 1856. Edited by Mtb. C. BL
Sawveil 1 8111a, pp. 804. Boston : Abel Tompkins.
This literary rose baa long been a oherisbed favorite of oon. We have marked its
growth for the last seventeen or eighteen years. It made its first annual appearance
10 1887, if we mistake not; and we have in our library some sixteen volumes— all
but two of the series. One of its editors, and a charming writer, has pasf^ed away;
but the Rose still blooms under the fostering culture of another fair countrywoman
and nur worthy and esteemed friend the original publisher* now in the full vigor of a
fresh manhood. The many and steady friends of the Rose of Sharon, we can assure
Mr. Tompkins, ^ recognize no tokens of decay in the present bloom." They will find
itt like its predecessors, worthy of their notice and approbation. It is illustrated with
Bome pretty and appropriate engravings on steel, and with articles in prose and verse,
of varied length and merit, from some of the earliest contributors to its pages, and
•ome of the best names in onr American literature.
11. — The Japan Expedition, Japan and Around the World : an Account of Three
Visits to the Japane^e Empire. With Sketchi»9 of Madeira, St. Helena, Oape of
Good Hope, Mauritius, Oeylon, Singapore, China, and Loo Choo. By J. W.
Spauldino, of the United Statee Steam Frigate Mtssissippi. Flag Ship of the Ex-
pedition. With Eight lUostrations. 12mo., pp. 877. New York : J. S. Redfield
A Ca
Although written in a modest and unassuming manner, this book possesses a fresh-
ness quite attractive. Mr. Spaulding does not profess to give a his*tory of J^pan, of
which there are already a number extant, one by Hildreth, the historian, publi&bed a
few months since. He has, however, embodied his own observations of what came
onder notice in a cruise of nearly two-aodahalf years. The writer makes no preten-
aion Ut entire accuracy, having kept no journal and having had to depend 00 ftcattered
memoranda, jottings down to friends, and to memory. He has told the plain, unvar-
nished stf»ry of his travels, as his eyes told it to him; and for this reason, if for no
other, it will be read with interest.
12. — A Presbyterian Clergyman Looking for the Ohureh, By One of Three Hundred.
12mo, pp 680. New York: Pudney A Russell.
The writer of this book was born and nurtured in the lessons of Presby terianismt
and, as lie informs us, **came in due time to see the errors of that system, and to look
earnestly for the Church built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus
Christ being the corner-stone.** After an elaborate search, he finds what he considers
the ** Ohoroh,** that is, he becomes a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Those who, like the writer of this work, are looking for some other Church than that
_in which they have been educated, will no doubt be interested iu the labors of ** a
Presbyterian Clergyman Looking for the Church.**
18.— C/w«& and Suntliine, and Art, A Dramatic Tale. By CnAaLBs Rkad, author
of ** Peg Wuffiogton*' and '' Christie Johnston.** l2mo., pp. 228. Boston: Ticknor
A Fields.
The two classically beautiful tales contained in this volume bear the imprefs of a
pure and elevated mind, and are writtfn in an elegant and attractive »tyle. The
names of the American publishers of this reprint have become synonymous with all
that is elegant, tefiued, and pure in the liteiature of England and America. Their
publications, whether selecteid from the productions of the English or American mind,
are not oidy unexcepjionable in tone, but si:ch as command the admiration of all who
know how to appreciate the genuine and the durable in literature and art
14.— 3/y Father's ffouse ; or the Heaven of the Bible. By Jakes M Macdonald, D. D.
12ma, pp. «76. New York: Charles Scribner.
A religious book, designed, as we infer from its table of contents, to afford the con-
solations of Christianity to those who have been called to part with near and dear
friends. The author lias not, as he informs us, sought to mvade the '*referve with
which the word of God rnrronnds " the future residence of the race. He thinks, how-
ever, that all we are able to learn has been revealed, and that any attf mpt to attain
to greater ** definiteness ** in respect to the locality, the particular scenery, and the
employments of heaven, cannot promote reverence or true devotional feeling. He re-
gards the ** sublime writings '* of the Bible as the only authorized niessaKes from the
spiritual world. Its tone is antagonbtio to modern '* spu-itualism.** The volume i«
dedicated to Rev. Dr. Spring.
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15.— 2nitf Great Earmonia: Conoeraing Physiology Vices and Yiiiaes, and tlie
Seveo Phases of Marriage. By Andrkw Jackson Datis, author of the ** Prindf^
of Nature, her Divine Revelations, and a Voice to ManydDd,** **The ApproM^ing
Orisis," etc 1 2mo. Boston :. Sanborn, Carter <k Baain.
The fourth volume of Mr. Davis* Great Harmonia, the one before us, is entitled
" The Reformer." It consists of a series of discourses written during the past year.
They treat, as will be seen by the titles appended, of a class of subjects which, above
all others, are most intimately connected with the organization, development, and
destiny of individual and social man. By " physiological vices and virtues,^ we under-
stand Mr. Davis to mean " those cases of the conjugal principle which tend directly
either to demolish or to upbuild man's moral and physical nature.** The volume con-
tains seventeen lectures, the titles of which we subjom for the purpose of giving the
reader an idea of the contents, rather than any opmion of the character of the pub-
lication : 1, Philosophy of Reform ; 2, Views concerning the Human Mind ; 8, Physi-
ological Vices and Virtues ; 4, Classification of the Loves, and the Worid's View of
Marriage; 5, Characteristics and Vices of Extremists ; 6, Characteristics and Vices of
Inversionists ; 7, Secondary Causes of Conjugal Misdirection ; 8, Origin and Depen-
dencies of Love; 9, Woman's Rights and Wrongs; 10« Philosophy of Marriage; 11,
Laws of Attraction and Marriage ; 12, Transient and Permanent Marriage; 18, Dif-
ferent Attractions and Temperaments; 14, Internal Evidences of True Marriage; 16,
Parentage; 16, Social Responsibilities of the Marriage Relation, or the Rigfata and
Wrongs of Divorce ; 17, Character of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
U.—The Lily of the Valley for 1 866. With Illustrations. 12mo., pp. 266. Boston •
James M. Usher.
This, as its title imports, is an annual, and of several years* standing. The engrav-
ings, (mezEotiot,) six m number— the Flower Girl, Vignette Title, the Old Fort, the
Family Mansion, Summerville, and Tuft's College — are pretty. The last>mentioned is
from an original drawing by F. T. Stuart, and gives a veiy good view of the new col-
lege recently erected lor the benefit of the denomination of Christians known as IJni-
versalists. Among the contributors to the literary department, we notice the iMmes
of Mrs. L. H. Sigoumey, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, Caroline M. Sawyer, Julia A.
Fletcher, the Rev. K H. Chapin, Rev. B. T. Thayer, Rev. Charies Brooln, Rev. J. G.
Adams, Rev. M. Goodrick, and others of less note. The **! Will" of Mr. Adams
should be *'read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested " by every young man who
would attain any desirable object in the ** battle of life.**
11,— Short Patent BermoM. By Dow, Jr. 8 vols. 12mo., pp. 288, 886, and 288.
New York : Long <k Brother.
Sermons are very generally regarded as rather dull reading. Not so the ** ministra-
tions " of Dow, Jr. ; and his texts are not all taken from the ** book of books,** but from
the whole range of authors, inspired or uninspired, from Moses to Moore ; and some-
times for want of an appropriate text, the preacher manufactures one for the oocaaion.
They are **sliort,** occupying from. one to two in three pages; the illustrations are
spicy and grotesque ; and whether in prose or verse — and both forms are adopted —
tne reader will find a vein of wit and humor, with words of worth and wisdom, per-
meating every page and paragraph.
IB.'^The New Odeon : a Collection of Secular Melodies, arranged for Young Voieea
Deiiigued for Singing Schools and Social Music Parties. By GBoaoa Jamb Webb
and Lowell Mason. New York : Mason <k Brothers.
This book, originally compiled for the purpose of furnishing suitable secular muaw
for families and social musical parties, was first pubUshed in 1887. The New Odeon
has been enlarged and improved, and contains a larger variety ** than any other work
of favorite songs, duets, and concerted pieces, so narmonized as to be within the
capabilities of many singing schools and most choirs of the land."
19v— -7^« AimweU 8torie$, Ella ; or Turning Over a New Lea£ By Waltee Am-
WBLL, author of** Oscar,"** Clinton,** etc With Illustratkna. 18ma, ppc SSL Bos-
ton : Gould A Lincoln.
One of a most excellent series of stories. Ella, like the other stories, is intended for
both boys and girls, and is commended by the author to all children — ^whether good
or bad^but particularly to those who are willing to consider the subject o( turaiof
over a new leat
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SCX^TVvfrtno ; a RomaDoe. By GaoftOB Sand. TransUted by a Lad j. Preceded
bj a Biographical Slsetch of the Dittinguiahed Authoress, by Oliver S. Leland.
12mo, pp. 280. New York : William P. Feteridge <k Co.
George Saod has sometimes been accused of portrayiog dangerous, sometimes un-
natural characters ; in both cases she has probably relied oo the good sense and judg-
ment of her readers. She says, in the preface to this book, that reading anyromancee
whatever is pernicious, nay, almost fatal to weak and iU regulated minds. With great
geniiis, whatever her errors, she has faith in the dignity and progress of the race, and
belieres that a man ne?er UdU so low as to be unable to rise again, if he does not
lack courage and a true heart. Such is her firm faith for idl humanity in all its errors,
for all its misfortunes, and in all conditions of life. This doctrine appears to be aimed
at in ** Teyerina"
SI.— T%« £lake9 and Flanagaru: a Tale BlustratiTe of Irish Life in the United
SUtes. By Mrs. J. Saduib, author of ** New LighU; or Life in Galway,*" ** Willy
Burke," etc. 1 2mo., pp. 389. New York : D. <k J. Sadlier.
Mrs. Sadlier is doubtless an honest and conscientious Catholic, and all her writings
are dedicated to one grand object — the illustration of hor faith by means of tales or
stories. The drama of the present story is taken from every-day life. It is cleyerlv
written, and will be read with interest by her numerous Oatholic admirers. We don t
suppose our Protestant friends would take the trouble to read it, were we to recom-
mend it ever so highly. We shall, however, find room for it in our library of religious
and secular noveb.
22. — Stray Leafse$ frmn the Book of Nature, By M. Sohblb Da Vaaa, of the Univer-
sity of Virginia, 12mo., pp. 291. New York : G. P. Putnam t Oo.
We believe most of the papers contained in this book originally appeared in the
pages of Putnam's incomparable Monthly. The author appears to be endowed with
the love of nature in all its varied phases, and describes with graphic power its noblest
and its most minute forms of beauty — rising from the smallest pebble on the shore to
the mighty ocean, and its sublime life.
28. — Twice Married: a Story of Oonnecticut life. 12mo. pp. 254. New York: Dix
<k Edwards.
This romance originally appeared in parts in Putnam's Monthly, and in that form
met with a generous reception by the best critical authorities of the press and romance
reading public Every novel is, or should be written with an earnest purpose of some
sort or other. The author of this, declares his highest aim in writing tnis book to have
. been a very ardent desire to amuse the readers of Putnam's Monthly ; and although
his story ** pretends to be nothing more than a plain and homely sketch of rustic life,"
it is, in our judgment, a cleverly drawn picture of New England customs and char-
acters.
i^r^Beeeheroft, By the author of the " Heir of Redcliffe." « Heartaease," etc. 12mo.,
pp. 804. New York: D. Appleton A Oa
The author of this book says of those who visit Beechcroft, there are some, who,
honesUy acknowledging that amusement is their object, will be content to feel with
Lilias, conjecture with Jane, and get into scrapes with Phylis — all characters of the
story — without troubling themselves to extract any moral from their proceedings.
Those unreasonable readers who expect entertainment for themselves, as well as
instruction for those who had rather it was out of sight, are turned over to the Mo-
hun family, who hope their example may not be altogether devoid of indirect instruc-
tion. Those who have read and admired the Redcliffe or Heartsease of this gifted
author, will, we venture to predict, pronoimoe the present equal to either of the au-
thor's previous productions.
25. — Lake Shore ; or the Slave, the Ser( and the Apprentice. By Emilk Souvbstrb,
author of the " Attic Philosopher in Paris," ** Leaves from a Family Joumal," etc
Translated from the French. 12mo., ppi 289. Boston : Orosby, Nichols <fe Oo.
The author of this work has chosen children for the heroes of his stories, because he
sees in them the vices or the virtues of a period more clearly. The Slave, the Ser(
and the Apprentice are the ty|)es of three states of society, which have immediately
succeeded each other. In considering what the Past has been, we are more indulgent
towards the Present, and look forwai^ with more confidence to the Future.
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i^.^Tht Parabolical T^aehinff of Christ; or the EngraTiogs of ibe New Tettament.
By the Rev. D. T. K. Dbuhmond, E A., Ozod, Incttmbent of 8t Thomas's English
Episcopal Chapel, Edinburgh. 8yo^ pp^ 440. New 'fork: Robert Carter &
Brothers.
No part of the New Testament is perhaps more histmctiTe, or more ca]^b1e of
expansive teaching, than the parables of Jesus Ohrist The lessons inculcated in m(wt
of them are plain and practical. What, for instance, is more beautiful or more in
keeping with the character of the Teacher who uttered it, than that of the " Good
Samaritan V* The author of these essays has grouped the parables of Christ under
six di»>tinct headi;, and endeavored to elucidate and enforce the lessons they are de-
signed to convey, in a simple but forcible and schc^arly manner. The book will be
highly pirized by many '* ivho profess and call themselves Chrbtians," and few can
peruse it without extracting from its pages some useful suggestions.
J7.— P«c/«rM in Europe Framed in Ideas. By 0. A- Bartol. 12mo., pp. 407. Boe^
ton : Crosby, Nichols A Co.
With a somewhat affected title, this is nevertheless an excellent book. It does not
abound so in incidents as in the philosophy of travel We should call it the essays
of a traveler iu Europe. It is divided into parts, with distinct titles, commencing widi
a poetical intioduction, **The Two Journeys,'* and followed with captions to each ^c-
ceeding part, as follows : Abroad and at Home ; Beauty and the World , The Mount-
ains ; The Rivers ; The Lakes ; The Sea ; Superiority of Art to Nature ; Testimony
of Art to Religion; The Enduring Kingdom ; The Church; Society; Hbtory; Codd-
try ; Mankind ; Destiny, eta The thoughtful reader will find much to admire in the
sober vein that marks almost every page and paragraph of the unique pictures which
the author has succeeded in ** frammg into ideas." Mr. Bartol is a clei^yman of the
Unitarian faith in its most conservative form.
«8.— 7%tf Cur$e of the Village ; etnd the Happiness of being Risk. Two Talea. By
Hkhdrick CoNsciEKOB. Translated from the Original Flemish. ISma, pp. 125.
Baltimore : Murphy <b Co.
Mr. Conscience enjoys a European reputation, resting mainlj on those large histori-
cal romances in which he has illustrated, with equal power and beauty, the critical
periods of Flemish national life. The charming tales contained in this volume, we
nave no doubt, will enjoy a popularity among our youn^ friends equal to any former
production of the gifted author. The daily life and habits of the author's countrymen
are portrayed with marked minuteness and apparent fidelity of detail. The present
volume If* to be followed by another of similar character, containing a ftuther selection
of the Tales of Flemish life, hitherto unpublished in England. They are written in a
simple and attractive style, combining the most touoiing pathos and the broadest
humor.
29.— Ta&/tf TraiU with Something on Them. By Dr. Dorah, author of ** Habits and
Men," and the** Queens of England of the House of Hanover." 1 2mo., pp. 488.
New York: J.S.Redfield.
This is an extremely clever book, overflowing with wit and wisdom, intermingled
with anecdotes and historical sketches of ** table traits" in early and late times. The
ancient cook and his art, and the modem cook and his science, are cooked up by the
bands of a master. If Dr. Doran talks as well as he writes, he would make a capital
table compani(<n; and those who **read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" his umque
book, will find words and things enough to impart a sest to any meal, especially the
materiab for an intellectual feast—*' the feast of reason and flow of soul."
80.— ify Mother ; or BecoUectiena of Maternal Inflnenoe. ISmo^ pp. 254. Boaloa :
Gould A Lincoln.
In regard to the aim and character of this work, the author says, in a recent letter
to the publishers, that however much of a biographical nature may be found in it, ii
was not intended as a biography, as some conceive it to have been, but educationaL
It is, however, presented in the narrative form, and will be found attractive and useful
to mothers of young families. The anchor, who, we ere told, has already distinguii4ied
himself in other walks of literature, chooses for the present to conceal his name. * Itia
one of those rare pictures," writes one who is himself an author of celebrity, ** painted
from life with the exquisite skill of one of the old masters.**
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